Coastal Kit?

[MBJB]

Having been entertained and educated by this forum for much longer than my profile would suggest, I’m going to dip my toes...

Whilst gently meandering up and down the Thames, I’ve so far had no need of any of those ’leccy toys that everyone else seems to have. I’ve even dumped some stuff that was probably obsolete when Noah was getting into boating.

But, much as I love it, pretty soon I will want to try coastal. My problem is, every time I look through the brochures at the toys you can buy to bolt onto your console / radar arch, I get completely lost. Radar, GPS, handhelds, depth sounders, logs, fishfinders, plotters, blah blah blah. Then there are all the different brands!
So, if you had a blank console and a deep desire to give away as few brown-folding-drinks-vouchers as possible, what would you buy? Which, if any would you duplicate at both helms? Has anyone tried a Compaq PDA with GPS/charts?


Guidance much needed and gratefully received….

P.S. Dayskipper, VHF, charts, and flares are a given

 

[milltech]

We could all produce lists and favourites, and of course I'd list all the things I sell!! However I think this advice might work best if everyone chipped in their single "must have".

If I could have only one navigation aid I would choose radar. I would put it ahead of everything except my lifejacket and liferaft/rubber boat.

John

 

[hlb]

Totaly agree. Next you want a GPS with a chart plotter probably on the radar screen and then an auto pilot wired into it. Then when all hell breaks loose and you cant see where your going, just press the magic button and let the boat take you out of trouble. Then only need to take the auto pilot upstairs, where it will tell you everything you need to know. Not much need to take radar upstairs cos if it gets that bad. Down stairs is the place to be.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[nicho]

We did the same as you plan several years ago - ditched the Thames for the Solent - never looked back: if you've the right boat it's fantastic. I go with the others and put radar as number 1 - it displays a 'real time' read out. However, it does take a fair bit of time to learn what the screen is actually displaying so always have it on in clear conditions so that you can see what it is showing - this will give you more confidence if the fog descends. However, there's nothing like a good chartplotter to give you the confidence of knowing exactly where you are at any one time (to within a few metres these days). I would therefore suggest a combined radar/plotter such as the Raymarine RL72RC - costs around two grand fitted, but it's a great piece of kit. As with all electronics, you must be able to navigate manually in case the display suddenly disappears down the plug hole (as mine did halfway across a murky Lyme Bay), so make sure you attend the right classes

Main thing is, give up the 5 knot plod and get to sea!

 

[DavidJ]

Agree combined Radar Plotter is a good solution I have had a Raymarine RL70CRC fitted (7 inch colour screen) with 2kw radar scanner and GPS antenna for £3500. Feels like a lot of cash at the time but hours of fun guarenteed. The instruction manual will wind away a few hours during those winter months as well
David

 

[ChrisP]

Not quite agreeing with the rest I would fit the GPS first. Smallest outlay and you can always use the MK1 eyeball for a bit whilst saving up for the radar. I find knowing where you are far more comfirting.

ChrisP ;O)

What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!

 

[MBJB]

Ahhh..at last, something that doesn't have lots of noughts after it.

Thanks for the replies. I've a sneaking feeling this is going to be the first of many of my queries

I have to say I wasn't planning on starting off by spending a few grand. The intention was that the clever stuff would follow the basic bits. Mind you, if fitting it all at once saves enough money in the long run then that sounds like the best route.

If you want this stuff at both helms, do you have to buy two of them or can you just get a cheap display for the second helm..?

Mike

 

[Baltimore_Bill]

After dinghy and lifejacket and charts...

First: Depth Sounder
Then: GPS

Use GPS to tell you how fast you are going so you don't need a log/speed - for a while at least.

I quite like my Navman 900 chartplotter except it's hard to learn how to use it at first.

I wouldn't bother with a flying bridge, about as much use as a flying pig IMHO.

Saves alot of money not having a flying bridge - first you have to pay for it then you have to fill it up with electronics and steering stuff.

 

[miket]

I agree with Chris.

Garmin GPS 128 (or whatever current)
No need for 2 (both helms). I had a Turbo 36 with 2 power/ ariel/ mounting brackets, plus change over switch for ariel, and just moved display up and down stairs. (yes, stairs) Total cost ex fitting £200.

How often do you voluntarily go out in fog?
How often have you been caught in nil visibility fog?
If money is no object fine, but for most it is.

