Bavaria 31 early model - Nav system

[hennypenny]

I have a specific question for those who have a Bavaria 31 from 1999 to 2001.

I would like to know where you all put your nav system so that it can be visible in the cockpit? Ideally i would like it at the pedestal but I don't know how to achieve this as the main sheet attaches at the top of the pedestal and there is very little space to mount instruments. Would be grateful for any ideas!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Baggywrinkle]

It is a bit tight. If you haven't bought the plotter yet and have the money available then maybe consider a multi-function display?

 

[hennypenny]

Thanks Baggywrinkle! Yes I already have a Raymarine Axiom 7 but I think it is a touch too big to fit in the pedestal

 

[duncan99210]

I have a specific question for those who have a Bavaria 31 from 1999 to 2001.

I would like to know where you all put your nav system so that it can be visible in the cockpit? Ideally i would like it at the pedestal but I don't know how to achieve this as the main sheet attaches at the top of the pedestal and there is very little space to mount instruments. Would be grateful for any ideas!

Thanks in advance!

Try joining this forum http://bavariayacht.org/forum/index.php and asking there.

 

[hennypenny]

Try joining this forum http://bavariayacht.org/forum/index.php and asking there.

Thanks I have now just done so

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Photodog has one Bav 31 that is and the last time I saw his boat he had a small plotter under the sprayhood.

 

[BobsFolly]

Hello,
The 1999 Bavraia 31 I bought came with an Advansea T56 chartplotter installed on the left hand side of the pedestal on a custom made simple enough bracket.
I haven't found its location a hindrance and the location is decent for viewing the plotter when in a sitting position. The plotter can swivel for a better viewing angle.
It may not work so well for some of the current larger plotter screens.

I've replied on the Bavaria forum too with a picture attached. Not privileged enough for that here yet I think !

Tj

 

[lw395]

I have a specific question for those who have a Bavaria 31 from 1999 to 2001.

I would like to know where you all put your nav system so that it can be visible in the cockpit? Ideally i would like it at the pedestal but I don't know how to achieve this as the main sheet attaches at the top of the pedestal and there is very little space to mount instruments. Would be grateful for any ideas!

Thanks in advance!

I'd reconsider whether you really want the plotter at the helm.
It's OK for steering the little boat symbol around the screen, but sometimes it's a lot better for the person steering to get on with the sailing, while the other person is free to use the plotter, in conjunction with charts, pilot book, passage plan notes or whatever.
Under the sprayhood is not a bad compromise.
Some boats you can sit alongside the wheel and steer, able to see a plotter or other instruments under the pramhood.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I'd reconsider whether you really want the plotter at the helm.
It's OK for steering the little boat symbol around the screen, but sometimes it's a lot better for the person steering to get on with the sailing, while the other person is free to use the plotter, in conjunction with charts, pilot book, passage plan notes or whatever.
Under the sprayhood is not a bad compromise.
Some boats you can sit alongside the wheel and steer, able to see a plotter or other instruments under the pramhood.

That would kill one of my most over-used functions dead .... getting the autopilot to follow a track to a waypoint.

The process on my boat is ... pick a way-point on the plotter screen, press "goto" and "enter", then press "track" on the autopilot --- when it beeps, press "track" again to confirm - the boat then turns and follows the new course to the waypoint.

It requires that my autopilot and plotter controls are next to each other.

I like my autopilot controls near the wheel so I can immediately hit "Standby" and take over if it does something stupid, that therefore dictates that my plotter needs to be there too.

I wouldn't feel comfortable playing with the plotter and waypoints under the sprayhood, knowing that my autopilot was relying on data from the plotter to steer a course ... that sprint round the cockpit table to the wheel if it all goes pear-shaped would be just a bit too scary for me, and interesting if it went hard over at 7 knots.

This function needs to be used with extreme caution .... every charter boat I have sailed has this feature inactive and I fell foul of autopilot complacency a few weeks ago ... but if you want to use it, then the plotter needs to be near the helm IMHO.

 

[lw395]

That would kill one of my most over-used functions dead .... getting the autopilot to follow a track to a waypoint.

The process on my boat is ... pick a way-point on the plotter screen, press "goto" and "enter", then press "track" on the autopilot --- when it beeps, press "track" again to confirm - the boat then turns and follows the new course to the waypoint.

