The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site

Our Navigation System

We have written a lot about navigation systems. Here’s what we use on Morgan’s Cloud, and why.

Let’s start with the basic parameters that drove our decision:

On Deck

We firmly believe that to be safe, short-handed crews must be able to do their navigation in the cockpit without having to scamper down to a below-deck chart table every few minutes.

Large Screen Size

After experimenting, we established that our ability to keep in touch with where it’s at is dependent on viewing a certain minimum area around us on the chart without panning or zooming. Therefore, we decided we needed a good resolution screen with a minimum size of 15 inches (38 cm) measured diagonally.

Easy to Use

Quick and convenient operation is vital, since the more time we spend fiddling around with electronics, the less time we are looking up at the real world. Therefore, we wanted a full keyboard and mouse.

What We Bought

So what did we buy way back in 2009 when we made the switch from paper?

  • Dell Vostro 1310 Laptop with 15 inch screen, 3GB RAM, Intel Core Duo CPU, 250GB hard disk, $1300.00.
  • Tflex-G615XL 15” Sunlight Readable waterproof display, $1500.
  • A waterproof mouse and keyboard, designed for medical use where such things must be washed, about $60.
  • A 4 port serial to USB adapter box, $200.
  • A copy of Nobeltec Maxpro Navigation Software, $1200.

Total about $4300.

2019 Usage Report

Since 2008, we have updated the computer twice, most lately to this one, and replaced the mouse and keyboard once each, as well as upgraded the software to TimeZero. The screen is still going strong.

Bottom line, this solution has worked really well for us and has been far less expensive, both initially and over time, than buying and upgrading plotters would have been.

Today, an even better system can be put together for less than US$3000. Half the price of a plotter with a comparable screen size.

Further Reading

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John & Cheryl

Hi J&P,

We slowly came to the same conclusion. We have both a PC running Maptech and a Mac running MacENC. Both are good for planning and checking a proposed route.

After a couple of years of running below we opted for the Standard Horizons 300 CPI plotter and hooked up a Miltech AIS in the cockpit.

I know it is a little low budget but, wow, what a difference.

With 3 separate electronic nav programs and back up paper charts, not to mention a couple of hand held GPS units, we feel we have enough stuff helping us.

However, it is easy to get complacent and getting back to the basics at least once a year helps.

How do you feel about integrated systems? And have you looked at digital radars?

Best J&C
KLOOSH

Jackson Hole Skier

I agree with J&C. I think both have their place. I like a chartplotter at the helmsman’s position, ready with radar, AIS, zoom, wind and COG info, etc. I also like redundancy so I carry a Garmin GPS 496 which works equally well in the car and airplane. (You purchase little cartridges that contain marine charts for your travel area.) This I leave under the dodger when I want to get out of the wind. Also this unit receives XMradio radar and weather when not too far offshore from US.

Then finally, the MacBook Pro runs MacEnc down below where it is dry and protected. Also US charts are free on NOAA’s site.

With these three there is plenty of redundancy and backup.

Soon I will integrate the AIS and radar signals so that they can be seen on all three stations.

One more advantage of different systems is that you are not so dependent on one manufacturer, their software updates and the charts the system works with. The downside is that depending on where you sail you might have to buy three sets of charts.

Life is tough but we do have options.

Dick Stevenson

Dear John,
I would want to add some asterisks to your “we firmly believe that to be safe, short-handed crews must be able to do all their navigation in the cockpit without having to scamper down to a below-deck chart table every few minutes.” We have sailed, so far safely, for 10 years full time, and, yes, “scampering” up and down to the laptop at the below decks nav station. When something tricky is anticipated, I take notes (course & bearing, light characteristics etc.) and/or annotated paper charts above with me. And/or Ginger mans the nav station and I work the boat. Very rarely have there been times when I wanted to see the electronic charts in the cockpit and I do not remember ever feeling that doing the navigation below decks was unsafe. In fact, I would worry about TMI (too much info & too much to play with). All I want is radar beyond the usual cockpit displays of depth, wind, speed etc. I also think that what you accomplished on MC is hard to duplicate on a smaller vessel.
It may be that your piloting areas are more filled with un-anticipated piloting challenges demanding quick responses. In any case, I write as I would not want your readers, especially those in smaller vessels, to think (my opinion) that safe piloting can’t be done below decks (electronic or paper) when that has been done for centuries and that to be safe all navigation must be done (or able to be done) in the cockpit.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Dick Stevenson

Hi John,
Wow, was that weird. I had not clicked that the comments would be brought forward and I was reading my old comment, now way out of date, and had a distinctly out-of-body type experience there for a moment.
We now have a Furuno display in the cockpit connected to a laptop in the nav station running Time Zero. All work done on the laptop appears on the plotter and working on the laptop is far far easier and faster than working on the Furuno (although all functions can be done on the plotter which occasionally, we do).
This has worked well for us for 6-7 years. I considered a system more like yours, but our real estate under the dodger on a 40-foot boat is limited and we bring working lines back to the cockpit under the dodger in ways that further complicated the real estate challenge.
Having lived with only a laptop down below for 12+ years and now having a hybrid system of plotter and laptop, I concur with all your comments and conclusions.
As to plotter placement: it is under the dodger. For the short periods someone is ever at the helm (in and out of anchorages and harbors mostly), even the smaller Furuno plotter we have is easy to see. Tucked high under the dodger leaves it easily accessible, somewhat shaded and easy to see for the watch person who is, the vast majority of the time, tucked comfortably under the dodger as well.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Nicolas

I use paper charts, 2 small handheld GPS, a fishfinder (this year lead & line), a direction bearing compass, that’s it. I’m really comfortable with this for the NE Atlantic.
No chart plotter, radar AIS etc.
And yes the chart in use stays below.
In this age of burgeoning technology & tools, keeping it simple is always an option.