Navigation Software

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pdrimmer	Navigation Software		Lead	[-]
Posts: 150 01/28/04 16:20:08	Tags : None I am looking for user experience with navigation software that can be loaded on a laptop and be driven from the primary GPS. I like being able to plan the cruise from home and take the waypoints and routes to the boat. I also like the tides and currents features to help plan the best departure time. We have Raytheon instruments and Radar / Chartplotter at the helm and an instrument repeater at the nav station. I have looked at the fully integrated Raytheon system, and while neat, (getting the radar / chartplotter information at the nav station), there does not appear to be any additional functionality over the other nav programs. Looking for some practical hands on experience
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Unregistered(d)	Navigation Software	#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 0 01/28/04 17:51:31	I am using a Dell inspiron laptop onboard with Map Tech Offshore Navigator software and Maptech charts. I have loaded the charts onto the Hard drive and I connect to a Garmin GPS through the serial port. I plan my trips at home and waypoints to develop a float plan. I primarily use the computer at the Nav station when entering a port that I am not familiar with as the GPS will exactly locate the boats position on the chart. This is just redundancy from the Raymarine radar Chart plotter. I do also periodically check positions when under sail so as not to draw down too much battery power using the radar chart plotter. My only complaint with the Maptech software is that it does not have seemless charts or quilting like Max Sea. Practical Sailor did a review on software not too long ago and it was a good article. Mark S/V Merlin #823
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CaptNorm42	Re: Navigation Software	#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 616 01/28/04 20:33:34 Moderator	Some Raytheon GPS units don't talk NMEA (serial port), they talk SeaTalk only. Be sure you don't have a SeaTalk unit if you want to pump the data into a laptop. Possibily, a RayMarine autopilot will provide NMEA out, but that means that unit must be on, which it may be anyway. If worst-comes-to-worst, a cheap (<$100) Garmin eTrex could be used for GPS functions. I was on a boat for 10 days to Cabo San Lucas. The owner used The Captain program, www.thecapn.com/ It worked out very well. I just checked their site, they have an eval download. Be sure to let us know what you find to be the best. ~~~~_/)~~~~ Norm Perron Catalina 42, Hull #600/2 cabin, Aphrodisiac, Marina del Rey, CA
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sashay567	Re: Navigation Software	#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 188 01/29/04 11:38:36	On Sashay, we using and evaluating OziExplorer. This is a shareware program and while it is not free, it is cheap. I think I paid around $80 for it. It seems to have a lot of features and will upload routes and waypoints to the GPS. It will not show "course up" though. The link to the OziExplorer site is www.oziexplorer.com/ Rodney Kidd, C-42 #567 Sashay, 2 Cabin Fin, Marina Village, Alameda, CA
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ronjane	Re: Navigation Software	#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 46 01/29/04 15:30:03	I use the Maptech on my boat. I bought a used laptop on Ebay for a couple of hundred and tapped into my ships GPS. I have the laptop mounted on the Nav Table (a totally useless device on the 2-cabin C-42 - we always end up navigating on the salon table) where I can see it from the cockpit. When I do deliveries, I have a Garmin 12 XL and I take the laptop. I have cables that conect the laptop to the Garmin and the Garmin to a 12 volt outlet (think cigarette lighter). If the boat doesn't have a 12 volt outlet, I have an alligator clip adapter that hooks on to a battery and then with a 12 volt extension cord I can put the laptop/GPS anywhere I want it. While Maptech may be more expensive, for my money, and having been on yachts with every nav combination known to man, it's the best value out there. I hope this muddied the waters for you just a little more. Regards, Ron Landmann
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bruce	Nobletec	#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 32 01/31/04 10:28:15	We use nobletec offshore navigator with passport and maptech charts (much prefer passport). Have a Standard horizon CP150 mounted at the helm but have never purchased any charts for it. I connected the Standard horizon gps to my Vhf, and then ran to the Inside of the Chart table where I keep my laptop. I keep the Laptop inside the chart table where it is safe and we installed a 17" flat screen TV/Monitor screen on a swing arm above the Nav station. This with small wireless keyboard and Gyro mouse you can controll from anywhere on the boat...This setup works great for us and I like the fact that the Laptop is in a more secure location after haveing one filled with seawater a year ago....Which reminds me....if you use laptop or other electronics at the nav station you might want to make sure the port above this area is always dogged shut.. even on no wind days....Last year a container ship put a wave over our bow that ran right over the deck and in this window,,,,there was no wind and a friend of mine was at the helm and didnt think the wave looked that big..oh well live and learn... Bruce hull 412
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CaptNorm42	Re: Navigation Software	#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 616 06/29/05 14:30:36 Moderator	I'm still in the process of moving threads to sub-forums (see the bottom of the C42 ezboard, Jump To pull down) to make more room in our 20 page limit. As a byproduct, similar topics show up in their sub-forum. Anyway, I came across this one & want to share a recent purchase. I just bought the latest Maptech Chartkit for So. Cal. Included in it is a cd with an electronic version of all charts in the book. It is Offshore Navigator Lite. I used it today for the 1st time and confirm the chart for the area I went thru displayed pretty well on my laptop. I connected the laptop to the boat's gps & the boat showed up quite well on the laptop. Bottom line, it's free once you buy the paper charts & works pretty well. ~~~~_/)~~~~ Norm Perron, Hull #600/2 cabin, Aphrodisiac, Marina del Rey, CA
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sashay567	Re: Navigation Software	#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 188 06/29/05 14:46:56	I gave up on cheap/free charting software. I just purchased Coastal Explorer for less than $270.00. The software is full featured with support for most digital chart formats and it comes with all the NOAA digital ENC charts available. It also includes all of the Coast Pilots. Coastal Explorer is the product of some ex-Microsoft programmers who also happen to be boaters. It also will accomodate other NMEA data streams from other NMEA talkers such as an AIS receiver or other data source such as MARPA from your radar. I have the laptop configured to drive my Raymarine AH7000 autopilot. CE will also repeat wind, depth, and water speed intrument readouts on the charting display. Check it out at Rosepoint Navigation Rodney Kidd, C-42 #567 Sashay, 2 Cabin Fin, Marina Village, Alameda, CA
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stevesnyder	Navigation SW	#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 89 06/30/05 04:07:12	We have Raymarine electronics...GPS, chartplotter, autopilot, radar, speed, depth, etc. I also have a laptop running Nobeltec. Love it. It's expensive, but very complete with currents, etc. It's at the navstation and receives a signal from the GPS. I can send waypoints to my Raymarine chartplotter, also. Very complete setup. Fine Lion is a 2001 with 6300 miles under her keel. We live in Annapolis, and are on our New England cruise at the moment...sitting in Martha's Vineyard.
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