Small Vessel Navigation on the Mac

Personal computers are becoming more common aboard small vessels and can provide a versatile platform for GPS, digital charting, and even wireless email communications with the right software.

The Mac model most ideally suited to life afloat is probably the iBook. With its tough polycarbonate case, the iBook is equipped withstand the inevitable bumps and shocks associated with an onboard environment, and its battery life of up to six hours between charges is helpful aboard smaller craft with limited recharging facilities.

The base iBook makes a nice platform for navigation software with its 500 MHz G3 processor, 10 GB hard drive, 64 MB of RAM (upgradable to 576 MB), 12.1" 1024 x 768 TFT display, full size keyboard and trackpad, built-in 56K modem and 10/100Base-T ethernet, two USB ports, FireWire port, and built-in 24x CD-ROM drive (DVD and CD-RW also available).

However, an older PowerBook will work nicely as well. Mac-using North Carolina ophthalmologist Peter Van Houten, who is featured prominently on Kodak's digital imaging innovators website, is an avid sailor and pilots his Bristol 45.5 XT sail yacht with the help of a PowerBook 3400 running GPSy global positioning (GPS) satellite navigation software and NavimaQ navigation software. "This combination has saved my life once from my own stupidity," Van Houten says.

NavimaQ v3.02 navigation software for Macintosh can display uncompressed electronic charts in 8 levels of zoom (including a new 200% level which shows the chart larger than 100%), 256 color, black & white, and night vision. The user can click to zoom in one level, option click to zoom out one level, and use the scroll bars to control which area of the chart is being viewed. The default mode for the cursor is a zoom tool that allows the user to center the area to be zoomed in or out. The cursor can also draw an area that will be magnified. A movable Spyglass tool can be used to zoom in on one small area of a chart to see detail while zoomed out the lower zoom levels.

NavimaQ, which is Mac-only software, uses the electronic charts from Maptech (both ChartKit and Chartpack formats), SoftChart, and NDI, which are Canadian charts. Between these three companies, all of the coastal US, Canadian, and most popular overseas waters are covered.

The electronic charts are identical to the paper charts you are used to using. Because electronic charts are made from the paper charts, no detail is lost from the paper chart versions. At 100% zoom level the image is about three times the size of the paper chart.

Barb & Lary Baur, NavimaQ's developers, have been using Macs on board yachts since 1992. They've had a desktop Power Mac and three PowerBooks on board full time and say they have experienced no problems except for occasional monitor hissing on the Power Mac due to condensation. They found the desktop Mac drew a lot of power from their inverter and replaced it with a G3 PowerBook. The G3 runs full time off the 12v power.

The Baurs advise that computers should be left below unless you have a pilothouse or enclosed bridge. An occasional drip doesn't seem to bother older PowerBooks, but you shouldn't get them wet. They've found the display on the G3 PowerBook to be very sensitive to moisture, more so than their old 100 series 'Book.

They say that they have one user with two PowerBooks on board cruising the Pacific who has found that many of the other cruisers with Windows portable computers seem to be plagued constantly with hardware problems. He happily reports his Macs have been holding up just fine.

A boatbuilder friend of mine from here in Nova Scotia took a PowerBook 5300 with him and his family on a one year sabbatical cruise through the Caribbean and across the Atlantic to Ireland and the UK on his 50 foot Bristol Channel Cutter, and the computer performed and survived fine.

New with NavimaQ version 3.02, which was released last week, is the ability to automatically load the next chart while navigating as well as major improvements of the entire chart open process.

