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25-10-2016, 14:34
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 847
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Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
In about 2 weeks we set sail, and we are in the process of selling all of our stuff. Among that stuff is a black and white laser printer. I had originally wanted to replace it with a color multifunction, so if we're in another country that needs copies of our documents we'd be able to provide those easily.
However I'm reading now inkjet printers may not be the best on board? Is this true, and if it is, would my black and white printer do OK for copies for foreign officials?
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25-10-2016, 15:50
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Sydney
Boat: FP 38
Posts: 106
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
Inkjet printers tend to clam up after time. A laser toner cartridge will last years even if not used
__________________
Bad Decisions Make For Good Stories
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25-10-2016, 15:54
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Up the mast, looking for clean wind.
Boat: Currently Shopping, & Heavily in LUST!
Posts: 5,629
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
Why would color documents be important?
__________________
The Uncommon Thing, The Hard Thing, The Important Thing (in Life): Making Promises to Yourself, And Keeping Them.
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25-10-2016, 17:05
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Charleston, SC
Boat: Camano Troll
Posts: 5,176
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailingunity
............., would my black and white printer do OK for copies for foreign officials?
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How do you print in white?
__________________
Ron
HIGH COTTON
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25-10-2016, 17:09
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 847
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
Quote:
Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED
Why would color documents be important?
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I don't know, I've never cruised to other countries before. That is the nature of my question, would a black printer be enough? Do customs officials require color? Or do customs officials even need copies?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
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25-10-2016, 17:30
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#6
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,888
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
Look at the power requirement for that laser printer during startup and make sure that your inverter can handle it (As a planning figure, use 6.5 times the rated wattage - so for a 500W laser printer, you need a 3.25 KW inverter.)
And don't use it with a MSW inverter - they don't like square waves
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25-10-2016, 17:33
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bahamas/Florida
Boat: Solaris Sunstar 36' catamaran
Posts: 2,686
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailingunity
-----do customs officials even need copies? -----
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Lol. I'm so primitive and out of touch.
My question would be "Do cruisers even need printers?"
__________________
Sail Fast Live Slow
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25-10-2016, 17:40
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 9,319
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
It is really handy at times to be able to print documents, like a crew list, onboard. B&W printing is just fine. I do make 2 sided color copies of my documentation certificate. This can come in handy when you don't want to leave the original with port authority.
__________________
Paul
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25-10-2016, 17:58
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Western Caribbean
Boat: 38/41 Fountains pajot
Posts: 3,060
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
In today's day and age it is very handy to have
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26-10-2016, 02:14
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Sydney
Boat: FP 38
Posts: 106
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
I take photos with my phone camera instead of having a scanner.
__________________
Bad Decisions Make For Good Stories
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26-10-2016, 04:55
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,479
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailingunity
I don't know, I've never cruised to other countries before. That is the nature of my question, would a black printer be enough? Do customs officials require color? Or do customs officials even need copies?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
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As a former IT guy: paper, printers, and printing are the work of the Devil. I only print when absolutely necessary...usually because some bureaucrat requires it. I don't own a printer ashore or afloat.
Printers dont do well in the tropics/salt air, especially when lightly/infrequently used, but almost every port of entry will have an internet cafe where you can print. I just take docs in on a memory stick and print what I need. Normally at the port of departure not entry so Im prepared for entry. I print many extra copies of crew lists and registration. I also keep copies of letter of authorization (boat is owned by a corp), but very rarely need it, insurance, etc. Yet to encounter a port of entry that cared whether color or b&w.
More valuable to me than a printer is a good scanner app on my phone. I use "Genius Scan" which will correct for skew etc and thus allow you to get a good quality scan with a handheld device.
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26-10-2016, 05:25
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ottawa,Canada
Boat: Prout Snowgoose 37' Catamaran
Posts: 567
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
During our 2 year sabbatical in 07-09 our ink jet printer worked well for us and is still going strong at age 15 or so. We definitely like a printer on board, but as others have noted you don't NEED a printer color or otherwise.
Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
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26-10-2016, 05:34
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 847
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
Quote:
Originally Posted by geoffr
During our 2 year sabbatical in 07-09 our ink jet printer worked well for us and is still going strong at age 15 or so. We definitely like a printer on board, but as others have noted you don't NEED a printer color or otherwise.
Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
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Perhaps the key to inkjet reliability then is frequent use?
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26-10-2016, 06:10
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ottawa,Canada
Boat: Prout Snowgoose 37' Catamaran
Posts: 567
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
If you don't use an Inkjet for a long time, yes it will clog up... you can sometimes clean the cartridge with alcohol to recover them. (I have done this with our photo cartridge we rarely use). With our printer a month or two with no use was no problem.
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26-10-2016, 06:26
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#15
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Is it OK to just have a black and white printer on board?
I had planned on taking an all in one, scanner / printer.
But if you can get by with scanned images on a USB stick, that sounds a lot more appealing.
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