Opinions on instruments

[WDaniels]

We bought a boat last Dec and are going down in 2 weeks to do some maintenance on it and I need some opinions. The boat is weak in instrumentation. No radar, autopilot, wind gage doesn't work at the top of the mast, well actually its gone. The only thing it has is a Garmin 2010C. What I would like to know from you all is do you like all your instruments seperate, or a suite of gages that are part of a system like the Furuno 3D. Would really appreciate any input about what you might like and not like and why.
Thanks in advance,
Warren

[Rockter]

I liked the look of the NASA instruments. They are not expensive, and look like they will work OK.

[sailingdog]

A lot of that depends on how much automation you're expecting to use...An integrated suite will generally give you more options, but then you're generally limited to what the vendor offers.

Personally, I use TackTick gear... the masthead instrument installation is completely painless, since it involves drilling two screw holes... and doesn't require you to run cable up the mast. Same for the instrument heads, except they use three screws. The only wired parts are the hull transmitter, the transducers, and the NMEA 0183 interface box if you've got it. What is really nice is the ability to add additonal displays with NO WIRING.

I use a Raymarine ST1000+ autopilot and a Garmin chartplotter. They all play together fairly well. Also use a DSC-capable M504 Icom VHF.

[Omatako]

I hold the view that having everything on the same screen (radar, chartplotter, depth sounder, wife's xmas list, Grand Theft Auto, etc.) which seems to be the "modern way" is not a good choice since electronics and salt water don't necessarily sit around the same camp fire. If the screen goes down you lose everything. I prefer to have seperate displays for each function.

I also prefer analog to digital because the option of peripheral vision is removed with digitals - you have to actually look at them.

And I prefer a computer to drive the nav software to a dedicated plotter because charts (for planning purposes only - thks Dog ) are easier to get.

But those are my choices and probably differ widely from the popular views expressed here.

[SEMIJim]

We don't have all that fancy-shmancy instrumentation--only depth, speed and GPS/chartplotter. (Tho I'd sure like to have an anemometer.) So I cannot address this with any authority. But I think my tendency would be to go with separate instruments that could talk to one another, if possible.

Jim

[T37SOLARE]

I'm in the process of installing new Furuno instruments, including a NavNet 3D plotter at the helm. I decided to go Furuno as everything is NMEA2000, the plotter comes with the entire NOAA raster & vector chart library and their reputation for quality.

With the N2K network I'll be able to transfer routes from my charting SW (Coastal Explorer) to the plotter and the PC will display all instrument data as well as serving as a redundant back-up with it's independent GPS receiver.

The plan is to replace my older Raymarine radar in the next year or 2 with a Furuno HD radar to finish off the network, but for now it's fine as a standalone system.

I'll post my results as soon as the teak instrument pod is finished and the install is complete.

[BarryL]

Hello,

Without knowing how you use your boat and sailing area, it's difficult to make recommendations. If you mostly day sail in familiar water, and spend an occasional night aboard, your needs are a lot simpler than if you plan on sailing far away. Estimating your budget will also determine what you get. You can spend $500 for basic stuff, or $5000 for more toys.

For me, I day sail frequently, weekend in different places a few times a year and cruise for a week or two (not as often as I would like, but that's another story) to slightly further locations.

My boat came with basic functional instruments: depth, wind, speed and knot log, old autopilot. I added a color gps chartplotter / fishfinder, and a DSC VHF radio. For my needs, this is more than enough. The original instruments are mounted over the companionway so I can see them many places. The GPS is in front of the wheel. My VHF unit displays nav info (speed, heading, lat / long) down below. At a glance I can see SOG, STW, heading, apparent wind speed and direction, and depth.

I don't have radar and don't need it for my uses.

If I were to start from scratch I would go with NMEA 2000 instruments. More and more vendors are supporting that, including Lowance, Garmin, Furuno, etc. This will make your cable connections very easy to do. I also like having redundant displays, with one visible at the helm, one below, and one somewhere else. Another benefit with NMEA 2000 and modern displays is that one small screen can display everything.

For more info on NMEA 2000 visit Maretron.

Maretron : Marine Electronic Instruments


Good luck,
Barry

Originally Posted by WDaniels

We bought a boat last Dec and are going down in 2 weeks to do some maintenance on it and I need some opinions. The boat is weak in instrumentation. No radar, autopilot, wind gage doesn't work at the top of the mast, well actually its gone. The only thing it has is a Garmin 2010C. What I would like to know from you all is do you like all your instruments seperate, or a suite of gages that are part of a system like the Furuno 3D. Would really appreciate any input about what you might like and not like and why.
Thanks in advance,
Warren

[baboon]

I am in a similar spot and trying to figure this out. Here are some things I have learned to far. Although NMEA alows different manufacturers instruments to talk to one another, you may not be able to properly calibrate the sensors if you do not have the same manufacturers display units. So far not all sensors use NMEA to talk to their recievers, even if the recievers are NMEA and can talk to other instruments. This is a bummer becuase one advantage of the system is to replace just a sensor that has gone bad in the future, even if the original is no longer made. Some manufactures (Raymarine is one) require a separate box to convert their version of comunication to the standard NMEA ouput, even if it says NMEA compatable on the box. Modern multi-function LCD displays are harder to read on an angle and use more power than dedicated analog instruments. My overall impression is that NMEA 2000 is a great idea that is not quite ready for a novice like me. I think someone with a lot of knowledge of all this could make it all work well, but we are not yet to a full plug and play situiation. Becuase of this going with a suite of instruments that match your display, but also have dedicated anolog repeaters that do not need the main screen to work, is the way I think I will go; once I win the lotto.

[Delirious]

Our last boat had a pretty good suite of the ST60 series and a Garmin GPSMAP bussed in with a Multi repeater at the NAV stn. It is kind of nice when they all communicate . . . but the initial set-up was painful and, if not for a friend who had the equipment & savvy, they'd still be stand alone. Things have improved.

Current boat has depth & speed and a Windex masthead fly. I may leave it at that plus a handheld GPS. Seems the most vulnerable was the anemometer - bird strikes, bound up by spiders, etc. Lost one to a windblown branch with no trees within 100 feet of the boat. The calibration would drift (but the could have been my boat/set-up) and it was a nuisance to have to motor in circles every Saturday before heading out. THE ADMIRAL liked the read-out at the NAV station and we may end up adding wind. But it's certainly the least useful (to me).

With the Auto-helm I prefer the compass heading (fluxgate) over the wind, anyway. Wind shifts, and if you're short-handed and not at the wheel that can put you . . .

Well - we've all seen the pictures of boats that hit Florida and such.

[WDaniels]

For all of you who have given me your thoughts, thanks. Got a lot of good information. Now just have to wait for more possible inputs and decide what to put into action.
Warren