Hi Everyone:

I'm trying to come up with a solution to run a GPS with electronic charting
on my boat.

The boat is a 24' Campion Haida. To see pictures: www.jimsfishing.com

I have enough cast-off computer parts to completely build a desktop computer
tower that I could fit somewhere on the boat.

My main two concerns are to protect the Hard drive from shock (pounding into
waves at 25 knots), and to protect the electronics from moisture while at
the same time providing cooling.

I am thinking about putting the HD in a foam lined box. It would be mounted
in a normal metal HD rack from a computer box, and that would be fitted with
a soft foam about 2" thick all the way around the rack. That in turn would
be enclosed in a wooden box with a small fan for cooling.

The place where I am thinking of installing the computer box is in a
cupboard in the rear of the cabin in order to place the computer as close to
the stern as possible. I would then run extension cables up to the front for
monitor, mouse and keyboard.

Do you think this would provide enough cushining for the HD?

Jim Pook
Tahsis, BC Canada
www.jimsfishing.com