...but that is a good thing! What I've got is a terrific Itronix military specs 'tough' laptop loaded to the gills with all the navigation software and charts that we are likely to need, and then some. It's waterproof, glows in the dark, and is internally protected against the slings and arrows of outrageous weather. The only thing it was not protected against was my stupidity in hooking it up to an external battery with the polarity reversed! However with some extraordinary help from the seller, and several trips across our 'longest undefended border' we have a tool which will help tremendously our project, and likely also survive the experience. If you want one too look for him on eBay by his handle 'ctsim'. Nothing but good things to say about the whole transaction.
Electronic charts are however only part of the equation, keeping in mind that part of our plan is to recreated the feel of 1759 when no good charts existed of the St. Lawrence, and James Cook was going about his business of producing the first accurately surveyed representations of the river. A gunter's chain, a plane table, an alidade, a sharp pencil, and a little trig is all it took. Bet you couldn't do it...