NavimaQ 3.02 features

• Chart Open: The Chart Open dialog box which comes up as NavimaQ starts has been redesigned to allow users to search more easily for charts. Charts can be searched by:
  • Position (such as Vessel, waypoint, logpoint or chartmark)
  • Chart file disk location (such as CD, hard drive, zip drive)
  • Chart File Type (ChartKit/NDI, Maptech Chart Pack or Softchart)
• Auto Load: NavimaQ 3.0 has the capability to auto load the next chart while navigating. The smallest area chart which contains the current vessel position is
• the chart that will be loaded while using this feature.
• Chart Picker Tool: shows the outline of other available charts in the Overview Window and the Chart Window.
• Other Charts submenu: allows the user to see a listing of other charts available for the area being viewed
• The Overview and Chart Window can both be actively updated at the same time.
• Directly display NOAA/BSB, NDI, and Maptech format charts from CD-ROM
• Spyglass function zooms and displays one small area of a chart for detail while simultaneously displaying a larger view
• Information windows float above the Chart Image (see below), and can be moved or hidden according to preference.
• Up to 250 waypoints per route
• Up to 250 log points per track
• Continuous GPS position plotting (cable included)
• Autopilot support
• GPS up/download support

NavimaQ's Information Windows float above the Chart Image Window and can be moved or hidden according to user preference:

• The Chart Info window is displayed when NavimaQ first opens, and contains information about the Chart, chart number, chart name, chart type, and other information including how many sections are in the chart and their names.
• Section Info contains information about the chart section such as the projection, depth units and skew angle (angle at which the chart was scanned) as well as other information.
• Cursor Info contains information about the cursor position, bearing and distance to vessel. If a waypoint file is open the Cursor info window also displays the bearing and distance to the selected waypoint.
• Vessel Info displays Vessel position, course over Ground, Speed Over Ground Velocity Made Good and time to go to next waypoint.
• Overview shows a thumbnail view of the entire chart section currently open with an icon for the vessel, and also displays a single-lined box to show the area that can be printed. Logpoints, Waypoints and Chartmarks can also be viewed on the Overview or the settings can be changed so that they will not be displayed.

Quintessence Designs notes:

Recently NDI (Canadian-based Electronic chart supplier Nautical Data International - 800-563-0634) gave us Mac users one more thing to worry about when they released version 3 of their Canadian BSB Format charts. They have decided to add an encryption process which requires Windows to run. We were not aware of this situation until it was brought to our attention troubleshooting with one of our users. However the folks at NDI are making good on this problem. If you have a version 3 CD just give them a call to get a new one and make sure you specify you want it without the encryption. We talked to Maptech about this problem because they are the people who actually maintain the file format specifications. Maptech assured us that this was not an official BSB format change, just an addition on the part of NDI. Send us an email if you have any questions about this issue.

NavimaQ Navigation Features:

Creating a waypoint file allows the users to enter in up to 250 waypoints per file, and use them as a route. Waypoints can be entered manually by entering coordinates or by double clicking on the chart while the cursor is in Waypoint Editing mode.

A logpoint file is created to log the vessel's position. A logpoint file is similar to a waypoint file in that it also can have up to 250 logpoints. You can have NavimaQ automatically log at intervals set by the user, or log a position any time the user wishes with a menu item, or keystroke. Logpoints may also be edited with the cursor by choosing Logpoint editing mode.

The charts can be marked by creating a new chartmarks file. New marks can then be entered manually or on the screen by double clicking in the desired position while in Chartmark Editing mode. A selection of icons are available or a spot can be labeled with up to 40 characters of text.

An A to B Tool can be used to determine the course and distance between two points on the chart. When using the A To B Tool cursor mode, double clicking places point A, then option double clicking places point B. The information about these two points is then displayed in a floating window.

NavimaQ can receive a signal from a GPS or Loran that sends NMEA 0183. The signal is received through the serial (modem or printer) port. The Mac half of the connection cable is included with NavimaQ. NavimaQ can also control an Autopilot that can receive the NMEA 0183 interface, and comes with a cable for the Macintosh side of the connection. If your GPS or Loran has a NMEA 0183 interface, then it should have come with a connector or wire to connect to the GPS and instructions on which wires should be connected and how. If your GPS or Loran didn't come with a wire you may need to contact the manufacturer to obtain it. By combining the instructions in NavimaQ with those that came with your GPS, the connection can be established.  If you have a USB Mac, you must get a serial to USB adapter to connect the GPS in the manner described above. Call us if you have any questions.

