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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Laptop Mounting

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/29/2004 : 23:49:21

I use a program called "The Cap'n" on my laptop, along with a GPS plugged into the serial port on the laptop to display a marine chart and have it show a moving cursor where I am located. Magic!!

However, I have not figured out how to best mount the laptop so its easily visible from the cockpit without blocking the companionway and still be secure.

After looking through all the projects I have seen posted, I did not see one on this type project. Has anyone come up with a good way to securely mount a laptop so its easily visible from the cockpit?

Thanks,

Chuck

Chuck Shaw
Confetti
Cat 25, hull#1
1976 FK/TR

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 00:26:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cshaw
 I use a program called "The Cap'n" on my laptop, along with a GPS plugged into the serial port on the laptop to display a marine chart and have it show a moving cursor where I am located. Magic!!

However, I have not figured out how to best mount the laptop so its easily visible from the cockpit without blocking the companionway and still be secure.

After looking through all the projects I have seen posted, I did not see one on this type project. Has anyone come up with a good way to securely mount a laptop so its easily visible from the cockpit?

Thanks,

Chuck

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Maybe that is what the small locker on the starboard side of the cockpit is for!

Honestly, as a long time laptop user you will have a hard time with sunlight making the screen difficult to see if you don't keep in "inside" where it is dark.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 00:45:21

How about something like this video headset that connects to your laptop?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 08:06:23

When I was at Newer Technology as a product manager a few years ago we worked with IBM on a wearable "laptop" that used a HUD that was the often seen single flip quasi transparent 1" square that clipped on glasses. One eye stayed clear and the other could focus somewhat through it or on it (gray scale). The computer was "soft" and strapped to a forearm. You typed on your arm.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 08:22:39

Chuck,

I have also used my laptop for moving map display on occassion though more often its used to alter plans during a cruise and load new data to the gps. Depending on the lap top, Frank is right in that visibility is an issue. I have a C250 and it has a galley cabinet with fiddles that provides a good base for the lap top not far from the companionway but I do have to go below ot observe.

I use OziExplorer and the work around with it is to use the palm pilot version of the software which will provide the moving map display in the cockpit. I've not gone that route or to a gps plotters though I've thought about it, ultimately deciding my current system is working well.

What works for me is a gps assistant in the form of a printout from Ozi... (equivelent to The Captain). After creating the waypoints and tracks and loading them to the gps, paper charts are printed which of course have the waypoint and track data on them. These are laminated and set in a thin plastic notebook. Rain or water is not an issue with them and the thin notebook slides easily under the cockpit cushions and notes can be added with greese pencil.

Its a matter then if a navigation check is needed, to simply reference the hard copy within hands reach. With the waypoint numbers on the chart and the waypoint names and data on the back of the laminate, the gps becomes more powerfull with a greater perspective. That hard copy has come to serve as my right hand assistant to the gps in much the same way I suppose as chartplotting offers.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 03/01/2004 08:24:29

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 09:23:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I use a program called "The Cap'n" on my laptop, along with a GPS plugged into the serial port on the laptop to display a marine chart and have it show a moving cursor where I am located. Magic!!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Can you provide us a website for the company that produces that software, or similar information that will help us find it. (Often, those things are readily available in coastal areas, but they're harder to find for us landlocked sailors.)

Edited by - on

Dkn420
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 11:24:52

Steve: Also being landlocked.... http://www.thecapn.com/.

Dan #727

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 18:15:45

Thanks everyone for the good thoughts. The headset thing REALLY sounds fine.... But I suspect that would cost more than the clunky old Compaq 5100 laptop I run the software on!!!

Currently I bungee the laptop to a board that simply replaces the cutting board that covers the stove in the Galley. Unfortunately I have to go below to read the display.

Daylight brightness is not a problem. I use the same laptop for astronomy, and I made a light shroud that attaches to the screen to block the light from the screen from fellow astronomers (think of a solid trapazoidal shape, with the large end at the screen, and the small end towards your eyes). I found that it does a pretty good job of putting the screen in a dark "well" however, that allows me to look into the shroud and be able to see it fine...

