Viewing in the cockpit

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by bcn

AIS perhaps? Or the radar overlay?

Is that needed at the helm in the sunny daytime? Set up guard rings on radar or AIS at the nav station, or even on a swing-out monitor in the companionway. If it's under 20 NM away... *BEEEEPPP!*: "Dear, go below and check the bearing of that cargo ship and its closest approach...thanks..."

If you need an active and continuous radar/AIS overlay at night, whatever monitor you have is going to be dialled right back to 1 so you can make out the kerosene lanterns the fishermen may or may not have.

A daylight-visible monitor at the helm is a nice thing to have. I don't think of it as essential. One thing I've thought of that would be useful ...and which I've never seen...is an "audio navigator" of the type that shouts "PULL UP" on passenger jets if you're too close to the unscheduled ground.

Imagine you set a waypoint you need to reach, but you are in an opposing tidal set of unknown strength. There is no buoy to see, or it is night or its foggy. The waypoint gives you a clear offing from a reef or shelf or whatever. Why not set that waypoint, and the desired heading, and have "instructions" actually spoken on deck? Like "5 degrees to port...on course". Your eyes are on the sea, as is proper, but you are getting a running plot, so to speak, and if you have to steer 15 to port by compass to get on course, you have useful current or tidal information.

I'm no software expert, but I can think of a couple of cheap ways to make this happen off-the-shelf that don't involve "Siri".

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Kinkajou

What about using one of those with an IPad???? they are normally pretty good in day light and with that box, no problem with water.....

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Thats what Im planning on doing....

I've used an iPad outside and it's OK but just barely. Direct sun, reflections and glare make it unviewable. For me, I have to hold the screen at just the right angle in bright light to be able to see it. Not what I want on a boat.

Plus, how are you going to get the output from a nav program to an iPad? Unless you are using the iPad by itself with a nav ap I don't know of any way to use it as a display only.

[tonyappuk]

Thanks All
My posting has certainly provoked some useful (to me ) comments. As a single handed sailor I sometimes use OpenCPN to navigate poorly marked channels and that's difficult in sunlight. Under the spray hood can be OK unless the sun's behind you that's why I wondered if tablets might be as bright as some mobile phones.
Tony

[Sumner]

Originally Posted by tonyappuk

... As a single handed sailor I sometimes use OpenCPN to navigate poorly marked channels and that's difficult in sunlight...Tony

We navigated down Florida's west coast and over into the Keys using SeaClear (now using OpenCPN) for the first time in various narrow channels with no problems using an older Garmin 76S (mono screen) out in the cockpit. It was attached to the computer running SeaClear. I'd plot the days course with the waypoints and download those to the Garmin. The Garmin didn't have a detailed map on the screen, but we could use it to navigate waypoint to waypoint easily.

They were always connected via a cable so if we changed plans during the day I'd go below and put in the new waypoints and download them to the Garmin in a matter of seconds.

I do have the computer screens for both boats just below the companionway. Sometimes I'll sit at the head of the cockpit by the companionway where I can see them and can then tell Ruth who is on the helm where to go if she isn't using the Garmin.

I did post a link....

Computer-Chartplotter Build Page-5

...to the inexpensive....



...cheap fair daylight display that we will also try at the helm on the boat. Also there it will be under the bimini.

Anyway think about using a cheap handheld plotter in the cockpit tied to the computer running OpenCPN,

Sum