Most ECONOMICAL ways to equip cruising sailboat w/ nav equipment + backups?

[tiopirata]

If you can't navigate without electronica stay ashore. It's not that difficult.

[kas_1611]

Secondhand perhaps?

I run a set of 2010 Raymarine sensors (ST70) with my C70 MFD and they all work perfectly. Navionics still provide charts on the Compact Flash memory card so no issues there. Check EBay and you might find a system for pennies in the pound of a complete new install.

I've seen people using an iPad (or other tablet) as their main electronic navigation aid using C-Map or Navionics apps (other charting apps are available) which if teamed up with an NMEA to Wifi converter also display the info from depth sounders, wind gauges and other sensors.

I run Open CPN on my MacBook with a USB GPS gizmo but not as a navigation system as such. I use it more for logging where I've been, interesting spots to drop the hook and as a journal. I wouldn't use a computer as a nav system, especially not a Mac, as you can get a made for purpose, waterproof, system for the same money plus keeping a computer charged puts a fair drain on the batteries.

[JPA Cate]

Friends of ours circumnavigated using paper charts, sextant, almanac, etc., for navigation. The only electronic aids were vhf, and a depth sounder.

Ann

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by GILow

OpenCpn for navigation on a refurbished laptop.

A line with a lead weight as a sounder.

A wet finger as a wind gauge.

I love it. Some paper charts help also.

[JPA Cate]

Yarn, or old audio tape for telltales.....

[GILow]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Friends of ours circumnavigated using paper charts, sextant, almanac, etc., for navigation. The only electronic aids were vhf, and a depth sounder.

Ann

VHF and a depth sounder!?

What kind of super rich capitalist b——ds do you fraternise with Ann?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by 0_bob_0

I think they used the change in water colour as a hint to change course - not really coastal navigation - ocean navigation - they made it round the world without mishap - maybe never saw land though

Ha ha, I just saw this and I couldn’t help thinking... “oh crap, the water is brown, we must be up that creek again.”.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by magentawave

What are your suggestions for the most economical way to equip a sailboat with navigation equipment and AIS for long distance off-the-grid cruising + backups?

Please list in order of use with your primary method first. For example, if your primary equipment is an X brand GPS chartplotter in the cockpit + laptop running X software second + iPad or Android tablet running X app third + iPhone fourth + handheld GPS fifth + sextant sixth, then please list everything like this...

1) X brand GPS chartplotter mounted on bulkhead in cockpit.
2) Laptop with X software.
3) iPad or Android tablet with X app.
4) iPhone with X app.
5) X brand handheld GPS.
6) X brand sextant.

Again, I'm not a rich guy so cost matters. What is the CHEAPEST but still effective way to do this?

Thanks

You need to know where you are, where you are going, heading indication, speed, depth when near land, charts, weather (barometer), and time.

A portable Garmin GPS at the helm will provide most of these, I suggest you take at least two of the same make & model connected to the house bank and a large stack of batteries for power failure.

Reliable Depth sounder to 400'.

A cabin Laptop with chart software because the portable GPS chart is too hard to read but does give everything else. Make sure the laptop software can talk/transfer routes to the handheld GPS. I use Coastal Explorer software but many good comments are made about Open CPN which is free and I have never used.

My career was as a USAF navigator and I have made hundreds (maybe thousands) of celestial shots but see no need for celestial these days.

I don't recommend the use of any shartphone chart software; there are no cell towers offshore.

Vespermarine Watchmate 850 AIS with Vespermarine SP 160 Splitter.

You have not mentioned offshore communications but the most economical is a Garmin InReach.

Weather forecasting either via SSB (ICOM) or Iridium GO.

Don't forget your compass.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[Ramona]

I use a used Dell Wyse computer with a 24 inch monitor and a SIRF4 chip puck running OpenCPN. Garmin handheld as backup.

I have just bought a Standard Horizon GX2200E VHF radio to replace an old troublesome VHF. It has an inbuilt GPS and AIS reciever and I reckon it would make a good basis for a nav system. Add something like a Dell Wyse and drive a 24 inch LED 12v TV.

[barnakiel]

- 2 x gps / glonass / beidou receivers any brand (we use Garmin 73),


- s/h paper charts,


- an Android tablet with OpenCPN


total about USD 400 and lets you get to anywhere


pretty economical I think


AIS and sextant are nice haves but hardly essential



b.

[rmesfo]

Originally Posted by 0_bob_0

so old school

But works great all the same!

[captmikem]

Ebay.
You can get the pervious generation cheap and it works just as well.
I just looked, basically radar $275, mfd with charts $375, autopilots galore.
You dont need active AIS and passive is cheap even new.
Less than a Thousnd bucks and you are good to go with name brand marine equipment designed for a marine environment.
M

[ericoh88]

magentawave


If you hang around boats and marina long enough, you will come across new owners who will upgrade everything on their boats. Boat owners who are selling their boats, may want to sell the small items from handheld GPS to life raft. One yacthie in Pangkor upgraded his water maker and gave away the old unit to neighbour. He offer me his Furuno autopilot computer because he upgraded to a new model Furuno.



IMHO, I want a dedicated chartplotter visible from the helm. Matsutec has a unit that runs on their free map (download from website) and optional commercial charts, GPS and AIS.



Vespermarine AIS watchmate is a neat tool to monitor those big ships coming into your zone. In Singapore and Phuket - Thailand, AIS is compulsory .



I use Raymarine C90W, OpenCPN with free C-MAP and Navionics . I find the external GPS puck (Globalstar) will lose its position after several hours, maybe this unit is faulty. I have Navionics on 2 iPhones and 1 iPad (with sim, those without sim slot do not GPS receiver built in, I use mine without a sim card).


I have an old B&G depth sounder. May add the new type with fish finder

[GILow]

Originally Posted by ericoh88

.... I find the external GPS puck (Globalstar) will lose its position after several hours, maybe this unit is faulty.

Have you checked if it needs a firmware update? This sort of fault is often firmware related.

[NorthCoastJoe]

We just did a overnight run from the Sacramento delta to the San Francisco airport area. Nothing high or low tech, a chart book and our eyeballs all night. We saw no other boats after dark except one ferry. I guess it depends on how insecure you are, and what you have to spend on fancy stuff. We have a chartplotter, and sextant on the ocean boat, KISS.