Madehn,
This exact subject was just discussed here this past week....in two different threads....and one had an almost exact same requirement / cruising area as you...
Here, are detailed answers for someone with a big
budget and a big (54' - 56') boat, primarily looking for a more long-range cruising set-up....
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1766411
But here, you have something almost directly on point!!
Here, Laura Jane asked about outfitting a 1983 Sabre with new electronics, for cruising " for coastal cruising and then hopefully a trip to the Caribbean, Bahamas, BVI and Lesser Antilles." With a budget of $5000 or less, all-in...
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/guide-to-marine-electronics-142136.html#post1771912
And, the list is fairly detailed and specific as to "what", "why", and "how much"....but not "brand"/"model" specific...so, maybe I should add that here???
Quote:
Originally Posted by Madehn
ok so i think we are about two years away from the boat and the money both being ready to head out cruising.-- We intend to start in the Bahamas and then head south on our Gulfstar 51. Before we go, we are going to refit the electronics on the boat- soup to nuts-- so the question is - if it were your boat what would you put on it- specific by brand-- cost should be middle of the road for the complete package- some items could be top of the line others low but overall package should be middle of the road
|
Here 'ya go...
Assuming your
cruise "to/thru the Bahamas and then heading south"....these are mostly my words from the other thread with "brand"/"model" specific recommendations in
red...
I hope this helps....
1) Marine VHF-DSC-FM, with a good masthead antenna, fed w/ low-loss cable (properly weather-proofed)...
Figure about $500 - $750 for new hi-quality
radio, new low-loss coax/connectors, and new
antenna...all-in...
I prefer Icom....Icom M-604, to be exact...although recently discontinued, and replaced by the M-506, I still prefer the M-602/M-604....
The M-604 (and its predecessor, the M-602, of which I own two of), have an excellent reputation for not only 100% reliability, but also of excellent transmit and receive audio quality....
IC-M604 VHF Marine Transceiver - Features - Icom America
If you're looking 18 months down the road, the M-506 is the current best-of-the-bunch....and probably will still be so in 18 months...(and the 506 has a built-in AIS receiver as well..)
Currently about $650, with the AIS rec, or about $500-550 without....pricey, but worth it!!
IC-M506 VHF Marine Transceiver - Features - Icom America
(except for some mic cord vendor issues of years past, I can highly recommend Icom radios 100%!)
(and, when heading
offshore / to
remote locales, a spare antenna and short length of cable w/ pre-assembled connectors...)
2) Depth-sounder, accurate and calibrated....
Typically incorporated in with other electronics, but can be stand-alone
depth sounder....figure about $500 - $750, all-in...
Exact brand/model may be determined by either your personal preference or by what other brand instruments you have now, or have chosen....but...
But, my recommendation is Raymarine....(the transducers are all going to be Amair anyway, so it's really about what display you want and how reliable you need it to be...)
And, being that you're intending to cruise the thin waters of the Bahamas where accurate and reliable depth readings are very important....I strongly recommend Raymarine...
Raymarine Instrument Displays
Although I have a particular affinity to the Raymarine ST-60+ instruments, Tri-Data and Graphic's, the new i50's look good, as do the new i60's....best ask someone who's using these new ones, though...
(along with a lead-line)
3) Autopilot or "self-steering"....an almost absolute "must have" for long-range cruising,
ocean crossing, etc....but, for coastal cruising this can be pushed down the list, if budget is being squeezed....
A good quality, heavy-duty, below-deck, autopilot is going to be the BIG ticket item here....but take it from me, this is NOT an area to skimp in....(if budget is squeezed, skimp elsewhere...such as items way down the list...)
Figure about $3000 - $3500...all-in
Here again, I prefer Raymarine....reliable, easy-to-fix / get parts for if you ever do have a problem, and easy-to-use as well....
Raymarine Autopilots
4) GPS....depending on the model, usually multiple GPS's.... (and spare
batteries for the handheld GPS's...)
I use/recommend Raymarine Raystar GPS, which is very good...and this is nowadays mostly a choice based on what "chartplotter" you choose...
RS130 Features
For handheld GPS / portable GPS, I use/recommend Gamin...
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-t...dhelds-p1.html
Depending on model, features,
screen size, etc....this can range from $100 - $300...(even small chartplotters can be had for well under $1000...)
5) EPIRB, properly registered (updated every 2 years) and tested annually...
