Hi all. I thought I would tell you of a new item which I have added to the equipment list of Lorac. I contacted Midbay Marine and had a Marine Grade computer built. It is wired DC and draws very little power @ 3.2 amps, including the 17" monitor. As power use is a huge concern in a Baba 30 this was a great addition as my Laptop was eating 8.4 amps. The computer is in a mini case which has a teak face. The 17" monitor is also teak faced. Boris also sold me a GPS puck which acquires below deck very rapidly and is powered by a USB port in the computer. I run Seaclear II and have all the NOAA charts for the U.S. coast and inland waterways. Also; Boris set me up with an AIS receiver, which also connects via a serial port. This tells me of shipping traffic which is a great comfort in the Houston Ship Channel. The AIS displays the course, size, speed, name and other information about the vessel approaching. It also alarms of potential collisions with these behemoths. An added bonus is that when the ships are in range, I can radio them, as I know their names and can get weather and other information while I am offshore. With the monitor mounted at the Nav Station and the use of my trusty wireless mouse, I am able to use the computer from the cockpit. The computer also plays movies, CD's and links to the stereo so my Daughter can play her music from the computer library. I can move the monitor from the nav station to the salon area using the bronze mounting bracket which was custom built, for the Baba 30, by Midbay marine.

I have a Garmin color chart plotter at the helm of Lorac, but it does not compare to the new computer for ease of use or detail.

If any of you are interested in the above items, contact Boris at midbaymarine.com. If you would like to see pictures of my computer, click on the photo section of his Web site. It is the first 8 pictures. Boris is a great guy and will help you with anything you need.

If anyone is curious, I DO NOT work for Midbay Marine nor do I get any form of remuneration from them. I just endorse any business which provides a great product at a very good price and does not try to force a sale.

Fair winds, blue water.
Rick & Terry Williams
S/V Lorac; Baba 30 # 71

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Received on Wed Jan 3 17:03:58 2007