It requires that my autopilot and plotter controls are next to each other.

I like my autopilot controls near the wheel so I can immediately hit "Standby" and take over if it does something stupid, that therefore dictates that my plotter needs to be there too.

I wouldn't feel comfortable playing with the plotter and waypoints under the sprayhood, knowing that my autopilot was relying on data from the plotter to steer a course ... that sprint round the cockpit table to the wheel if it all goes pear-shaped would be just a bit too scary for me, and interesting if it went hard over at 7 knots.

This function needs to be used with extreme caution .... every charter boat I have sailed has this feature inactive and I fell foul of autopilot complacency a few weeks ago ... but if you want to use it, then the plotter needs to be near the helm IMHO.

I don't use 'go to waypoint' or route following very much, but last time I did, it was on a boat with the plotter downstairs. It's a simple matter of the Navigator/Teaboy calling to the Boss/Helmswoman to 'put it in automatic now'.
The idea that it would be necessary to be out in the rain to operate the plotter seems to miss the point.

And anywhere in the cockpit is 'near the helm' in a 31ft boat. You don't need to sit behind the wheel like you're driving a bus.
It is best of course, not to reach through the wheel to engage/disengage autopilot.

A decent tiller with extension allows steering with some shelter from the pramhood.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I don't use 'go to waypoint' or route following very much, but last time I did, it was on a boat with the plotter downstairs. It's a simple matter of the Navigator/Teaboy calling to the Boss/Helmswoman to 'put it in automatic now'.
The idea that it would be necessary to be out in the rain to operate the plotter seems to miss the point.

And anywhere in the cockpit is 'near the helm' in a 31ft boat. You don't need to sit behind the wheel like you're driving a bus.
It is best of course, not to reach through the wheel to engage/disengage autopilot.

A decent tiller with extension allows steering with some shelter from the pramhood.

It's all a matter of use cases ... I use the function most when forced to motor because it's flat calm and 30° plus, the cockpit table is usually up and loaded with sun-screen, cameras, mobile phones, snacks and drinks ... or the rear-admiral is lying in her hammock on the foredeck requesting another G&T

 

[prv]

That would kill one of my most over-used functions dead .... getting the autopilot to follow a track to a waypoint.

I do that a lot too, and my plotter is under the windscreen at the front of the cockpit. The key is that there are controls for the pilot integrated in the plotter - that was true of my original Raymarine C70 / S1 system from fifteen years ago, and also true of the current Axiom 9 / Evolution setup. The OP is proposing an Axiom plotter, so if he has a matching Raymarine pilot he will have this same facility.

I like my autopilot controls near the wheel so I can immediately hit "Standby" and take over if it does something stupid [...] that sprint round the cockpit table to the wheel if it all goes pear-shaped would be just a bit too scary for me

I agree that there should be a set of pilot controls near the wheel, not least so that you can engage it before letting go. But I don't understand the "immediately hit standby if it does something stupid" - that would surely mean you need to hover around behind the wheel even when the pilot is steering? If anything, if you're worried about it "doing something stupid", you'd want a Standby button somewhere further forward so you can smack it on your way up out of the galley to deal with the problem.

Pete

 

[jordanbasset]

It's all a matter of use cases ... I use the function most when forced to motor because it's flat calm and 30° plus, the cockpit table is usually up and loaded with sun-screen, cameras, mobile phones, snacks and drinks ... or the rear-admiral is lying in her hammock on the foredeck requesting another G&T

View attachment 79409

My sort of sailing

 

[hennypenny]

Interesting thoughts. TBH I hadn't thought about it being any where other than at the wheel. When I bought the boat, the old C series plotter was below and I thought that would be annoying if you were single handing or crew was sail handling in an unknown waters etc.
Unfortunately I don't have nearly as much room at my pedestal as Baggywrinkle has so really depends what I can fit there I might be forced to have plotter else where.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I agree that there should be a set of pilot controls near the wheel, not least so that you can engage it before letting go. But I don't understand the "immediately hit standby if it does something stupid" - that would surely mean you need to hover around behind the wheel even when the pilot is steering? If anything, if you're worried about it "doing something stupid", you'd want a Standby button somewhere further forward so you can smack it on your way up out of the galley to deal with the problem.