NavimaQ version 3.02 can communicate with certain GPS models to permit uploading and downloading of waypoints. As of this time, compatible GPS models include GPS models from Garmin and Magellan that support this feature. GPSs that support NMEA waypoint sentences.

Registered users of NavimaQ are entitled to one year of low cost upgrades from the manufacturer. The manufacturer is also available for unlimited tech support by phone and email. There is no extra charge for tech support, whether you just need a hand to walk through using the program the first time or you're having trouble connecting your GPS to the Mac.

Many users prefer to test drive a navigation program before purchase to get a feel for it's use and features. This full functioned version of NavimaQ comes with a sample chart so you can see how it looks. The user can fully test NavimaQ's functions with the exception of NMEA input, autopilot output, saving waypoint, chartmark and logpoint files. The demo version of NavimaQ can only open the demo chart (included) and may be downloaded from this Website.

Minimum System Requirements:

• Macintosh computer
• MacOS System 7.0 or better
• 8 MB RAM
• 4 MB Hard Disk
• Color or B/W display
• CD-ROM drive

NaviMaq sells for $189. If you are a registered NavimaQ user who purchased NavimaQ over a year ago, you can upgrade to version 3.02 for $49.95. This upgrade will give you special pricing for LunamaQ, Tides for Macintosh (coming soon) as well as low cost NavimaQ upgrades for a full year.

If you purchased NavimaQ in the last year you qualify for a low cost upgrade send an email and NavimaQ will send a free upgrade via email attachment or on floppy disk or CD.

WeathermaQ 2.04- HF Weatherfax Software

WeathermaQ is a companion application to NaviMaQ. Unlike Windows-based commercial programs available, WeathermaQ does not need additional hardware to demodulate the signal and a sound cable is included. Users just connect the sound output from their radio to the sound input on the Mac. Receive and save images automatically or manually as standard Macintosh pict files, zoom, rotate and print images once received.

The latest upgrade to WeathermaQ sports many improvements including the following features:

• Scheduled Reception- allows users to create schedules and choose which faxes you would like to receive.
• Added Brightness/Contrast control
• Option for user to enter a value when determining skew correction
• Variable resolution modes- receive faxes in low, medium & high resolution modes.
• User defined default fax length
• Fix and adjust sync breaks
• Full use of edit menu-cut copy and paste between faxes and other applications
• User has more control of automatic receive functions.
• Improved satellite fax reception
• 256 step gray scale
• Better memory management
• Still the same simple audio connection from SSB/SW to Mac Sound input/microphone port.

WeathermaQ Price: $149.
Special Price for Registered NavimaQ users: $129.

InstrumaQ 1.0 - NMEA Repeater Software

Also available is InstrumaQ NMEA Instrument Software for Macintosh. Instrument data can be viewed graphically as Analog (dials) or digital display. InstrumaQ communicates with NavimaQ, sharing the same serial port. NMEA instrument data can be saved as text and "replayed" from the NMEA data text file to simulate conditions.

Includes printed manual, 1 year low cost upgrades and unlimited tech support. Additional instrument modules will be available and can be easily added using drag and drop installation. Cost will vary based on Instrument.

System requirements:

• System 7, Power PC or 68k Macs
• NMEA multiplexer or port juggler recommended to use more than one instrument
• Receives and displays data from installed NMEA Instruments

Central Starter Module includes display for the following data:

• GPS and Loran
• Magnetic Compass
• Depth Finder
• Water Temperature
• Boat Speed
• Wind Angle and Speed
• Text Display of all NMEA data being sent and received

InstrumaQ sells for $119.

For more information about NavimaQ, WeatherMaq, and InstrumaQ software, visit the Quintessence Designs site.