Roger ,, I hear ya ................. Why? Because I can't see ya!

I am investing in a handfull of those reading glasses one buys at Brooks
Pharm. And a couple more magnifying glasses.

When did they start writing so small?

I will do some shopping now that the new year is here. Garmin 76Cx ??
Sounds like a plan.

What is it with Garmin, seems like they change the model number on these
GPS's about once a week.

West has the old models for like $200. This is weird, it is like selling a
black and white tv for the price of color.

On the laptop computer front. I agree, the power they take is tough. My
plan, so far just a plan, is to buy a cheapoo laptop, and then shop on Ebay
for a couple of backup batteries.
I bought a portable DVD player at Christmas time for the boat. It is on its
way back to the store. The power these babies suck up is amazing. And the
extra batteries are $72 bucks, and that is for 3-4 more hours of power.
Heck, one movie goes 2 hours.

One other thing,, the portable DVD's, they get real hot when using. There
is no fan, unlike a computer.
I think the heat kinda screws them up.

Do the laptops have a fan? I have never used a laptop.

The solar panel. I have talked to a couple of cruisers who used them. One
guy had been out cruising for 7 years! He said he started out with a wind
unit, used a water unit, and then went to solar. He said the solar is the
best. No maintenance.

The problem is cost. For a decent solar panel and regulator with diode ..
$1,000

I am looking for a second hand one. If I find one, I am going to use it as
a portable unit. I will set it up on deck, make a perch somehow, and run
the wire to the battery, etc. Most of the good ones have the regulator as
part of the panel .. the diode is just something you put in the line. Dont
really need the diode if it is portable because it won't be connected after
dark.

I am also thinking of replacing one battery with two gold cart batteries.
Lots more capactiy, same voltage.

See ya ..


"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I just bought the Garmin 76Cx for Christmas for my new boat partner (Isn't
that sort of like buying your girlfriend a new set of socket wrenches as
they joke on "Cartalk"?). I bought that one because it fits the mount I
already built for the boat and my aging eyes need a color screen. It's
hard to see how you could get more bang for the buck though. The only
reason I can see for buying something else would be to get a larger screen.
Your laptop can supply that. Take note though of other threads on how much
laptops draw. I've given up trying to run one on a sailboat for just that
reason. Solar would keep it going but it's just not something I want to
complicate my life with. Charts and the GPS will get me where I want to
go.

--
Roger Long