Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

Hello! This is related to a discussion over at:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=19458

We are trying to figure out some requirements for a "Multi Purpose
Onboard Computer System".

QUESTION1: How HOT does it really get INSIDE the cabin of a Cruising
Boat, in the Tropics? What's the typical you've experienced? What's
the worst-case??

QUESTION2: If you use computer-based charts on a laptop or other
onboard computer, how much Harddrive space do your charts take up??
(Let's say for a passage, or your typical cruising area)?? How large a
hard drive do you feel you need to be "comfortable" for charts and
your other uses??

Thanks! Please answer here or at the discussion thread on
BoatDesign.net
__________________
Regards, Terry King ...On the South China Sea, in Shekou

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

On Oct 9, 8:24 am, " wrote:
Hello! This is related to a discussion over at:http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=19458

We are trying to figure out some requirements for a "Multi Purpose
Onboard Computer System".

QUESTION1: How HOT does it really get INSIDE the cabin of a Cruising
Boat, in the Tropics? What's the typical you've experienced? What's
the worst-case??

110 in the shade, so humid that plastic rots. Get a laptop that meets
military standard 810F at the least. If you are smart get proper paper
charts and toss the computor.

That or have a genset and climate control (AC) below.



QUESTION2: If you use computer-based charts on a laptop or other
onboard computer, how much Harddrive space do your charts take up??
(Let's say for a passage, or your typical cruising area)?? How large a
hard drive do you feel you need to be "comfortable" for charts and
your other uses??

Go to a digital chart provider and see how big the charts are , and
you will have a better answer. In general the bigger the better, you
may also consider getting an external hard drive and store nothing but
charts on it.

Joe


Thanks! Please answer here or at the discussion thread on
BoatDesign.net
__________________
Regards, Terry King ...On the South China Sea, in Shekou

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

In article .com,
says...
On Oct 9, 8:24 am, " wrote:
Hello! This is related to a discussion over at:http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=19458

We are trying to figure out some requirements for a "Multi Purpose
Onboard Computer System".

QUESTION1: How HOT does it really get INSIDE the cabin of a Cruising
Boat, in the Tropics? What's the typical you've experienced? What's
the worst-case??

110 in the shade, so humid that plastic rots. Get a laptop that meets
military standard 810F at the least. If you are smart get proper paper
charts and toss the computor.

That or have a genset and climate control (AC) below.



QUESTION2: If you use computer-based charts on a laptop or other
onboard computer, how much Harddrive space do your charts take up??
(Let's say for a passage, or your typical cruising area)?? How large a
hard drive do you feel you need to be "comfortable" for charts and
your other uses??

Go to a digital chart provider and see how big the charts are , and
you will have a better answer. In general the bigger the better, you
may also consider getting an external hard drive and store nothing but
charts on it.

Joe


Thanks! Please answer here or at the discussion thread on
BoatDesign.net
__________________

You might also consider a couple of 8GB USB flash drives as backup.
Flash memory may better accomodate the shock and vibration of
a boat under way. When not in use, you can remove them and store
them in a plastic bag with some dessicant.


Mark Borgerson

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:24:44 -0700, "
wrote:


QUESTION1: How HOT does it really get INSIDE the cabin of a Cruising
Boat, in the Tropics? What's the typical you've experienced? What's
the worst-case??

I think I would have a solar powered fans, like my kid brother's Audi.
The sunnier it gets the better it works.[and it is needed more] He
says it keeps the car 40 or 50 degrees cooler. You can lock it up
properly without cooking the interior.

Casady

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:24:44 -0700, "
wrote:

QUESTION2: If you use computer-based charts on a laptop or other
onboard computer, how much Harddrive space do your charts take up??
(Let's say for a passage, or your typical cruising area)?? How large a
hard drive do you feel you need to be "comfortable" for charts and
your other uses??

It was less than a hundred bucks for a hard drive the size of a
paperback book, that plugged into the USB port and holds 80 gig.

I wouldn't mind knowing just what it takes.

Casady

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

I have all the US charts from Florida to Maine, New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia, and larger charts of the rest of the US and possessions around the
world. 3,088 files that take 2.2 GB.

