Computer for navigation

[Turtle Blues]

IMHO you were spot on to start. I have 3 old tough books for backup on different boats. Refurbished by Black Cobra out of Canada via eBay. Waterproof keypads - still prefer tactile response when typing-new gps and hard drives. Load oCPN and they are indestuctible.
One note they only allow the gps output to 1 program at a time, if you look at the satellites in Nav on startup you have to turn off before launching oCPN.
But then I'm a dinosaur, my kids run the world from Iphones.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by jmh2002

Yes, sometimes I enjoy playing with those types of things too. Other times I just want it to damn well work, out of the box...

So, most of the things you mention there can also be huge negative points for some users.

In addition, some users may be using particular software that requires a particular OS, often Windows.

Personally, depending on the size and budget of the boat, I would prefer to have multiple devices.

RPi can maybe help with some of that because of the cheap initial cost.

It all depends. There is no one right answer.

Yeah, when I go on the boat full time sometime in the future, I will have my Windows laptop on there also along with both Raspberry Pi Computers, two gps pucks, the GPS and AIS coming in via NMEA 0183 from my SH GX2200 and also a handheld with GPS plus my sextant

Plus I think I have to have the Windows OS to connect to my Victron MPPT 75/15 Controller and to update it

But the Raspberry thing was a fun project and I'm still learning it, it's OS, and what it can do plus OpenCPN

[thomm225]

Also, my computers will probably never leave the cabin while sailing.

I may when in close coming and going around flats and shoals bring a monitor out to the bridge deck so I can see the chart and my boat's exact position.

This will be my first chart plottter.

Before that, it was visual only or charts and an old GPS

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by jmh2002

Yes, sometimes I enjoy playing with those types of things too. Other times I just want it to damn well work, out of the box...

So, most of the things you mention there can also be huge negative points for some users.

In addition, some users may be using particular software that requires a particular OS, often Windows.

Personally, depending on the size and budget of the boat, I would prefer to have multiple devices.

RPi can maybe help with some of that because of the cheap initial cost.

It all depends. There is no one right answer.

OMG! I couldn't agree more.

Having just about finished my yacht from scratch the last thing I want to do is to build a computer.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Also, my computers will probably never leave the cabin while sailing.

I may when in close coming and going around flats and shoals bring a monitor out to the bridge deck so I can see the chart and my boat's exact position.

This will be my first chart plottter.

Before that, it was visual only or charts and an old GPS

When you bring your computer(s) on deck in broad daylight will you be able to read the screen? (Apologies if you have already made that point)

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by coopec43

When you bring your computer(s) on deck in broad daylight will you be able to read the screen? (Apologies if you have already made that point)

That is definitely a problem.

Since I bought my Victron MPPT controller, I like to bring my laptop too at times when I sail to monitor the solar but the light can be a problem......

While doing all this stuff with the Raspberry pi, I bought a 6' extender for the Victron so I can hookup to the laptop in the cabin

If i cannot see the monitor on the bridgedeck, it will have to be placed in the cabin maybe in a place I can see it.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by thomm225

That is definitely a problem.

Since I bought my Victron MPPT controller, I like to bring my laptop too at times when I sail to monitor the solar but the light can be a problem......

While doing all this stuff with the Raspberry pi, I bought a 6' extender for the Victron so I can hookup to the laptop in the cabin

If i cannot see the monitor on the bridgedeck, it will have to be placed in the cabin maybe in a place I can see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cYd2GRi6cs

[coopec43]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob3viIihD9s

[thomm225]

Nice.

So in the past I have just tried to look at the solar on the laptop.

Everything else ...navigation, was done with charts and gps.