Pete

Maybe I'm paranoid, but the fluxgate compass for the autopilot is fitted on the rear bulkhead in the starboard aft cabin, close to a storage shelf used by my errant crew. I like to cross-check my plotter, my autopilot and my steering compass before comitting to a change in course. When they all match up then all is right with the world.

I've never used a multi-function display, but I do like having physical buttons for the autopilot.

 

[lw395]

It's all a matter of use cases ......

Absolutely!
What works nicely sailing two up won't be best either singlehanded or with a full race crew with a navigator tactician.

Once you're in to trusting the electronics to steer for minutes at a time, what's the attraction of standing behind the wheel?

It's interesting to blag rides on different yachts with different people and look at how they actually use the kit, and think about what you really want from it.

 

[prv]

I've never used a multi-function display, but I do like having physical buttons for the autopilot.

I'm not sure what the difference is between "multi-function display" and "plotter", except that the former sounds better to Marketing types. I think they might have borrowed it as a sexy-sounding term from aviation, plus of course it implies that their magic box can do more things than the other guy's magic box. But I don't recall any great leap in functionality coinciding with them all changing the name...

The pilot controls on my plotter are really good, indeed for anything more complex than on/off, left/right they're better than the dedicated control because the designers have a large touch-screen to lay things out on. On something like a small motorboat where you just want one box at the helm I think they would be quite acceptable as the only pilot controls. But yes, on a yacht I think the right solution is to have dedicated pilot buttons next to the wheel.

I have those, plus the plotter by the companionway, plus an S100 radio remote that I can take on deck when required. For example, to follow the turns of the river as I put out the fenders when sailing alone.

On those flat calm motoring days I've also used the remote to avoid other traffic while relaxing on the foredeck

Pete

 

[photodog]

I have a specific question for those who have a Bavaria 31 from 1999 to 2001.

I would like to know where you all put your nav system so that it can be visible in the cockpit? Ideally i would like it at the pedestal but I don't know how to achieve this as the main sheet attaches at the top of the pedestal and there is very little space to mount instruments. Would be grateful for any ideas!

Thanks in advance!

I have the standard horizon 7” display mounted on the very forward end of the stbd coaming, where it is protected by the spray hood.



Sorry about the pic quality.... only one I could find that showed it.

I still have the raymarine SL plotter radar system as well integrated with the ap at the pedestal, the plotter is down below at the table mounted on the FWD heads bulkhead...

The only stuff I have on the pedestal is the ap and tridata.... I can also Velcro my garmin gps 12 along side, and until we came to the East coast we tended to use that as the primary tool, with the raymarine kit for backup or in really poor conditions... added the plotter upstairs when we came east about 7 years ago. It’s entirely standalone with a built in gps antenna, so just has power. That location is near the chart table so it’s easy to wire in.

I’m not a big fan of plotters on pedestals, as the only one who can see it is the helm... in that location on the 31 it’s fairly well protected, and I can see it easily from the helm, or keep an eye if someone else is on the helm...

Good choice of boat btw...I hope you get as many years of fun out of her as we have, now in our 14th season. I know of only two or three others in the U.K.

 

[ashtead]

If investing in a plotter at helm the most useful feature is to be able to blue tooth to iPad so any log work can take place below as required and the plotter can be helm mounted. Also means in bad weather can shelter under hood and watch AIS etc in comfort . Quite good for night passages on auto as well to keep sheltered . We never had on reymarine on our Bav but a real plus now on newer boat .i guess the axiom model has this so a plotter on helm station with this perhaps addresses most concerns by the Bluetooth feature.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

This is the chart table with a removeable Navionics Tablet ....



... and this is the helm.

I did think about trying to link it all together but decided not to for the following reason.

When my autopilot is following a track to a waypoint, the plotter is an integral part of the autopilot because it is constantly delivering cross track error and contains the track to be followed. If the plotter is duplicated at the chart table and someone uses the plotter below for a bit of passage planning they have to be extremely careful not to mess with the currently active waypoint or track. As my crew like to use the tablet to see where they are going and look at the charts while the boat is underway, I decided it was better to live with the disadvantage of planning on the tablet and executing on the plotter at the helm - but this is specific to my situation and the variety and ability of crew I sail with.

Basically, the plotter at the helm is the single point of truth for the autopilot.