Chartplotters are so COOL!!
Especially the satellite radio enabled units that have weather and radar!
One of these babies will quickly make you one of the coolest people on the VHF. Call out the weather every evening, and you will be loved.
Why didn't I buy one of these?!?!
Oh yeah! because they are ... a little pricy ...
What would a HoboSailor do?
Well there is always the old standby: a paper chart. The major benefits are that they don't require batteries, and they are very cheap compared to a chart plotter. But there is another option...
If you have a laptop, then you are in luck. For about $40 you can turn your computer into a fully functional chart-plotter. Here's how:
Step One: Download this FREE program called SeaClear
Step Two: Buy one of these awesome GPS antennas that plug into your computers USB port.
Step Three: Download all of the US charts from NOAA for FREE. Your Tax dollars paid for them! How awesome of NOAA to allow us to download charts!!
The USB antenna will be plug and play. SeaClear provides instructions for how to install the charts. It's pretty easy. Look through the SeaClear user manual for the keyboard shortcuts. Those will be a big help for using the program.
That's it! A chartplotter for $40. HoboSailor style!
10 comments:
How much trouble did you have getting the program to recognize the GPS? I tried with a bluetooth GPS that I had and had no luck. BTW which GPS are you running?
USGLOBALSAT BU-353 Waterproof
It's been a long time since I first plugged in the gps ... but I don't recall having any serious issues getting the program to recognize it.
Getting the charts to work was the hard part for me.
After getting it setup right, it works like a clock.
i was wondering where in the new york area did you anchor, moor, or whatever you did.
more specifically the nyc area:)
There is a mooring area called the 76th street basic. A lot of people stay there. It's very close to downtown NY.
We stayed at secret anchorage on the NJ side. You could find it by studying a chart of the area. Or send me an email and I'll let you know where to find it. I'd rather not post it online for all to see.
Open CPN is a better free chart platter program
Thanks guys! Love your blog and have posted a link on mine.
http://chrisjmelo.blogspot.com
Fair winds!
Chris
Chad,
I was randomly reading sailing blogs, and came across a link (boat pizza) that led me to your blog. I was surprised to recognize your boat, Cambyration. We have actually crossed paths several times! I live in Charleston, and have an Island Packet 35 called "Tranquility," which I keep at the Ashley Marina. I remember seeing your boat there over a period of several months in late 2008. Also, in late April of 2009, I was one of the two boats that sailed out of Egg Island Cut, Eleuthera, back up to Little Harbor, Great Abaco with Cambyration. If I recall correctly, you and your wife saw what you thought to be whales that day. I don't know if you remember me or not, but I hailed you on the VHF that day and discussed crossing paths in Charleston. I also kept a blog for that trip, and your boat randomly ended up in one of the pictures I posted from my stay at Staniel Cay. Here's a link to the blog:
http://caitchiliandchipgocruising.blogspot.com/
Your boat can be found on the first page, at about the midpoint. I have a picture of an airplane propeller on a telephone pole that says "happy people." If you click on that photo, it will enlarge and you will clearly see Cambyration swinging to her anchor just to the left of the pole. Anyway, just wanted to say hello. I am back in Charleston this season, but will be sailing south again in November 2011, bound for Grenada via the Thorny Path. Best of luck to you.
Chip
Hey Chip!
I do remember talking with you :)
LeeAnn did a little research and I am under the impression that she thought we had seen pilot whales.
Good luck on the trip south this fall!
Does anyone know how to make this work on the Mississippi River Charts?
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