10-22-2010
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Telstar 28
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: New England
Posts: 43,315
Rep Power: 10
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I would keep things simple... as suggested previously. Having a single device that does multiple functions is probably a bad idea, since it becomes a serious single point of failure. While, it is common to combine some functions, like GPS, Chartplotter and RADAR into a single unit, I would recommend keeping some functions separate for safety's sake.
- VHF—get a DSC-capable Class D unit. Make sure to get your MMSI and enter into the unit and wire it to the GPS.
- GPS/Chartplotter/Radar—I like the Garmin GPS units, as I think they have the best UI and their charts are pretty good too. The 3206, though discontinued, is an excellent unit and one of the smallest that supports the Garmin 18HD RADAR. It can be bought for about $700 or so, and the Garmin 18 HD can be bought for about $1000, giving you a decent chartplotter, radar and GPS in a single "box" for under $2000.
- Autopilot—this depends on whether the boat is tiller or wheel steered, as well as the displacement of the boat. If the boat is tiller steered, you have a few choices, but the least expensive is an integrated tillerpilot, like the ST2000+. These units are less than $500 or so and can be installed in an afternoon if you're not a complete klutz. For wheel-steered boats, the least expensive option is a wheelpilot. .
- EPIRB—is generally bought by itself. Defender.com had a Category II EPIRB with integrated GPS for about $400 recently, so might be well worth checking.
- Satellite Phone—Right now the only good game in town is Iridium. Globalstar has been having network issues, which I don't think have been fully resolved yet.
- Internet Access—Basically not really doable from the high seas without a very expensive satellite phone setup. Closer to shore you have two options: 1) A cellular-based data plan and device—cellphone or aircard; 2)an amplified WiFi setup, like the one I describe here.
You'll need a decent size battery bank and probably want a battery bank monitor to keep an eye on it. You'll probably also want some passive charging capability, like solar, which I wrote about here.
To keep your energy usage down, I'd highly recommend going with LED-based lights. For running lights, I like the Aquasignal Series 32 LED lights. These are better than replacement LED bulbs in that they're purpose designed and will probably last longer than LED replacement bulbs. Also, they are USCG certified, unlike most replacement bulbs. For cabin lights, I like the Sensibulbs, which can be used in a variety of fixtures.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ramminjammin
I have an old wooden sailboat , cold molded , it has a yanmar diesel with a 12 volt altenator.
the boat is not wired and does not have any electronics , lighting, navagation gear etc
I use hurricane lamps for lighting , plus battery powered ones
I plan to use the boat for coastal cruising with the odd 300 mile blue water passage.
I would like to keep things simple and modern
What is the system I could use that could combine
radio,radar, chart plotting , autopilot epirb beacon, internet access, telephone ?
is there a product that combines everything or most of these ?
o
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Sailingdog
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Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
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