Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 08:46:21 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

I've been using Cap'n Mariner; do you have experience with any of the
other suites? Interestingly, ALL the hardware one needs for such an
installation is half the price of a $2500 dedicated chartplotter, plus
you get a much larger screen, a real keyboard and the ability to perform
the usual computer functions.

Any advice?
=====================================


I've also used one of the small form factor PCs with good success,
coupled up with a small rubber keyboard that is waterproof (CompUSA).
In theory it would have run straight from 12V ships power but have
always ran it from a small 50 watt inverter instead (better voltage
stability).


There's an electrical cabinet inside the cabin of our Parker, and right
below it there is plenty of room on the bulkhead to mount and protect a
small form factor PC and an inverter. From there, it's easy access to
the main cabin control panel and some sort of keyboard. I've got a
Furuno fishfinder/bottom plotter mounted on the cabin overhead, but I
could easily move that to the dash where the Standard Horizon 170 now
resides, and attach a 15" LCD to the overhead. I like your idea of the
super baggie to protect the monitor...

Most of the nav program input can be handled with a trackball/pointer
device.

Perhaps a winter project.




--
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in
Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me -
you can't get fooled again." -George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept.
17, 2002