Laptop Plotter

[socalsailor]

is there a free or cheap coarse plotter that can be used at home on a laptop to armchair naigate distances, and set or check waypoints? I am getting back into sailing after being landlocked for the past 16 years.

[colemj]

OpenCPN is free and rich in features. Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Mark

[bobofthenorth]

Pawn the ring. Buy a boat. Name it Herring.

If she can't figure it out you need a smarter woman.

Sorry I can't be more help but I was more of a "get up on my elbows" than "get down on my knees" kind of guy when it came to proposing.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by bobofthenorth

Pawn the ring. Buy a boat. Name it Herring.

If she can't figure it out you need a smarter woman.

Sorry I can't be more help but I was more of a "get up on my elbows" than "get down on my knees" kind of guy when it came to proposing.

Wrong thread Bob.
Great non sequitur though.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by bobofthenorth

Pawn the ring. Buy a boat. Name it Herring.

If she can't figure it out you need a smarter woman.

I was more of a "get up on my elbows" than "get down on my knees" kind of guy .

I don't think that is the kind of "laptop" the OP is talking about, Bob

Jim

[S/V Alchemy]

This is the funniest thread of the week all of a sudden.

I want to devise a rum beverage called "The Coarse Plotter".

[boatman61]

As stated above... OpenCPN is a free download... but you'll need the charts to add on... or you can get the excellent 'Nimble Navigator' program complete with CM93 charts for around $100... its served me well to date.. and I have OpenCPN as a back-up..
For actual use afloat you'll also need a GPS puck/stick... around $70

[edsailing]

I have on a netbok (but will work on any computer) OpenCPN free, CM93 charts free (try Mr Google), gps usb puck $25, AIS receiver and antenna $170...... It doesn't get much cheaper than that, especially if you drop the AIS. I've used it for at least 20k miles

Good luck

[W32PAMELA]

You might want to take a look at SeaClear II, especially for planning. It is also free but doesn't have all the bells and whistles of OpenCPN. I like it for planning and it does OK for basic navigation. It will run the free NOAA raster charts but can't run any vector charts.

If you need charts for Mexico you may want to get OpenCPN and a copy of the CM93 vector charts of the world.

[edsailing]

OpenCPN will run the free noaa charts as well so you can download up to date charts if you are in the states.

[oblivionboyj]

I downloaded a free ap for my iPhone called SeaPal that seems somewhat useful.
I've been playing with it a little to see what kind of trips I can plan out.
A Lille bit of a learning curve (not super user friendly), but once you figure out how to input it's actually pretty easy.
And it's free.

I'm sure it won't take me long to outgrow it, but for now I'm glad I have it

[socalsailor]

Thanks, that gives me a few options to check out