I've tried Imray, RYA, Cmap and Maptech Offshore Navigator Lite software packages, at sea in sailing yacht, and after some time have fixed on navtech in my trusty laptop with inverter and specially built little teak book rack which sits behind chart table screen allowing the laptop screen to be viewable over top and a mouse on table. I have some vision loss but this works very well for me. I print out routes and chartlets on A4, file in plastic pouches to take on deck for pilotage. I have sailed a Sadler 34 from Chichester, west about to Ireland then north to Orkney and Shetlands and down to NE England during a series of long weekends and one week's leave this year so have proved its worth. The laptop often simply sits on the table with a bit of non-slip sheeting under in fine weather. Only problem is associated with windows software and is overcome by the starting up sequence. Its a very sensible alternative to a chartplotter, also can pick up weather and nav data on laptop, send email, video, DVDs, music, digital camera photos, etc carry Laptop in amoured plastic box to and from boat when in Dinghy. As you can see I'm a convert to Maptech lite and will probably update to Pro when I need 3d underwater facility! but my chart case, folios and sailing direction bag are always with me. fair winds, lee ho! John Harris - Caol ila

Thanks, John, It's always great to hear that someone has found something that works for them in practice! All the products make so many promises on the box, but it's only when you put them to use that you find the snags (if any).
Could you take a pic of your laptop in position in its custom book rack, and post it in the gallery, to give the rest of us some ideas?
Thank you again
Cathy

Cathy, Thanks for your response. I shall email you (because have been unable to paste it into this reply) a pix of laptop taken on mobile with Maptech in use in rack at charttable on last boat (Sadler 29) icon shows boat near Craighouse on Jura. Clutter on chart table includes sextant box, GPS with Cmap and handheld GPS feeding repeater at bridge deck. Will try to provide details of present set up if people are really ionterested. I made the rack as double duty item at an adult education evening class using scrap teak from old bench! When not employed for laptop, which can face the navigator or crew as part of on board entertainment or briefing, holds two banks of A4 format books approx 50 mm thick, ie copies of sailing directions, etc. I suspect that commercially made units are available also. Use a little foam to cushion the laptop and stop wobble but you will see in pix how well protected the computer is. Lee Ho! John Harris, Caol ila.

Thanks John, look forward to seeing pix!

I own a Macgregor 26x. The galley area is not ideal but it does have a very nice cooker with hinged glass lid on top. I place my laptop with non slip feet on top of this. Now for the good bit. I use a simple bog standard sail tie to fix it in position. It is the one with a simple buckle at one end while the other has several inches of velcro. The strap goes around the laptop and under the glass lid back up around snug and it just sits there. The placing is terrific too as i can see the charts, albeit with some squinting from the cockpit area.

I use the admiralty chart plotter as I was fortunate enough to be given it for free. It is very basic but it does work and the charts are bang up to date. I would not buy it though. There are far better products about at similar prices or even a little more. The extra would be worth it in my viev. The most annoying cosmetic thing is the huge space taken up by the menu screen on the left. A massive improvment would be the ability to re size or even get rid of it on demand. My biggest gripe technically is that the software has all the tidal data it needs to set a course to steer, BUT, requires the operator to input tidal set and speed. Why??? It should just do it automatically. If these two things were sorted I might by the newer products as they come along. If they stay as they are, I will just keep this one of the Solent and local area until it becomes too far outdated say the end of 2007. Then check this forum to decide which one to get next.