Binnacle pod for 7" colour display?

[Mirelle]

Re: There was a time ...

I blew a fuse in the logic box of my electronics at the end of last season. Being electronically challenged, I only got round to changing it two weeks ago, so I spent most of this season with compass and a lead line. Curiously, I did not go aground, but I did look very much more carefully at the water about me, and I think I learned quite a lot and am a better amateur seaman in consequence.

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[Jeremy_W]

The racers\' solution...

.. to all this is to have large displays of everything numeric at the mast. They're called 20-20 displays and they're usually visible in the next County. So you can chose whichever pieces of info you consider most vital - speed, temperature of wine cooler, digital compass, TV channel, Tetris score ... - at the mast so you can fill the standard binnacle unit with chart plotter, autopilot controls and GPS.

If/ when you race (and I don't think Steve's competitive urges will allow him not to race) with a large crew, any pods stuck on the edge of the binnacle will be very vulnerable to damage.

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[Angela101]

Re: The racers\' solution...

Mmm Jeremy, not that I would ever question your Belbinesque appraisal of Steve.....BUT he has no aspirations to be the fastest.......just the richest/best/most stylish/coolest...hehehe!

xxx

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[Angela101]

Re: Binnacle pod for 7\" colour display?

If I may quote Steve "I know how to dead reckon, I know how to take into concideration variation/deviation/tidal flow and steer a course.......but I get sea sick at the chart table so I want it at the helm."

We did suggest to opal marine that we have a longer sofa and put the chart table in the cockpit but the nice man said the charts would blow away!

xxx

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[Angela101]

Re: Binnacle pod for 7\" colour display?

No plans for radar just yet.....dunno how to use one!

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[jimi]

Re: Binnacle pod for 7\" colour display?

Get one and learn to use it. You'll wish desperately you did (partic if you've got the kids on board) if you get caught in fog without it ... and you will!

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[tcm]

Re: Binnacle pod for 7\" colour display?

it is dead simple. You turn it on and press the "range" button until a pic vaguley corresponding with the charted coastline. The blobs are other boats. It won't work in port, everthing is a blob. Cheaper and better to get it fitted now, rather than after a nasty experience.

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[AndrewB]

Right! The more reliant we are on technology ...

... the less we use our own senses. Technology is sold to us as simply adding to what we can do, but in fact it robs us of something in the process.

Mirelle, I always thought you were a dab hand with the lead-line. Not that there is any reason to make much fuss about running aground, specially around the East Coast. Unless one owns a thin-hulled cruiser with a fin keel that is likely to snap off on impact, that is.

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[nicho]

Re: Binnacle pod for 7\" colour display?

These guys are vastly more experienced than me, and I agree with them, radar is a must, even (especially?) in the Solent on the odd foggy day. I honestly believe your best bet is to spec the Raymarine combined 7" colour radar/plotter, and have it mounted on the binnacle. You then have the best of both worlds, including the ability to track up to 10 radar returns and be automatically warned if you are in danger of collision with any of them (MARPA). You also get the radar overlay faclilty, which transposes a magenta radar image over the plotter screen and shows which returns are (for example) buoys or other "fixed" objects, and which are likely to be other vessels. It's a lot of money at around £3500, but it's a fantastic bit of kit.

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[Angela101]

Re: Binnacle pod for 7\" colour display?

The likelyhood of my hot tub in the garden is becoming more and more remote! Steve is of the opinion that we probably won't be in desperate need of radar for our first season as we probably arn't going to do much more than sail the west country (lyme regis to salcombe) and prefers the idea of seperate chartp/gps and radar as if you lose one you lose only one.....and less to contend with on one screen. It is on the list (along with other things) , just not for the initial fit out!

xxx



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