A light breeze is blowing. The sky is a robin's egg blue, the temperature, a balmy 78 degrees. Looks like a nice day to head down to your office – the one at the marina.

On-board office space is becoming common, as boats get larger and better equipped and employers get more comfortable with a mobile workforce. Some boat builders are even providing office space on new models. The idea that you can get in a day's work – or at least pay some bills and answer some email – while sitting at anchor or in your slip is no longer just a daydream. Look around most marinas and you will find plenty of people doing just that.Glen Justice

If your goal is to join them, the first thing to do is to think about your work habits. Are you someone who is only going to have an occasional work day on the boat? If so, your needs may not be large. Perhaps you can get away with only a laptop, or even a PDA with email capabilities, such as a Blackberry, Palm or Treo.

If you plan to make working on the boat a regular part of your week, then you will need to do a bit more. Setting up a true floating office – one with all the standard cubicle comforts – requires some preparation. You need to address power consumption, phones, computer and peripherals, as well as keeping yourself comfortable with fans, air conditioning or heat. And you have to find space.

THE SPACE ISSUE

If you have an unused v-berth or aft cabin, you're in luck. For most boaters, however, finding space for an office without first tossing overboard fishing gear, the coffee maker or that large box of engine spares is a challenge.

The key is to think small: small-sized components for a small-sized space. Out of the way is good, if you can manage it. Perhaps you can claim a corner of the main living area, a bedroom or even one end of the dining table.

Another strategy is to vary your office location according to available space, which means mobile – perhaps even wireless –

components. You might also want to keep your work materials in a case or bag that is easy to transport.

Fred Foss, a computer systems engineer from Virginia, is on call 24/7. A frequent boater, Foss maintains a floating office consisting of a laptop computer, a wireless color printer and a data phone. He uses battery power some of the time, but relies mostly on his boat's generator when away from shore (and shore power).

"Since my marine office footprint is so small, I am even mobile within the confines of my boat," Foss said. "I might set up in the cabin in front of my satellite TV, or out on deck next to the beer fridge, or on the sun pad on the bow."

LAPTOP vs. DESKTOP

Choosing a computer for your onboard office is no different than choosing a machine for work. You already know the features you need and a glance through the newspaper circulars will tell you how much memory, storage and CPU speed you can get in the standard $700 to $2000 price range. Linda HoffBuilding an onboard office means finding space. Tools like a laptop and all-in-one printer can help.

The choice of laptop or desktop PC is mostly a matter of preference. Of course, you can't beat a laptop for sheer portability. It's easy to set up and to stash away under a seat cushion or in a compartment, and to carry it ashore. There's little need to worry about damaging it, either. A laptop, because of its very transience, is built to withstand a certain amount of rough treatment.

A desktop PC is more of a space hog and, once positioned, does not lend itself to being moved. Additionally, it needs a well-ventilated space, and screens and other peripherals may need to be mounted to keep them from flying in rough weather. The desktop PC does, however, have certain advantages over a laptop. It generally offers more computing power for less money, as well as a larger screen, expandable communications ports and greater hardware flexibility.

If you do a lot of your boating offshore, you might consider a specialized marine computer (see links below). These machines are usually a bit more expensive, but they are smaller than a home PC and usually come with soldered connections and other enhancements that make them more rugged.

If not, then well-known brands like HP, Dell, Toshiba, Sony, Lenovo and Apple offer more than enough options, and you can buy them online or off the shelf.

You may be tempted to combine boat and work computers, but most experts recommend against it. Constant Internet surfing and email communication vastly increase the chance of infecting your navigation computer with a virus or slowing it down with a bevy of work-related files and Internet cookies.

Carlos Alvarez, of Carlos Alvarez Consulting in Arizona, is a networking and wireless systems consultant with more than 20 years of experience and an avid boater. He doesn't mince words.

"I would never recommend a single computer for both navigation and work," he said. "Too risky."

ALL-IN-ONE PRINTER

While many people have computers aboard, the addition of a printer to your boat may be something new. Thankfully, printers have shrunk in both size and cost in recent years.Hewlett PackardHewlett Packard C6180 all-in-one printer

The all-in-one printer provides multiple functions in a single machine that, though somewhat larger and heavier than a simple printer, can be a distinct advantage in the confines of a boat.

The question becomes how many functions you need. Lower-priced models usually feature printing, scanning and copying only. By using fax software or a web-based service such as eFax, this may be all you need. If not, opt for a model with faxing capabilities.

Pay a bit more and you can buy a wireless model, which helps cut down on the clutter of unsightly, trip-inducing wires and increases your mobility around the boat. If you feel like typing on deck, these units allow you to print remotely. You'll even be able to operate without AC power for short periods of time.

But that's not all you need to consider. What about inkjet versus laser? The latter is generally heavier, but it also produces crisper print quality at faster print speeds. How important is that? It depends on your needs.

In any case, you'll want decent resolution – at least 600 x 600 dpi (dots per inch) – and a printer that operates using separate ink cartridges for each color. Inks aren't used at the same speed. If your printer uses an all-in-one cartridge, you'll be replacing all colors at the same time, even though only one color (usually black) may be out. Also, remember to buy extra cartridges. Get them online and they are likely to be cheaper – and they are delivered to your door.

Another consideration is mounting. Make sure the printer is secured to keep it from tumbling. Marine supply stores offer a variety of fasteners using Velcro, adhesives or screws that should do the job.

