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Added 03/06/2004

Well, Mr. Cheap has out smarted himself AGAIN!

It all started when my oldest son most graciously presented me with a GPS designed to be attached to a Palm V.  Never mind the fact that I didn't have a Palm V.  He had purchased a couple of them with the intention of having a moving map display of streets.  This gave me the brilliant idea of having a moving map display of nautical charts.  I thought the palm could be used as a backup to the backup computer which is used to backup the main navigational computer.  (When you own a boat with 6 foot draft on the Mississippi Sound you always think this way.)

  So I started a search for software that would be usable with the Palm.  Well, low and behold, I ran across Fugawi which has a Palm software component.  AND, Fugawi is the only navigational software that offers real time navigation with S-57 charts.  You remember S-57?  They are the new navigational charts that are available for download from NOAA via  the Internet for FREE.  Did I mention that they were FREE!!

  All that was necessary to navigate "cheaply" was to assemble the components and sail away in complete triple redundant safety.  Also, did I mention that the charts that I would be using were FREE!!

  The first step in my quest was to obtain a Palm V.  Of course, I didn't know that they had been discontinued for some time.  Not to be denied success I fired up the computer and did a comprehensive search for Palm V's listed for auction on Bay.  Surprisingly I found that the Palm came in two versions - Palm V (2MB of memory) and Palm Vx (8MB of memory).  I opted for the more expensive model as I calculated that I could sail 4 times as far without activating/uploading new charts.

  To make a short story long, I won a bid for a Palm Vx for the paltry sum of $88.  (Palm V's were selling for just under $50)

Next I was able to bid and win Fugawi ENC software (MSRP $199) for $162.50.  It is important to note that regular Fugawi without support for ENC charts was only $99 directly from the publisher.  Of course, I had to have the more expensive version.

Yahootee, Mr. Cheap is almost there.

The first hiccup came when I realized that Fugawi ENC software would not support ENC/S-57 charts unless it was running with either Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system.  My main navigational computer is an Itronix laptop that doesn't meet the minimum hardware requirements for W2K or XP.  So, I loaded Fugawi on my Win98 powered Itronix and resigned myself to navigating with Fugawi using BSB raster charts only.  This was no problem as I am already running Nobeltec Visual Mariner Software which uses BSB raster charts.

  First I had to install and configure the Palm Vx desktop software on the Itronix.  Then I had to install and configure the Fugawi software on the Itronix.  Then I had to load and configure the Fugawi software on the Palm Vx.  For me this was a three evening process.

  After only a few more long and tedious evenings of gaining familiarly with Fugawi software idiosyncrasies I was finally able to highlight, cut, paste, prepare, transfer and upload (hot sync) the chart to the Palm.                   .

My first chart segment was a section of chart 11372 that included Bay St. Louis.  Cripes, that simple 4 square mile section of chart consumed 7MB of the Palm's 8MB capacity.  I have just come to the stark realization that I "ain't goin nowhere" using the Plam Vx for navigation.  So I have just uninstalled the Palm Desktop software and the Fugawi navigational software.

  I just thought I would drop a note to all my friends and let them know if they start feeling like navigating "cheaply", that a Palm Vx and Fugawi is not the way to go.  If anyone knows differently, please let me know.

-Danny Crump-

Danny,

I found out about Fugawi's Win2K/XP requirement long ago. I thought I had passed the information along as I also run and Itronix 6250pro for onboard nav (as you know). I actually went the other way and tried to load Win2k to a 6250pro before I ordered the fugawi software. (I'm just cheaper than you I think )When that wouldn't work (I was able to get the accurate and cd drivers) I called fugawi and asked them what the heck, do you realize your leaving a bunch of us behind ? They didn't really give a hoot. So, I shelved my S-57 plans with the hope that another vendor would be supporting the format soon. I suspect that once fugawi gets a bit o' competition we may see the dam break and have all kinds of Nav software that read the S-57's, which in turn will make the old raster charts worth nothing and then we'll have all kinds of choices for all our older platforms.

Disclaimer: I wouldn't hold your breath quite yet..

;-)

Mark and Kathi Banks 1977 8.7 # 168

Semiramis

Stockton Sailing Club

Stockton, Ca.