Depth Sounder and Speed Log

[Owd_Nell]

Dear all,

I'm a complete noob to sailing and have only just become a member of this website. I wasn't sure where else to post this thread.

My father is in the process of building a 40ft Steel Yacht to use as a liveaboard for him and my mother. He's about ready to start fitting out the inside (plumbing, wiring, joinery etc). He would like a Depth Sounder for Christmas. I know very little about marine instruments.

I have been looking at buying him a NASA Clipper Duet system as this the Speed log facility too. Can anyone advise me if this is any good and if not can they make alternative suggestions? I am looking to spend about £200, but I would really appreciate some honest advice and personal reviews.

Many thanks in advance,

Fiona

 

[sailaboutvic]

NASA stuff ok , although I am not a great fan , I would go for some thing like ray marine ,you can buy a tri data Speed and log , a bit more then NASA , that way your dad can always add to it , maybe it best to ask him in a an general conversation what type of equipment he going to put on the boat , then buy the same make .

 

[Ravi]

Welcome to the forum.

Your Dad is a lucky man! I will be lucky if I get anything more than a pair of socks from my miserable progeny! ;-)

On a more serious note......
While it is a lovely thought, getting electronics for your Dad's boat my be difficult to get right. For most people, who are not fortunate enough to have a brand new boat, one of the bugbears of boat ownership is interfacing the incompatible electronic systems that they have inherited on their boats. (Depth, speed, radar, AIS, windspeed, etc. etc.)
So, having a new boat and a clean slate, I think most yachties would want to use the opportunity to build an integrated system from the outset.

The NASA products are excellent and simple products but may not 'talk' to other systems that your Dad has in mind. So, you might want to find out his broader vision re - instrumentation, before making the purchase. He may well just want to start off with just 'depth and speed' and not have any other systems on board, in which case, your idea for a present would be perfect. There can't be many things more practical and essential than depth and speed for a boat so it not would be a present that would go unused.

If you decide to give him something other than the dept/speed instruments, there are no shortage of other 'essential' things that any yachtie will want. A handheld VHF is a good present in the same price bracket.

What do I wish that I had been given with my first boat? Nigel Calder's "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual". The book is rather expensive but worth every penny. A book that somehow has every piece of information about every system on a boat, in great technical detail. If your Dad is building his own boat, there is a good chance that he already has the book.

Good luck in your present hunting and hopefully, you will get the sailing bug on the new boat and we will see you back on here.

 

[rivonia]

NASA are great instruments apart from the WIND speed and direction. The mast top fitting keeps going awl. As others have said speak to your Dad see what the remainder of his electronics are intended to be and then go that way.

Good luck (Merry Christmas) Dad.

 

[Owd_Nell]

Thank you very much for your kind responses, folks!

I think I was thinking of the NASA Clipper Duet as it is fairly 'standard' (to my novice eyes anyway) and I could see much that could go wrong with it. I have read some poor reviews regarding their mast-fitting wind instruments tho so I will probably steer clear of that!

I think his reason for wanting the Depth/Speed log first is due to the fact he can easily fit the transducer thru the hull whilst the boat is on hard-standing at the moment. He said he will leave the other things like radio's, GPS, compass, etc til when he has finished doing the main wiring. As this boat is a completely new build there is absolutely nothing in her as yet, aside from the engine and steering hydraulics etc.

Last night he showed me one of his yachting magazines and pointed out the Garmin range.... not a hint as to what he would prefer, I think he was just showing it as an example. They do look really good tho so I may check out prices of these.

NorthEast - thanks for your book recommendation altho he has owned this particular book along with many others for several years now. In fact I think the one you mentioned may have been a Christmas present from me a few years ago when I was lucky enough to be working in a Chandlers at the time

He has a great daughter, I'll give him that

Thanks again for your responses, I shall proceed with caution and keep an open mind

 

[Owd_Nell]

Could should read as couldn't...