There are many different all-in-one models from which to choose, and sales and rebate offers are frequent, so you should have no trouble finding a printer. Among those consistently mentioned by consumer magazines and web sites are units by Hewlett Packard, Canon, Brother, Lexmark, Dell and Epson (see table for comparison of five models). Do your homework, read product reviews, talk to your friends and co-workers about their machines and visit a retail store.

PHONE AND INTERNET OPTIONS

Your phone options include land, cell and satellite. Land lines are fine for your home dock. If your boating is confined mostly to short trips, with lots of port time, a land line may be all you want or need. These phones take up more space than a cell, but you can count on good reception and you needn't worry about dropped calls.

On the other hand, a dedicated cell phone on your boat can be a compact office tool, as well as an extra measure of safety for relatively little money. Make it a camera phone and you'll always be prepared for guests.

At the same time, cell service can be erratic, with dropped calls and weak signals in some areas and no reception at all in others. Unless you venture out to sea, the reception you receive on land is a reasonable predictor of the reception you will receive on the water. Talk to people in your marina about what they use and how it works.

For areas with poor signals, an amplifier and arch-mounted antenna (see links below) can help in some cases, but it will not completely eliminate dropped calls or a lack of service. A cell phone signal booster amplifies an existing signal. If there is no signal at all, there is nothing to amplify. On the other hand, an amplifier may be able to boost a weak signal to useable strength. At a cost of $300 to $500, it may be a solution for some boaters, but read product reviews carefully and, if you can, get a product demonstration before you buy. Better yet, talk to someone in a marina who has one.

Handheld satellite phones, while portable and more reliable than cell phones, are larger, heavier and cost a great deal more. Prices have fallen in recent years, but most models still cost from $650 to more than $1,400 – plus monthly usage charges. It's a significant purchase, worthy of research, comparison shopping and product testing.

Selecting the right satellite phone also means evaluating the unit as a piece of safety equipment, which is beyond the scope of this article. But if you're going to be spending time in areas where land and cell service are not options, a satellite phone is worth a good look.

Of course, you can't discuss phones without addressing Internet access. There are many options available while in port, including old-fashioned dial up access, DSL (digital subscriber line), cable and Wi-Fi. On the water, cellular and satellite service dominate. For a full discussion of each, see our story at the link below.

POWER ISSUES

Any discussion of a floating office would not be complete without addressing power consumption.

Computer batteries can only last so long without recharging, so you're going to need an additional power source if you're using a laptop. Alvarez regards the universal adapter, available at virtually any computer, office supply or electronics store for between $60 and $100, as the best solution. TargusTargus surge protectorYou can, however, opt for a small power inverter, which will power your laptop directly from your DC receptacle. In this case, he advises getting one with a continuous rating that is greater than that of your computer's adapter. Small inverters generally run between $40 and $70 at boating or electronics stores.

Computers, printers and other gear running on your boat's systems may not hog power like a microwave, but they do increase the drain. A typical laptop, for example, is rated at about 80 watts, with running usage averaging in the 40-watt range. An all-in-one printer may consume only 0.3 watts when it's off, but that figure jumps to around 10 in sleep mode and 30 when printing.

Of course, there is a lot that can be done to offset these requirements. Adjusting a laptop's screen brightness and configuring its power settings appropriately will help, as will turning it off when not in use.

Another option is a solar laptop charger, which comes in two configurations. Solid crystalline panels are composed of numerous dark, reflective cells that are soldered together. These rigid panels are mounted on pilothouse roofs, bimini tops, decks and other sun- soaked surfaces. There are also thin film panels, which feature silicone cells that are less efficient than the solid crystalline variety but better in low-light conditions and which provide flexible mounting options. Film panels are what you'll find installed on backpacks, folding solar chargers, solar rolls, laptop cases and laptop wraparounds.

Purchase a solid solar panel of sufficient wattage and you can power your laptop, as well as a bilge pump, television, coffee maker and other devices, at least for a few hours each week. You'll also pay a fairly hefty price. Panels can run from $600 to more than $1,000, and that does not count costs associated with mounts, electrical supplies and installation. The panels are fairly large too.

A film panel simply cannot produce the same amount of wattage. Even the large folding chargers and rolls do not pack enough punch to independently power your laptop, but they do provide sufficient wattage to recharge the battery or, if you connect when your laptop is running, to slow the drain. (Backpacks equipped with the thin panels provide significantly less power.)

Thin panels come in a space-saving package and at a lower price. Expect to pay between $250 and $500 for folding panels, and less for backpacks. One caveat: the thin panels are less durable than their crystalline cousins. Warranties typically last for two to five years, versus 20 years or more for solid panels.

SURGE PROTECTION

As with a home office, you need a surge protector to shield your computer and printer against fluctuations in electrical power. These multiple-outlet power strips can be damaged by power surges, so invest in one that has a light to indicate proper function. If your computer's Internet access is provided via phone lines, you will need a surge protector with a phone input jack; if it is provided via coaxial cable, you'll need a cable surge protector.KensingtonKensington 33197 power adapter

Quality and price vary considerably, from less than $10 to more than $150 for those with an uninterruptible power supply in the form of a backup battery. At a minimum, make sure that your unit has an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rating. It is also a good idea to unplug your office equipment and the power strip when you leave the boat.

Those are the basics. You'll also need CDs or a portable drive for backups, a supply of printer paper and maybe a sealed plastic container to keep it in, plus the usual assortment of pens, stamps and desk gizmos. But we covered the big stuff.

Now it's up to you to see whether a great day on the water and a hard day at the office can actually be one and the same.

Linda Hoff is a former communications manager turned freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in Woman’s Outlook magazine and on Rezoom.com. She has won awards for corporate filmmaking and for her first full-length film script.