So, my plan will be to place the monitor below in the cabin someplace where I can see it without Sun or else back to the charts

Also, when I'm seriously sailing I'm usually right at the back edge of the dodger so I'm close to the companionway which means I should be able to find a good shady spot for one of two monitors. You can connect two monitors to a Raspberry Pi 4

In the second video, I'm guiding on the headland center left, center, and center right at times as the wind continues to build and will be using the chart when I get in close plus gps if I cannot locate a marker

And sometimes even when motor sailing in smooth water headed home on a Sunday morning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agtdrmAqojs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3I2zc0_7wY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpZhq35etcw

[jmh2002]

As I mentioned earlier, once you really add up all the extra items required to get a RPi to a similar level of functionality (just the right screen will blow the budget), they are no longer as cheap as first expected.

Let's remember that a Toughbook is already a rugged device, already has a built in touch screen, and some models have daylight visible screens too.

So once you start talking about cockpit use it seems that a second hand refurbished Toughbook might start to look a bit like a bargain if you consider all of the features that are "included" as standard...

And you can still run OpenCPN on it of course.

[coopec43]

As far as I know they all have daylight visible screens? (Certainly mine is).

I think they may have changed the type of touchscreen although I would have to go back and confirm that to be sure.

Right now I am about to remove the HDD and replace it with a SSD which hurts a bit because there is nothing wrong with the HDD and probably hasn't had much use.

As soon as I have done that I'll be downloading OpenCPN and lots of charts.

With all the features it isn't any wonder the Toughbook costs more.

"Panasonic toughbook prices range from $2,075 to $5,950 and will provide you with the highest of standard in rugged hardware".

[jmh2002]

Yes, to be honest I'm always amazed when I look at the prices on this site:

https://www.bobjohnson.com/toughbooks/

That's a lot of value there. Most people will probably sell their boat before their Toughbook dies.

I think this type of device is especially important on a small boat (let's say under 35ft is what I kind of mean).

There is never enough proper places to put things, down below gets wet as well when it's rough, equipment gets used in the cockpit all the time, either for space or comfort, the "nav station" is if you are lucky a small table directly below the companionway, also directly below any water that might come down that companionway... etc, etc

That's not the same as a bigger boat where you can mostly expect things to stay safe and dry down below, and where you can securely mount or store things.

Already in the 1990s I was using standard desktop PC hardware, office flat screen, wired touchpad, etc, to run our primary navigation software (Navtrek back then I think).

This was all standard off the shelf gear, not specialist equipment, and it worked perfectly, never failed, was in regular use, survived ocean passages, regattas, etc, for years.

But the boat was 50ft, we had a proper nav station, and we installed the PC raised, on a rubber pad, and behind a panel, so it was at a minimum splash proofed.

But the humidity and shocks couldn't have been good for it.

AND we had a remote Radar display on deck which could overlay some nav data from the PC (waypoints, course to steer, etc), so it wasn't essential to have the chart display on deck. We wanted this of course, but it was expensive back then, and with screens that weren't very good, that's why we chose the remote radar display instead.

Also if the PC failed, we would just replace it, money wasn't the issue at the time.

My point is, a smaller or lower budget boat doesn't have all those options.

Gear get's used differently and has a harder life. Costs and purchases must be considered more carefully and expected to last longer. And if cruising remote locations, even money doesn't solve problems because you just can't buy stuff.

This should all be considered for a normal cruising boat.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by jmh2002

As I mentioned earlier, once you really add up all the extra items required to get a RPi to a similar level of functionality (just the right screen will blow the budget), they are no longer as cheap as first expected.

Let's remember that a Toughbook is already a rugged device, already has a built in touch screen, and some models have daylight visible screens too.

So once you start talking about cockpit use it seems that a second hand refurbished Toughbook might start to look a bit like a bargain if you consider all of the features that are "included" as standard...

And you can still run OpenCPN on it of course.

Yep.

It's all about what each particular skipper (or skipper and crew) want.

I happened to download OpenCPN and a few charts onto my laptop (Windows 10) and was playing around with it.

At about that time, I was involved in a thread about a guy that used a Raspberry Pi Computer on his boat with OpenCPN and made a chart plotter w/AIS

It may have also been used for his autopilot and for weather faxes

Finally it occurred to me that it might be interesting to play around with and have a permenant computer on my boat.

