A computer on board, What for ?

This is the question that kills. Just as much as my answer : nothing !

Let me explain. In coastal navigation, it's frankly useless. IT doesn't add anything to security, is not much easier than a conventional GPS, Doesn't save time. If we compare the time it takes to plot the GPS point on a nautical chart (I am not talking about postponing esteem) time wasted in front of a computer screen tinkering with a whole bunch of superfluous functions, We quickly realize that the computer on board is a millstone.

Nothing but the hours spent choosing materials, understanding connections, to solve power supply problems, install everything, make it working, and resolving the inexpected failures, one would spend the best time to hook some nice fish and invade the kitchen corner of the boat !

I can already feel you shrugging your shoulders and thinking :

“This guy is not good,
it’s the hospital that doesn’t care about charity ! ”

Not at all, I am simply lucid.

Constraints…

I am addressing this post to those who consider themselves to be “computer lousy” and who are sometimes kind enough to ask me questions and ask me for advice.. To them I say that the computer on board a yacht – pleasure, I specify – is not inevitable ! The pleasure of sailing necessarily requires maximum simplification of navigation.. We already have a lot to do with everything above deck, rigging, sails, winches, guindeau, blocks, rails, and so on, so as not to further complicate life below deck.

Some nautical charts and nautical guides, a robust GPS that gives you your position without flinching at any time, and we keep the pleasure and safety without the technical problems. What about weather, you could say ? Frankly, 95% boaters sailing in the summer season along the coasts, the weather is available every morning in the harbour house, three times a day with radio VHF, and even on our cell phones. No need for a computer !

Luxury

See Icon of the boat moving in real time on a chart displayed on a computer screen is a luxury. I mean it's the luxury of browsers who have nothing else to do – once again I only talk about yachtsmen, not mariners who have other imperatives – of their days. I talk here to those fortunate 5% remaining boaters who sail “full time”, that they are retired, on sabbatical, annuitants or high seas runners. This category, I' unfortunately were only too rare moments, has ample time to equip a computer onboard that can give him all facilities for sailing offshore.

… and advantages

Actually it is in the context of offshore sailing that it makes sense. If we have the means, why deprive yourself of it ? We have the time available to devote to its implementation. It will get weather forecasts for the world, it will provide a global charting unobtrusive, prediction of tides and / or tidal streams to the world, and will provide to regularly send news, and also pictures, to his loved ones to reassure them. You will even be able to get the opportunity to write your adventures, create a blog to the attention of friends, and what else do I know.

On the other hand, I refute the widespread idea that we gain security. This is wrong. Only an EPIRB officially registered can trigger appropriate and effective rescue in case of disaster. The Internet is, nor an Iridium phone will do it. Except perhaps to alert in case of aggression on a specific area an association like STW who will relay the information.

In a previous post I mentioned the report Need/Price for choosing a computer system. Here I believe it is necessary to establish, before starting, the report Advantages/Constraints : what advantages do I intend to get from it in relation to the amount of worry it will cause me?. This report is all the more crucial to resolve for those who consider themselves “computer losers”.

Who that, moi ?