"Bjarke M. Christensen" bjarkeNG@grevestrand_punktum_danmark wrote in
message ...
Does it make sense ??

It's hard enough already to read the disply on portable units. Adding AIS
data on top will just make it totally unreadable. You might be able to
read
at home, in good light and with you glasses on, but in the boat, dark,
raining and in a "windy and critical" situation, you wouldn't be able to
see
anything ....

Bjarke



Totally agreed, but what is "portable"? I don't think that there should be
any "portable" electronics on a boat. In heavy weather they become missiles
or are lost overboard. I cringe when I hear people talk about laptops that
can be used "anywhere" on the boat. They should be bolted to the chart
table, and by bolted I don't mean kept in place by a piece of shockcord.
plano







"Pascal" wrote in message
ups.com...
Anybody knows one? I am using a non portable solution: SR161 + Laptop
+ GpsMap 276C. I would like to have a gps/plotter portable (or
handheld), WeatherProof and useable in the cockpit. I have asked
Garmin to give the AIS receiver supprt on the GpsMap 276C but after
waiting 2 years I have quit.

Thanks

Pascal

I don't think that there should be
any "portable" electronics on a boat. In heavy weather they become
missiles
or are lost overboard. I cringe when I hear people talk about laptops that
can be used "anywhere" on the boat. They should be bolted to the chart
table, and by bolted I don't mean kept in place by a piece of shockcord.

Having weathered a few sudden storms I agree. If it's not bolted down and
designed to be used in heavy weather it really has no place being used for
something critical like navigation. Certainly not as the sole provider of
such services. As an add-on for use during fair conditions, sure, laptops,
PDAs and cell phones are great. But I'd never want to depend on using them
when conditions get difficult.