For the last 8 years I either took along my laptop or used nothing other than handheld VHF/GPS and charts (this after the PO's early 90's era GPS's failed)

Also I had already purchased a Standard Horizon GX2200 VHF/AIS/GPS Radio and installed it (plug and play replacement for the PO's 1990's SH VHF)

So this is how I built my chart plotter w/AIS

Raspberry PI 4 kit was $90 or so. RS 422 Adapter $5 to send in the NMEA 0183 data from the SH GX2200

And I had wanted to try an HDTV onboard so I bought one of those for $75 to use as a monitor/chart plotter screen and a TV

In the future, I hope to add more devices to it and maybe receive some sort of weather info offshore by the time I start cruising longer distances which is why I am investigating the Moitessier HAT

https://docs.sailoog.com/openplotter...moitessier-hat

My Laptop w/Windows 10 also works with my GPS puck so I may use that as a chart plotter also

As mentioned earlier, for me it has a lot to do with getting back into and playing around with computer technology as it has to do with boating/sailing

So since then I have bought another Raspberry PI 4 kit which is at home, two more RS 422 adapters, and a GPS USB Hockey puck ($17)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[jmh2002]

Originally Posted by thomm225

...Finally it occurred to me that it might be interesting to play around with and have a permenant computer on my boat.


...As mentioned earlier, for me it has a lot to do with getting back into and playing around with computer technology as it has to do with boating/sailing

Yes but unfortunately in your new found excitement that is not how many of your posts come across. They come across as "hey this RPi is the best and cheapest and easiest solution and does everything and it makes no sense to buy anything else".

And that is both not correct, and poor advice for some users, depending on their needs.

Even you are now finding that the RPi won't actually do all that you need, you still need to add more peripherals, and even after you are all done, you will probably still need a windows laptop onboard anyway...

So in your case I actually think a Toughbook could have been the better solution, either standalone, or maybe add a RPi down below for added functionality and to talk to the Toughbook wirelessly, and to feed your need to "play around" as you said.

It seems like you have a nice big dodger on your boat and I could easily imagine a toughbook mounted under it, both easily visible, as well as within arms reach to control OpenCPN. That would be pretty nice I think, especially for a single hander.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by jmh2002

Yes but unfortunately in your new found excitement that is not how many of your posts come across. They come across as "hey this RPi is the best and cheapest and easiest solution and does everything and it makes no sense to buy anything else".

And that is both not correct, and poor advice for some users, depending on their needs.

Even you are now finding that the RPi won't actually do all that you need, you still need to add more peripherals, and even after you are all done, you will probably still need a windows laptop onboard anyway...

So in your case I actually think a Toughbook could have been the better solution, either standalone, or maybe add a RPi down below for added functionality and to talk to the Toughbook wirelessly, and to feed your need to "play around" as you said.

It seems like you have a nice big dodger on your boat and I could easily imagine a toughbook mounted under it, both easily visible, as well as within arms reach to control OpenCPN. That would be pretty nice I think, especially for a single hander.

Well, I do tend to go overboard a bit a times then rethink things, but I actually have more than I need right now as for as electrical/electronics onboard with two chart plotters, three GPS, AIS, 2 autopilots, 2 VHF fixed, 2 VHF handheld, and solar plus charts from Massachusetts to key west and the Bahamas the PO left onboard

If I were to start long distance cruising ASAP, I would first get new rigging as I have no idea how old mine is and I'd also buy an Echomax Active XS Radar Reflector/Detector then I'd go.

I'd also get a SSB Receiver and see if I could get weather reports on it offshore..........

As far as me wanting more devices to attached to the Raspberry Pi, that's more about the learning computer stuff for boats than the cruising

And yes I may use Windows also

We are updating to Windows 10 on all our systens at work from Windows 7 and we also use Red Hat Enterprise Linux

We have a Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 Tablet 2.3 ghz dual core w/8 GB Ram and 256 SSD. 10.1" Touch screen on one of our systems here. Running Windows 10

Maybe I'll go over and check it out