Electronics update for cruising

[travalab]

So we are looking at possibly purchasing a boat, the current electronics package is this:

Two Raytheon radar systems, one antenna on mast, the other on a pole in the cockpit. Raytheon C120 GPS/plotter at nav station, C80 at helm, two Furuno GP-32 GPS's at nav station. Simrad AP 16 autopilot, Brooks and Gatehouse apparent windspeed/direction indicator, depthsounder, knotmeter/log, all (2006) mounted on pedestal guard. Ritchie pedestal-mounted compass. Icom IC-M700 Pro marine SSB transceiver, two Icom IC-M304 VHF radio transceivers. Icom CommandMike2 RAM. ACR Sat 3 406 mhz. EPIRB. Firdell Blipper mast-mounted radar detector. Backstay insulated for use as SSB antenna. Spare VHF antenna mounted on radar pole.

Looking at this setup, what would you recommend updating? The plan is to use this boat for cruising the next 5 years, hopefully extended cruising but for sure New England, the Bahamas, and Caribbean.

Is it worth starting what the boat comes with and upgrading the particularly antiquated parts, or is it best to tear everything out and start new?

[Paul L]

Add an AIS before you leave. Use the rest for a season then decide what would be best to spend your money on.

[slowpoker]

What would you do with all the electronics you pull out?
Have you tested each and how they work with each other?
Even the Ritchie compass you would remove?
Think about the many new wires and installations and hours of planning and work and the holes left behind and new holes you may need to make.
Could make those trips with just paper charts, a depth sounder, a VHF radio and a hand bearing compass. Well, GPS and chocolate chip cookies would be a plus.

[Littlechay]

As Paul said above. Use it all and make sure it all works. Then use it some more before deciding what to replace. The radios are good, as Furuno GPS' you won't gain much except a new look by upgrading those.

The Raytheon (wasn't it already Raymarine by 2006?) stuff was quite well built then, probably better than their current e series. The only thing that you will gain is some eye candy, some weather and AIS functions by upgrading the plotters. You'll get touch screen on most of the modern plotters too but personally I hate touch screen as it fails when you need it most (ie with wet mushy fingers). You will also possibly get more choice of cartogrpahy depending on what you want to go for in terms of upgrade.

Definitely add an AIS receiver. I think I'd just by on of the new VHF radios with integrated AIS or a Vespermarine watchmate for now if I was you.

Remember that changing out all that gear is not trivial. Most of the new equivalents will use NMEA 2000 (N2K) networking so none of your old cabling will be much use. It all depends of the route you want to take but you will have to factor in significant time/money budget to replace everything.

[daletournier]

The boat I just purchased has older raytheon. Im doing exactly what Paul has suggested, upgrading the AIS to a transponder unit but leaving the rest. With open cpn as well as navionics on the tablets phones etc there's no shortage of chartplotters/gps.
Depending on where your heading a second self steering setup maybe worth considering.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[nathanielg]

I'm considering replacing my chart plotter with Open CPN on a Mac and a waterproof touchscreen monitor in the cockpit. Still have to do some research before I'm certain that's what I want to do. My boat's a 2006 with Raymarine electronics from that era - a little newer than yours, it seems.

By the way - the solution for wet fingers on a touchscreen would be a stylus. Just hang one on a cord from the binnacle! Also keep the screen covered to keep it from getting wet - remove cover as needed.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by nathanielg

I'm considering replacing my chart plotter with Open CPN on a Mac and a waterproof touchscreen monitor in the cockpit. Still have to do some research before I'm certain that's what I want to do. My boat's a 2006 with Raymarine electronics from that era - a little newer than yours, it seems.

By the way - the solution for wet fingers on a touchscreen would be a stylus. Just hang one on a cord from the binnacle! Also keep the screen covered to keep it from getting wet - remove cover as needed.

Isn't a chartplotter needed most urgently in violent storm conditions, when the boat may be temporarily out of control or off-course?

I sell and install boat electronics and always try to dissuade prospects from touch screen only displays on sailboats.

It is pretty hard to touch (finger or stylus) a screen exactly where on wishes, when all hell breaks loose, or even just during a spirited sail with some waves and gusty wind.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by ramblinrod

Isn't a chartplotter needed most urgently in violent storm conditions, when the boat may be temporarily out of control or off-course?