Figure about $400 - $500...(here again, skimping is a no-no...)
I use/recommend ACR GlobalFix Pro....although some like the somewhat more complex GlobalFix iPro....
https://www.acrartex.com/products/marine/
EPIRB Activation? What happens/How to improve rescue odds
6) Handheld VHF-DSC-FM radio, w/ spare battery...
Figure about $200 - $300 (including spare battery)...
I prefer the Icom M-92D....full DSC and built-in GPS, and has active noise-cancelling, etc...
IC-M92D VHF Marine Transceiver - Features - Icom America
Using my general dollar figures, this comes out to be a bit above your budget...about $5000 to $6000 over all, all-in...
BUT...
But, you / your boat may already have some of these things and/or you may find that you can do without the "hi-quality" units that I was figuring ballpark pricing of....
So, the list above
should be good for you!!
And, that's pretty much it for the "must haves"...
.along with decent charts (Explorer's Charts for the Bahamas), and a simple $100 portable SW/SSB receiver, the list above will get you all along the US coast, to/from the Bahamas, and
Caribbean, etc. (and pretty much around the world), safely....
Most of the other electronics are in the "nice to have" / "want" category...
(of course we are assuming that you'll have the boat equipped with all the required nav lights, etc. so that is not really part of this "electronics" discussion...)
And, in the "nice to have" category:
7) Weather info / forecast access equipment...
At the least, a simple $100 portable SW/SSB receiver, will give you access to US NWS Offshore and Hi-seas VOICE weather forecasts....
WeFax,
Voice, NAVTEX, and SafetyNet
reception equipment, such as
HF Radio / Marine SSB, NAVTEX rec, INMARSAT-C, etc...
I prefer the Icom M-802 Marine HF-DSC-SSB Transceiver (i.e. "Marine SSB")...
IC-M802 HF Marine Transceiver - Features - Icom America
Icom SSB Radio Kits & Components
Fore details of what works, what is needed, etc. have a look here....
Offshore / Hi-Seas Weather data / forecasts
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...zdjTJjHlChruyY
[I'd also include a good ext. Wi-Fi set-up (about $250...) and/or an ext cellular/3g/4g/LTE antenna set-up, here in this category....as these can be very useful for accessing weather info/forecasts when in port, anchored, and/or close-to shore sailing coastally...as well as allow easy /
cheap e-mail and
phone connectivity to the outside world when in port or in near coastal waters...
Have a look at IslandtimePC's systems...
Marine WiFi Systems ]
8)Collision avoidance electronics, such as AIS and Radar...
a) Class B AIS is getting inexpensive enough and will soon become commonplace, but I doubt will become ubiquitous unless there is gov't mandates (let's hope not)....so, although it's not a "must have", having a Class B AIS transponder is good idea...
Figure about $850 - $1000, all-in...
I prefer the Vesper Marine systems....particularly their "Watchmate" AIS systems....
Marine AIS | Collision Warning System | Vesper Marine
WatchMate 850 AIS Transponder | Vesper Marine
Or Emtrak AIS transponder, with a Vesper AIS Watchmate display...
https://em-trak.com/
b) Radar is useful in some places where visibility is compromised or there are many vessels/obstructions to navigate around, and darn near a necessity in someplaces (i.e. FOG)....but
in other places (Caribbean, etc.) is never needed...
So, depending on "where"/"how" you sail, radar can be near the top of the "want" list, or on the "never need it" list...
If you include this with a
chartplotter, it will add about $1000 - $1500....but, for YOUR application it is almost unnecessary....
Raymarine Marine Radar
9) Long range radio communications equipment....such as Marine SSB (HF-DSC-SSB radio)...
If this wasn't already handled above in item #7, here is some more detail...
For most offshore sailors / cruisers in
remote locales, this is also part of their "weather access equipment" (see #7 above)....so, you may already have this covered above...
But, once you are out of cellular/mobile
phone range (a few miles offshore at best), this is your only link to the outside world....for weather,
communications, telephone connections, emergencies/distress calling, contacting other
boats, e-mails, etc....without this, you're on-your-own...
IC-M802 HF Marine Transceiver - Features - Icom America
Icom SSB Radio Kits & Components
Figure about $2800 - $3000, all-in...
