August 2004 Archives

A Mac Onboard

Over at the World-Cruising Yahoo Group someone is considering to buy an Apple notebook for both navigation and business purposes. He has a couple of questions he needs answers to.

1. Is anyone out there using a Mac on their boat? Which one and how
is it working for you?
2. What applications (navigation, etc.) are there for the Mac?
3. If you have a Mac, would you keep your Mac or go back to a PC
(prices being what they are, by the time you get a PC up to the same
standards as the Mac, the price will be close to the same and so
price doesn't really enter into the equation)?
4. If you went back to a PC, would you use Windows or something like
Linux? Why?

(Apple at Amazon.com)

Yesterday I read some news about MacGPS Pro, so that's a start, but I'm sure there's much more. If you have some tips, send me an email.

"MacGPS Pro works with almost all GPS receivers for a real-time display of GPS information on a moving map on the Macintosh screen, and allows import of maps from a variety of sources. These maps can be viewed with no GPS receiver connected, or used in real-time as a moving-map display."

The Marine Electronics Made Easy Seminar

If you happen to be close to Orlando next weekend, make sure you go to the 15th annual Hot Summer Boat Show... They have a seminar dedicated to marine electronics. Although targeted to novices probably.

"Get great fishing tips from Capt. Al Bernetti during his Saltwater Fishing in Florida seminar. The Marine Electronics Made Easy seminar, presented by Bethel Marine Electronics, will get you up to speed on the latest marine gadgets."

Fish And Chips

I liked the title of this article, therefore I posted it... Nothing really new in this story on electronic charts, GPS and fish however. I'm not fishing myself, but doesn't all of this technology take a little bit of the fun out of fishing?

"Drawing upon highly accurate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration source data, depth chips with hydrographic contours make for safe navigation as well as precise trolling. Imagine an on-screen map instead of a paper chart, with your boat�s whereabouts shown in relation to what�s underwater as well as its position on the planet. That makes it possible to take evasive maneuvers around a rock pile and to keep the boat as well as your lines exactly where you want them."

Transas Navi-Monitor

Be careful when speeding on the water since new technologies are becoming available that will easily track and identify you....

"When a ship is in distress and sends alert signals, these are received as text messages by other ships and port facilities or authorities on shore that also have Navi-Monitors. Other than sending alert signals of trouble, the Navi-Monitor can detect targets committing speed violation or course violation. There are also a number of options for adjusting alarm message signals, parameters and acknowledgement procedures. While doing all these, its software allows users to lay down vessel traffic separation schemes."

Magellan eXplorist 100

A three meter accurate GPS for $100. Great news for when GPS is a nice-to-have.

"It has a tough rubber armor shell that is impact resistant and waterproof, it also saves up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes and three track-log files with up to 2,000 points each. It weighs less than four ounces and measures 4.6 x 2.1 x 1.3 inches, it uses a 2.3-inch diagnol, four shade grayscale LCD with zoom capabilities and amber backlighting. Magellan TrueFix technology incorporates 14-parallel-channel, WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver providing accurate satellite signal acquisition and tracking for precise position fixes within three meters."

SeaWave's NavSeries

I've talked about SeaWave's Integrator 3.0 least-cost routing solutions back in March. They have launched a new product, the NavSeries. It looks less complete and flexible compared to the Integrator 3.0, but I'm sure there will be a price advantage in return...

"SeaWave has announced the launch of the SeaWave NavSeries. The NavSeries is a cost effective voice and data communications system with built in satellite, cellular and GPS modems that ensure reliable and economical voice and data communications all for $3,199. The NavSeries harnesses SeaWave's proprietary Throughput Technology Software (TTS) to enhance transmission speeds and make communications a more land-like experience. The NavSeries utilizes the global satellite service of Iridium and combines it with the economical coastal coverage of cellular (GSM). As a vessel moves out of inexpensive cellular range the NavSeries will seamlessly continue data transmission over satellite. This provides piece of mind knowing that your email has reached its destination."

Retractable Triducer

Airmar's new retractable triducer is featured by Motor Boating Magazine.

"The real advantage of this triducer is its ability to work with either analog or digital instruments that digitize data in a main housing or simply use NMEA 1083 or 2000 data. The digital triducer works with networking systems from Simrad, Furuno and Raymarine. This unit can span 45 degrees horizontally, making it perfect for use in a hull with a 22-degree deadrise. It also supports a 235-kHz frequency, so it doesn't compete with the standard 50/200-kHz frequency of fishfinders that may already be on board."

C-Forecast Plotter Weather

C-MAP is introducing a new weather service as well. Last week I wrote about the two services from XM WX (WxWorx) Satellite Weather and The Weather Channel Marine (TWCM).

"C-Forecast can overlay weather info right onto a plotter screen, only instead of the broadband and expense of dedicated satellite, this service works on compact data bundles that you download via cellphone. Most current plotters from Sitex, Interphase, and Standard Horizon are already programmed to display C-Forecast."

Rose Point's Coastal Explorer Released

A while ago I wrote about Rose Point's Coastal Explorer, recommended to me by a reader who was beta-testing it. Brad Christian from Rosepoint Navigation Systems sent me an email yesterday and asked me to let you all know that their product is finally available. It comes wit a number of, their words..., unique features amongst which the fact that it uses documents rather than a database to keep track of navigation objects such as routes and waypoints. This means users can organize things however they like, keeping everything in one document (like a big database), or keeping each of their trips in a separate document for example. So, if you're looking for an alternative to Raythech, The Capn or Nobeltech, make sure to have a look at their renewed website.

"With a $300 suggested retail price and the ability to use free NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts (NOAA ENC�), the cost of using Coastal Explorer can be dramatically lower than most other systems. Coastal Explorer is capable of using any "S-57 ENC" vector chart, including the free NOAA ENC�, the free Inland Navigation Charts (IENCs) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and both the Recreational and Professional Vector digital ocean� charts from NDI. In addition to the vector charts, Coastal Explorer can use raster charts from Maptech, NDI, and Softchart International, including the new BSB4 Format charts that are problematic for some other programs."

Understanding the Three-Stage Regulator

Came across an article over at SailNet on 'standard' and 'smart' alternators. Might be of interest to you if you still have your regular automotive alternator installed...

"How does the performance of a standard regulator compare to that of a three-stage regulator? Not very well if the regulator is an automotive unit with a cut-out voltage around 13.8 volts. A 13.8-volt regulator may be satisfactory on a powerboat, but it does a lousy job of charging sailboat batteries. Raising the battery charge level from 50 percent to 90 percent with a 13.8-volt charging source takes more than five hours. Few of us can stand to run the engine at anchor for that long, so unless there is an alternative charging source, the batteries get fully charged only when the boat is under power for a long period. The rest of the time the batteries remain undercharged. The inevitable result is a condition known as sulfation, which is the number one cause of battery death."