I sell and install boat electronics and always try to dissuade prospects from touch screen only displays on sailboats.

It is pretty hard to touch (finger or stylus) a screen exactly where on wishes, when all hell breaks loose, or even just during a spirited sail with some waves and gusty wind.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by ramblinrod

Isn't a chartplotter needed most urgently in violent storm conditions, when the boat may be temporarily out of control or off-course?

I sell and install boat electronics and always try to dissuade prospects from touch screen only displays on sailboats.

It is pretty hard to touch (finger or stylus) a screen exactly where on wishes, when all hell breaks loose, or even just during a spirited sail with some waves and gusty wind.

No... that's when you need a decent compass to hand steer by.

[Littlechay]

Originally Posted by nathanielg

By the way - the solution for wet fingers on a touchscreen would be a stylus. Just hang one on a cord from the binnacle! Also keep the screen covered to keep it from getting wet - remove cover as needed.

It isn't a solution! I have over 100k Miles experience with touch screens. The problems go further than wet fingers. Dried salt at the opposite end of the spectrum of dampness is a major cause of problems with the touch response.

Many of the more affordable models including the ubiquitous Raymarine are way too bright at night even on their night settings at least when the contrast is high enough to see anything.

Parallax problems mean that they are difficult to touch in the right place if you are not in the perfect position in front of them; reaching across when on a heeled boat for example.

Difficult to touch in the right place, let alone drag and drop, when the boat is heaving and pitching all over the place.

The ergonomics when using the knobs and buttons on the devices primarily designed for use as touch screens is crap.

Stay with your old gear. It's proven and provided that it still all functions is probably nicely run in. Check the hours on the RADAR magnetrons with the expected lifetime marked in he book. I expect it is nowhere near the replacement mark.

[accomplice]

Originally Posted by nathanielg

[...]

Also keep the screen covered to keep it from getting wet - remove cover as needed.

No, don't do this!

If that screen is providing your AIS, radar, navigation and other data, you'll be glancing at it every few minutes for days. IMHO, keeping it covered would not only be impractical, but also unsafe.

If I came on-deck and saw one of my crew had covered over the radar display, I'd probably have to calm myself down before I talked with them about it.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by accomplice

No, don't do this!

If that screen is providing your AIS, radar, navigation and other data, you'll be glancing at it every few minutes for days. IMHO, keeping it covered would not only be impractical, but also unsafe.

If I came on-deck and saw one of my crew had covered over the radar display, I'd probably have to calm myself down before I talked with them about it.

I've seen people take black plastic garbage bags and put them over their pedestal mounted touchscreen while on passage. Its a useless design if that is needed.

[Littlechay]

Originally Posted by Paul L

I've seen people take black plastic garbage bags and put them over their pedestal mounted touchscreen while on passage. Its a useless design if that is needed.

Yea - and the wind is going to destroy a garbage bag and blow it into the sea fairly quickly. Lets keep the crap out of the ocean.

One idea that I have seen for the night vision problem on inside mounted plotters is to cover the screen with neutral density gels (the ones that are used for studio and stage lighting). It's pathetic but if you have one of the models that can't be set up correctly for night viewing it works - until you want to touch the screen!

[accomplice]

Originally Posted by Littlechay

[...]
One idea that I have seen for the night vision problem on inside mounted plotters is to cover the screen with neutral density gels (the ones that are used for studio and stage lighting). It's pathetic but if you have one of the models that can't be set up correctly for night viewing it works - until you want to touch the screen!

I'm sure there are plotters out there that are always too bright, but I cannot imagine using the dimmest settings on our ancient Furuno. Brightness is adjustable 1-8; 3 is dim at night and 2 requires eyes well adapted to night vision. I've never seen 1.

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by nathanielg

I'm considering replacing my chart plotter with Open CPN on a Mac and a waterproof touchscreen monitor in the cockpit. Still have to do some research before I'm certain that's what I want to do. My boat's a 2006 with Raymarine electronics from that era - a little newer than yours, it seems.

By the way - the solution for wet fingers on a touchscreen would be a stylus. Just hang one on a cord from the binnacle! Also keep the screen covered to keep it from getting wet - remove cover as needed.

Try using a stylus in any reasonable sea state. Rotary knobs rule for tactile feedback.

sv Sedoza Sakona Liberty 458 hull 12