great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Cruising America's Great Loop and other inland routes
View all threadsRe: GL: Navigation System
John: Your will get a lot of replies and opinions on this one. My preference
is a dedicated chart Plotter. I use the Garmin 2010C. Reason: Computers
crash or give up the ghost then what. Chart Plotters are designed for the
elements they operate in like exposed fly bridge. I think three years are about it
for a lap top, Dell makes a good one. Besides the technology has changed in
the past three years. Most folks will tell you any navigation equipment more
that 5 years old is obsolete for the same reasons, technology advances. I do
believe if you take the Dell in for an inspection at any local computer repair
shop you will find the internal components probably corroded from the fan
sucking in the salt air environment. I know everyone likes the CD Charts but I
wouldn't make my only navigation system a computer. I have a computer
onboard for other reasons though. Regards Capt Bob M/Y ALLEZ !
Charleston, S.C.
John and List,
Before ditching the idea of using a laptop computer versus a chart
plotter, we would recommend that you check out the costs of both systems.
For most Chart Plotters, the cost for map chips for the Chesapeake Bay
(need three) are about $200.00 each. That is for 250 miles. Since the
Great Loop is between 6,000 to 7,000 miles plus or minus depending on
the route taken, you may be looking at upwards of $5,600 for map chips.
Also consider the screen size - many chart plotters have a 4 inch by 6
inch or a 6 inch by 10 inch screen versus a 15 inch laptop computer screen.
You will probably want a laptop computer for other purposes such as
keeping logs, sending and receiving email, etc. Buy a good one and one
(several are waterproof). We originally wanted to buy a DELL computer
until we learned that they are only built to order and not an off the
shelf computer (we were quoted two weeks delivery) and also told that
any repairs necessitated shipment back to the factory. We bought a HP
instead and it did a great job. I should say that our bridge is canvas
and clear plastic enclosed (not leak proof) against the weather so we
included a large piece of clear plastic sheeting in case of rain.
We totally agree with RKovach that it is MANDATORY to have paper charts
aboard and matched with and followed closely with the computer charts
and GPS hook-up. A last word to the wise if you are doing the Loop --
REDUNDANCY!!!
Judy and John Gill
Two J's V
AGLCA Loopers
---======
RKovach338@aol.com wrote:
John: Your will get a lot of replies and opinions on this one. My preference
is a dedicated chart Plotter. I use the Garmin 2010C. Reason: Computers
crash or give up the ghost then what. Chart Plotters are designed for the
elements they operate in like exposed fly bridge. I think three years are about it
for a lap top, Dell makes a good one. Besides the technology has changed in
the past three years. Most folks will tell you any navigation equipment more
that 5 years old is obsolete for the same reasons, technology advances. I do
believe if you take the Dell in for an inspection at any local computer repair
shop you will find the internal components probably corroded from the fan
sucking in the salt air environment. I know everyone likes the CD Charts but I
wouldn't make my only navigation system a computer. I have a computer
onboard for other reasons though. Regards Capt Bob M/Y ALLEZ !
Charleston, S.C.
I've got a C-Map Superwide that includes all the Chesapeake, NC and above
and below. For sure, the Great Loop costs allot in electronic and paper
charts, but you can get free electronic NOAA charts for some portions and
the prices of commercial C-Map and Navionics have come down as a result of
their introducing new chips with the whole US on them.
Ron Rogers
On the internet (West Marine will cost more) you can buy
the Garmin BlueChart Americas CD and all the region
unlock codes from Mobile to Chicago for $1000 or less.
You can use these detailed charts on a Garmin chartplotter
and your laptop at the same time. You also need one
programmable data card and a usb programmer cable from
Garmin.
Garmin BlueCharts don't yet include the rivers between
Chicago and Mobile.
Jim Fidler "Fiddlesticks"
you may be looking at upwards of $5,600 for map chips.
Judy and John Gill
So you are getting road maps? Isn't the Loop the rivers between Mobile and
Chicago?
Ron Rogers
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Fidler" fidlerjim@earthlink.net
| On the internet (West Marine will cost more) you can buy
| the Garmin BlueChart Americas CD and all the region
| unlock codes from Mobile to Chicago for $1000 or less.
| You can use these detailed charts on a Garmin chartplotter
| and your laptop at the same time. You also need one
| programmable data card and a usb programmer cable from
| Garmin.
|
| Garmin BlueCharts don't yet include the rivers between
| Chicago and Mobile.
Ron
By "Mobile to Chicago" I meant counter clockwise
travel from Mobile and across the Gulf to Florida and
the Atlantic ICW up to New York, Canada and
Lake Michigan. Garmin has all the charts for this part
of the loop on CD and you can get them for about $1000.