 

[hlb]

I've been stuck in fog loads of times. First time it happend, I went out and bought radar. Would not go to sea without it.
Radar is a bit like life jackets. You dont need it till you need it. Except I've needed the radar loads of times. Never worn a life jacket yet. Its good for all sorts of things besides fog/ rain/low clouds/ Night. Like how far is that ship away, which way is it going?? Anyway it's a screen for sticking the chart plotter on as well. Also verifies GPS Position. If radar says thers land there and GPS dont!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[ccscott49]

I agree with Haydn, I find radar indispensible, have had it on all my boats, you can get some really cheap sets these days, that are perfectly adequate for a small boat. Once you know how to use it, properly, it can be used for all kinds of things, especially linked to a GPS, then you can prove whether the GPS is telling lies, when the land on radar and the lat,long from the GPS don't agree!! I know what I trust. Used to turn it on all the time, to see what the radar showed me and relate that to what my eyes told me, comes up with some interesting comparisons, especially once when I could almost touch the lighthouse off plymouth (whats the bloody thing called, shit I've passed it a hundred times!) and the radar showed me naff all, but the little boats all around it, strange that was!

 

[milltech]

My comment about radar was based on personal experience, I've been caught in thick weather lots of times. Once in particular off the East coast at night, all around I could hear clanking (cable laying), and the rumbling of many other vessels, with the radar it was still tense because of all the traffic, without one I'd have been fit for a jelly mould!

John

 

[tcm]

Re: Starter kit for cheap gits

First off I reckon is a small handheld gps. Garmin is market leaders, buy one at the boat show, and play at home. 100 quid ish. You type in a lat and long, give it a 6-digit name and then Go To and it tells you the direction and how far. Also tell you your exact speed. I wd have this first cos relative to radar it's peanuts, and also it augments existing skills, also needs no wiring at all.

Second is an air horn. Six quid. Ninety times louder than the poxy lecy ones. Perhaps even consider a "manual" one which needs no canister. So far, every thing can be used instatntly on any boat, no wiring.

Third is a pile of charts, and pilot books. That's another 200 quid. But still more important than radar.

Fourth is a radar, only fourth cos it's loads more loot, not more important so no real argument with others that say it's number one - if he ain't got the loot he cannaebuy it. Meself, i always like to be nearest to the outdoors with radar in dark/murk to check that you can see the things the radar says are there, and you are very familiar with it when needed. Bet I wouldn't be downstairs. But radar costs towards a grand. Most have option for the main unit to be in one place and a "slave" to be in another, and just needs another cheapy screen (but not that cheap).

 

[hlb]

Re: Starter kit for cheap gits

Well I think we all presumed he'd have a chart, tide table, Almanac, pencil and rubber. Oh and one of those big rulers with a wizy thing in the middle. Thought we were talking about extras??

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[tcm]

Re: Starter kit for cheap gits

hm, well according to coliholic's recent post it seems all the rivery lot merely have a full selction of shortcake and teacups. Bet you don't need an almanac for rivery bits. And he freaked out at the lots of noughts bout radar. So I wd recommend another three pencils and a sharpener before radar, and also cut down on the opening sharp pointy rusty thingys.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Starter kit for cheap gits

Me too!
Whizzy things in the middle? Don't think even I've got one of them and you know what I'm like for whizzy things and bells and whistles and things!

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Starter kit for cheap gits

Don't forget PLASTIC pencil sharpeners with stainless blades, all mine went rusty!

 

[tcm]

Re: Starter kit for cheap gits

ooh. well, perhaps use a stanley knife blade for pencil sharpening. Well on our way to having enough loot for a radar now. Also, perhaps put the boat in the med where the almanac (livre de Bord) is only 15euros not blimmin 30 quid.

 

[hlb]

Re: Starter kit for cheap gits

Yes. Forgot about the pencil sharpener.
> Wizzy round thingy. Colin.
Yer daft or what!!
Yep. It's called a Someones plotter and has a compass thingy that what you can turn round to point north, then read which way your going. Bit the same as those rulers with hinges on them that you can zoom round charts and then to compass rose. Except easier.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Starter kit for cheap gits

You mean you have an almanac for the med? I must get one of those sometime! I do have the pilots etc, but not the almanac, I guess it has more up to date info for the harbours etc. but of course I don't speak French, at least not when I'm sober!! Meant to ask, which charts do you use, if you do have paper ones, I know you have leccy ones, by the way cut myself too often with the stanley knife blades! I think one of those office type sharpeners is on the cards!