A reoccurring question comes regularly by email from my visitors : which computer equipment to choose for yachting ? It is a fact that, faced with the spectacular growth in equipment available to recreational sailors, it becomes very difficult to form an opinion. By giving partial answers to one and the other, and often unsatisfactory, I ended up realizing the facts. Actually, the choice of a navigation system is essentially based on the answer to a question : for what need ?
I therefore tried to define these needs and put an appropriate solution in front of each person.. This may seem a little simplistic, but above all it has the merit of simplifying things. I took the opportunity to calculate the current budget for each of the solutions in order to highlight a criterion that seems fundamental to me : the Need/Coast ratio. Let's go…
As I remain a Mac fan, I choose, depending the context :
I equip my own boat, where I live and/or cruise frequently :
- An Mac Mini entry-level
- A standard Apple keyboard (with necessary protection as iSkin model)
- A waterproof multi-button wired mouse
- One LCD screen 19″, lowest price
- A Mac versatile software : MacENC
- Navionics Gold chart Europe = 46XG
Total Cost new : 600 (*) + 48 + 25 + 40 + 140 + 150 + 210 = 1213 € (environ)
I don't have my own boat, I rent or sail on friends boats :
- An MacBook 13″ (the cheapest)
- A Mac versatile software : MacENC
- Navionics Gold chart Europe = 46XG
- A USB GPS receiver : BU-353
Total Cost new : 1149 (*) + 150 + 210 + 42 = 1551 € (environ)
I'm looking for a portable solution at the best price :
- An iPad Wifi+3G 16 Go with built-in GPS
- iNavX (can be used on both iPhone AND iPad at no extra cost)
- Navionics 46XG Mapping for iNavX (since x-traverse.com)
- X-traverse.com subscription
Total Cost new : 609 + 40 + 43 + 7 = 699 € (environ)
I'm looking for an ultra-mobile solution with the features of a PC/Mac app, I already have an iPhone :
- iNavX
- Navionics 46XG Mapping for iNavX (since x-traverse.com)
- X-traverse.com subscription
Total Software Cost (**) : 40 + 11 + 7 = 58 € (environ)
Finally, I want a simple ultra-mobile solution at the best price, I already have an iPhone :
- Navionics Marine : Extended Europe, in direct loading from AppStore (with Navionics Mobile software packaged)
Software Cost (**) : 10 €
To conclude
This results in solutions in a price range from 10 up to 1550 € (**), corresponding to similar uses but in very different contexts. Defining your need therefore allows you to choose a Need/Coast ratio satisfactory.
Of course, other factors may come up, as the desire or not the use of an iPhone in real life, or the ability to connect with instruments on board, etc,. But the question of need remains paramount, and, in my opinion, the first to land.
—
Note : Prices in euro may vary for charting purchased in U.S. dollars.
(*) Price Update July 2011
(**) Excluding the cost of ownership of an iPhone, impossible to assess.
—