New HF-DSC Explanation and LIVE Demonstration Videos
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ga2zYuPozhUXZX
Marine SSB Stuff (how-to better use/properly-install SSB)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ZDo_Jk3NB_Bt1y
Icom M-802 Instr Videos(basic-adv) & LIVE DSC-Distress Call
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...rC-8QKVyMb4tVr
Please note that these next items (#10 - #14) I am NOT recommending for you, nor your application....but rather these are what I included in the other thread, when discussing all "nice-to-have" electronics for offshore cruising, especially to remote areas and ocean crossings...so, you can ignore them all, if you want...
10) Second
EPIRB, and/or PLB's...
Another few hundred dollars....
Here again, I prefer ACR...
11)
Chartplotter and electronic charts (but this is typically incorporated into a "radar" unit, and is covered in item #8 above...)
Depending on size and features, these can run from $600 - $4000...
I prefer Raymarine....
Marine Multifunction Displays | Chartplotter GPS
12) Some type of "sailing instruments",
wind and boat speed instruments....
(although having a "boat speed"
sensor can be very important to understand how the
current is effecting you...the set/drift....and I find it VERY helpful....the unfortunate fact is, that most new sailors/cruisers don't use this info much...)
I prefer Raymarine...
Raymarine Instrument Displays
Figure about $1000....
13) Some type of "sat comm"
gear....
Although, for some serious offshore sailors and round-the-world types, an INMARSAT-C terminal (as described above in the weather access equipment category, #6 above), will have already been fitted from the list above....there are many less serious cruisers who may find a handheld sat phone (especially one with a "docking station" and ext ant.), such as an
Iridium phone to be a nice thing to have....as it can provide a second way to make phone calls / get e-mails when at sea, as well as serve as a back-up means of accessing weather info/forecasts....
https://www.iridium.com/ProductList....ctCategoryID=1
https://www.satellitephonestore.com/...inals/handheld
Figure about $1500 - $2000, or more....all-in...
14) Entertainment electronics....such as a nice stereo (w/
cockpit speakers mounted WELL AWAY from any compasses!), TV,
DVD Player, digital cameras, etc...
For stereo I prefer Pioneer or Sony...for TV I prefer Sony or Panasonic...
Figure a few hundred dollars as a minimum....up to as much as $1000...
[Please take note that items, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14....can be very easily rearranged, depending on both personal tastes and where/how you'll be sailing/cruising...
]
BTW, you didn't mention anything about your electrical system, alternative energy system, etc...
BUT...
But, understand that ALL of this stuff needs electricity to work!!!
And, the more "electronics" you have, the more "electricity" you'll need!!
Please consider this as more "sage electronics advice"....you cannot design an electronics system without also considering your electrical system, power consumption, and generating/storage capabilities!!!
Madhen, I do hope this helps you out some....but FYI, while the above is a fairly detailed look at your options and recommendations, understand that I am NOT you, and what you decide for your application / your boat / your cruise, etc. might be different...
So, no worries if my opinions / recommendations differ from yours or others....
Fair winds...
John
P.S.
I'm going to include this here in a Post Script, so as to not distract from the info above...
I'd like to share some sage "Electronics Advice" with you....that, if you actually trust me and believe it, WILL save you many sleepless nights and many dollars.
{My apologies for this next paragraph, as I do NOT wish it to sound boastful in anyway....but rather just as an explanation of how I (and others) have come to the conclusions we have....from many decades of experience with this stuff, installing it, working on it, as well as using it....on the water...
FYI, I personally started my cruising/sailing life as a kid in the 1960's, and have ~ 45 years experience in offshore cruising/sailing....but most important here is that I have > 40 years experience in electronics / marine electronics, and have made my living in electronics / communications for > 30 years...}
Okay, here is this "sage advice":
--- The installation, wiring, hook-up, commissioning, programming, and weather-proofing of connections, of almost all marine electronics is the single most important criteria in making it work well, work as designed/spec'd to, work reliably, and interact well with you (and other electronics on-board)....
Yes, hi-quality gear from reputable manufacturers is almost always better than the discount-store /poor quality gear, but poor-quality gear properly installed almost always works better than high-quality gear poorly-installed...
(I hope that makes sense?)
The above is almost universally accepted as fact by most in the marine electronics world....although many who work for others are usually loath to publically admit the above is true...(I've been self-employed for > 30 years, so I have nobody to answer to, except for clients/customers!)
If you get lucky, you get someone that is actually interested in getting things done correctly, rather than just getting it done...or even better, do all of the install / wiring yourself!!
Fair winds...
John
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