Ansley Sawyer
SV Pacem

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

On Tue, 9 Oct 2007 07:20:07 -0700, Mark Borgerson
wrote:


You might also consider a couple of 8GB USB flash drives as backup.
Flash memory may better accomodate the shock and vibration of
a boat under way. When not in use, you can remove them and store
them in a plastic bag with some dessicant.


Mark Borgerson

I lforgot about a memory stick in a shirt pocket I left out for
washing.
My wife recovered the memory stick in three pieces: two covers
and a little card and chip. I stuck them back together. It worked.

You could be right about USB flash robustness!

Brian W

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

" wrote in
oups.com:

QUESTION1: How HOT does it really get INSIDE the cabin of a
Cruising
Boat, in the Tropics? What's the typical you've experienced?
What's
the worst-case??

80-110F, hotter if you don't put up a tarp to keep the plastic
roof in the shade! I've seen them 130F at the dock with all the
ports open in the hot sun, easily. That's why most boats the
live here, in Charleston, SC USA, have air conditioning.


QUESTION2: If you use computer-based charts on a laptop or
other
onboard computer, how much Harddrive space do your charts take
up??
(Let's say for a passage, or your typical cruising area)?? How
large a
hard drive do you feel you need to be "comfortable" for charts
and
your other uses??


The best answer for you is "as large as you can find". Hard
drives are getting SO cheap! Recently, one of our local Best Buy
stores was selling a 160GB external USB hard drive that self-
powers right out of the USB port, made by Western Digital in
China for $US72...within the last week!

New laptop drives can be had that hold 250GB, now. You can never
have enough hard drive space ESPECIALLY as they are now so cheap.

For reference, in the 1980's I paid $US2,499 for a 33 MEGAbyte,
not GIgabyte, hard drive for the old IBM-PCXT. (.033 GB) That
was the biggest drive available at the time!

You can always leave excess storage blank.....You cannot stretch
small storage into bigger storage.

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:14:29 GMT, (Richard
Casady) wrote:

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:24:44 -0700, "
wrote:

QUESTION2: If you use computer-based charts on a laptop or other
onboard computer, how much Harddrive space do your charts take up??
(Let's say for a passage, or your typical cruising area)?? How large a
hard drive do you feel you need to be "comfortable" for charts and
your other uses??

It was less than a hundred bucks for a hard drive the size of a
paperback book, that plugged into the USB port and holds 80 gig.

I wouldn't mind knowing just what it takes.

Casady

Danger of getting into a "my equipment is bigger than yours"
discussion here but I picked up a 480gig Maxtor backup drive a couple
of months ago for about $110. It does require external power and
interfaces by USB.

My boat computer runs hottest when the boat's under way. It's a small
frame in in tight quarters and I have to blow a fan onto it. Air temp
under way with some ventilation is about 90.

THe boat computer is 40gig and hasn't come close to filling up with
pictures and charts.

Questions for Cruisers Onboard Computers
 

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:24:44 -0700, "
wrote:

Hello! This is related to a discussion over at:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=19458

We are trying to figure out some requirements for a "Multi Purpose
Onboard Computer System".

QUESTION1: How HOT does it really get INSIDE the cabin of a Cruising
Boat, in the Tropics? What's the typical you've experienced? What's
the worst-case??

QUESTION2: If you use computer-based charts on a laptop or other
onboard computer, how much Harddrive space do your charts take up??
(Let's say for a passage, or your typical cruising area)?? How large a
hard drive do you feel you need to be "comfortable" for charts and
your other uses??

Thanks! Please answer here or at the discussion thread on
BoatDesign.net
__________________
Regards, Terry King ...On the South China Sea, in Shekou



I currently have a DELL Inspiron 6000 on board that I have used for
the past 2 years. The computer was purchased with a 50 Gig hard disk
as standard equipment. A set of world c-maps takes up 1.33 Gigs.

When at anchor for any extended period or in a marina we use a canopy
over both the foredeck and areas aft of the mast and I would estimate
that temperature inside the boat seldom reach 100 degrees F. about 8
degrees N.

As an aside, nearly all cruising boats that I meet have a laptop
aboard.

Bruce in Bangkok
(brucepaigeATgmailDOTcom)