The real reason I like to watch it, especially during a race, is it has the capability to turn on a "trail" (dotted line that is drawn to show your track). Makes it really apparent when you are going upwind when you should be tacking and what the effects of windshifts and currents are on your VMG. On a windy day, as you feather up into the puffs, and come up in the lifts you can increase the magnification and really see the effects (poor helmsmanship also unfortunately shows up!!! <grin>). I end up drawing the Rhumb lines on the chart, along with the wether mark lay lines.....(those darn things do not show up on the water NEARLY as well as they do on the laptop screen!!)

What I was hoping to find was someone who had made a swing out platform that allowed the laptop to be in the middle of the companionway, and then easily and quickly (and securely) swing back into the cabin. I have seen small radar screens and also depth sounders mounted like this, but not laptops.... However, all of my scribbles for a design for that end up taking up way too much room....

Still schemeing and dreaming however.....

Chuck

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 22:03:16

Chuck, there was a thread that someone put on the forum that shows a large gps map style mount to swing out into the campanion way. I don't know how big your laptop is, but mine is 12". I'd make a 12x12 dropleaf table. Take your 12x12 cut it into thirds add hinges and door slide lockes. Then when done you drop the leafs and swing it into the cabin. With the leafs dropped it would occupy about 4 3/4" of space if made out of 3/8" plywood.

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 20:02:22

Jerry,

I will have to try and search for that thread, since thats sort of what I was envisioning. My laptop is about the same size as yours.

I have my GPS (an old Magellan 5000DLX) mounted on a swing arm on the cabintop on the port side such that it swings out to the edge of the companionway so you can see it. Buts its an old model that does not do mapping, etc..so thats the reason for the laptop map display (and also to get the extra features available in the Cap'n program).

Thanks for the thought on the thread!

Chuck

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by frog0911
 Chuck, there was a thread that someone put on the forum that shows a large gps map style mount to swing out into the campanion way. I don't know how big your laptop is, but mine is 12". I'd make a 12x12 dropleaf table. Take your 12x12 cut it into thirds add hinges and door slide lockes. Then when done you drop the leafs and swing it into the cabin. With the leafs dropped it would occupy about 4 3/4" of space if made out of 3/8" plywood.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2004 : 15:24:17

Chuck,

I once sailed in the Around the Islands race in Bayfield Wisconsin on a Tarten 10. The owner had a laptop attached, with a homemade bracket made of wood strips, to his dinette table. Although his table was on the starboard side, if you have a Mark IV (1987 and above) with the stow-away table, this would be ideal for a laptop. You would probably have to more securely mount the table. I keep mine up in most weather conditions without incident though.

If you have the older version, perhaps you can add a swing-out table top from the dinette table that stows and pivots under the dinette table top. I'm sure you would be able to see the lap top clearly in this position.

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

Edited by - on

roberoo
Navigator

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USA
182 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2004 : 23:06:11

I use a little platform made by Jotto Desk http://www.jottodesk.us/

In my Excursion. I picked up extra mount brackets and have dry fitted it in th galley area. It has quick relese type setup and is very adjustable. I use a Dell Inspiron 8600 with a PDA and GPS in the truck. It works really well there. I bought mine off of e-bay and then added the extra mounts. To hold the laptop down I use some very thin bungee cords.

I will take pix of the setup this weekend and post them.

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2004 : 23:52:43

Thanks for the input Al,

I too leave my table set up most of the time, but I think it would be too far away from my poor old eyes to see things very well from the cockpit (based on the galley being too far away also, where I currently end up mounting the laptop)

Chuck

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 Chuck,

If you have the older version, perhaps you can add a swing-out table top from the dinette table that stows and pivots under the dinette table top. I'm sure you would be able to see the lap top clearly in this position.

Al
GALLIVANT #5801
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2004 : 23:55:03

Sounds pretty interesting! Looking forward to seeing the pics!

Thanks,

Chuck

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by roberoo
 I use a little platform made by Jotto Desk http://www.jottodesk.us/

I will take pix of the setup this weekend and post them.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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