Counter clockwise, the rivers take you from Chicago to
Mobile. Garmin has no river charts.
No road maps involved. Garmin has them but I prefer
Microsoft Streets and Trips or DeLorme Street Atlas.
Jim
So you are getting road maps? Isn't the Loop the rivers between Mobile and
Chicago?
Ron Rogers
Jim and List,
What is the total cost for the Great Loop? Does the Garmin Blue Chart
Americas CD include all the Canadian waters such as the Rideau Waterway,
the Canadian side of the 1000 Islands, the Trent-Severn Waterway, the
Georgian Bay and the North Channel 0R where does one purchase the Chart
Plotter chips for those waters and at what cost?
John Gill
Two J's V
AGLCA Loopers
Jim Fidler wrote:
On the internet (West Marine will cost more) you can buy the Garmin
BlueChart Americas CD and all the region unlock codes from Mobile to
Chicago for $1000 or less. You can use these detailed charts on a
Garmin chartplotter and your laptop at the same time. You also need
one programmable data card and a usb programmer cable from Garmin.
Garmin BlueCharts don't yet include the rivers between Chicago and
Mobile.
Jim Fidler "Fiddlesticks"
you may be looking at upwards of $5,600 for map chips. Judy and John
Gill
Yes, the Garmin BlueChart Americas CD does include all of the
Canadian charts for the Great Loop, as part of the Great Lakes
regions. You can review the Great Lakes coverage at:
http://www.garmin.com/cartography/bluechart/region.jsp?RegionPK=6008&cd=Americas
or
I can't tell you the total cost for the ENTIRE loop, because Garmin does
not have anything for the rivers from Chicago to Mobile.
You can buy the Garmin CD and 10 additional unlock
codes for $872 from Boatfix.com, plus a few bucks shipping.
You can buy the same at West Marine for $1140 plus tax. You
can buy the preprogrammed data cards (chips) instead of the CD
but the convenience will cost you 30 to 40 percent more and
you don't get the MapSource moving map software on your PC.
Our loop included the Trent-Severn, Georgian Bay and North
Channel. We used Garmin regions 4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,16,17 and 19.
When finished you can sell the CD and unlock codes and Garmin
will register the new owner.
You do have to purchase at least one programmable data card and
the USB programmer cable. That adds $85 at Boatfix.
Between Chicago and Mobile we used the laptop with Fugawi
and an old set of Maptech BSB CD's. It isn't really all that
necessary to have a chartplotter on the rivers, but it is convenient.
The SoftCharts look interesting and economical but don't appear
to include the Trent-Severn, Georgian Bay and North Channel.
Maybe they don't include any Canadian charts?
Of course I don't have any connections with Garmin, Boatfix or
West Marine, other than being a customer.
Jim Fidler "Fiddlesticks"
---------------------------------------------------------------------->
What is the total cost for the Great Loop? Does the Garmin Blue Chart
Americas CD include all the Canadian waters such as the Rideau Waterway,
the Canadian side of the 1000 Islands, the Trent-Severn Waterway, the
Georgian Bay and the North Channel 0R where does one purchase the Chart
Plotter chips for those waters and at what cost?
John Gill
Two J's V
Perhaps the following found on www.panbo.com will offer a more economical
chart system.
"
New Garmin plotters include all U.S. charts
Garmin's new 192C plotter and 198C plotter/sounder come with full detail
BlueCharts for all U.S. coastal waters, including Alaska and Hawaii, loaded
in non-volatile memory and ready to use! This is remarkable news because
until now you had to also buy either chart cards or a CD with which you
burned your own chart card. Either way, getting charts for, say, a trip down
the East Coast could cost more than the total $964 price tag on the 192C,
and was more hassle. One possible downside of the pre-loaded charts is that
you won't have a card or CD that you can use with a backup plotter. It's
also not clear how Garmin will update these charts, or if they will work via
USB for planning on a PC. I look forward to trying one of these five-inch
diagonal units, which also boast "a new look and feel", in the near future.
Garmin's charts-included strategy, which will likely come to other new
models as they roll out (just guessing), is only one of several major
changes in the world of electronic charts that I'll try to touch on here
over the next few weeks."
Ron Rogers
[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of Garmin_20GPSMap_20192c_20sm.jpg]
One advantage of the Garmin CD that I forgot to mention
is that the software lets you use the same digital
charts on two Garmin chartplotters at the same time
("legally") so that you don't have to move
chips from the flybridge to lower helm or from your
helm to a backup or portable chartplotter. Of course you
must have a programmable data card for each chartplotter.
Jim Fidler "Fiddlesticks"
One possible downside of the pre-loaded charts is that
you won't have a card or CD that you can use with a backup plotter. >
Ron Rogers