Modern Marine Electronics

[bedouin]

The electronics on my boat was last upgraded about 10 years ago - with a conventional nav instruments (Wind, speed, depth), separate GPS (with map - not chartplotter) and separate Autohelm (it is connected to GPS/Wind via NMEA but I don't use that). This is all set up for use from the cockpit.

The major weakness in the this system is the poor user interface on the GPS

Sailing on other people's boats I notice that marine electronics have moved on a lot. I like the idea of a chart plotter display, and I like the idea of an integrated system that could plug in AIS and the like.

What is the modern approach to connecting a boat?

Ideally I suppose I would like a system down at the chart table - with a decent display - but also the ability to have the key information available in a repeater in the cockpit with say a 5 - 7 inch daylight viewable screen that can be switched to display a chart for pilotage and so on.

I am happy with the idea of using a PC or equivalent on board - but not convinced that I want the system to be entirely dependent on a PC

 

[nimbusgb]

What's your budget?

Depends really on how much you want to spend. A fully modern set of Raymarine stuff with radar and 2 multifunction displays .....probably no change out of 10k perhaps even a little more.

A cobbled together system perhaps 1/3 of that.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I had the same problem and I think I have just assembled exactly what you are looking for.

After alot of research I bought a Standard Horizon CP300E Plotter, a Standard Horizon GX2100E DSC VHF+AIS combo plus a CMP30 remote mic.

Total cost £966,79 + postage. (without map cartridge)

At the helm I now have a "real" 7" AIS/Plotter and a remote station DSC VHF.

Below I have an old laptop running fully functional charting software.

• GPS info comes from CP300E
• AIS/DSC info comes from GX2100E
• There is only one USB connection between the laptop and the boat, no seperate GPS mouse is needed for the laptop
• The laptop can exchange routes, marks and waypoints with the plotter
• With a surf stick, the laptop is also a weather station and can overlay GRIB info on the charts.

Also below is the GX2100E DSC VHF.

If anything happens to the laptop the rest of the system is more than adequate for navigation/pilotage.

I think this was excellent value considering the features included - less than a grand for AIS, dual-station DSC VHF and a 7" plotter.

P.S. if you are thinking of going down the same route a few words about the Standard Horizon gear.

The 300i is about £40-£50 cheaper than the 300e as it has an internal GPS - this is great if it is to be mounted at the helm but not flush mounted as this may impair the GPS reception - the antenna is a protrusion from the top of the case at the rear.
A CP180i/GX2100E combo would cost £590 if you didn't need 2-way waypoint/route exchange or remote VHF station. It would still provide AIS, 5" plotter and DSC/VHF.

 

[ianj99]

The electronics on my boat was last upgraded about 10 years ago - with a conventional nav instruments (Wind, speed, depth), separate GPS (with map - not chartplotter) and separate Autohelm (it is connected to GPS/Wind via NMEA but I don't use that). This is all set up for use from the cockpit.

The major weakness in the this system is the poor user interface on the GPS

Sailing on other people's boats I notice that marine electronics have moved on a lot. I like the idea of a chart plotter display, and I like the idea of an integrated system that could plug in AIS and the like.

What is the modern approach to connecting a boat?

Ideally I suppose I would like a system down at the chart table - with a decent display - but also the ability to have the key information available in a repeater in the cockpit with say a 5 - 7 inch daylight viewable screen that can be switched to display a chart for pilotage and so on.

I am happy with the idea of using a PC or equivalent on board - but not convinced that I want the system to be entirely dependent on a PC

Here's my budget solution which works well.

10" Acer refurbed notebook pc. 1.6G processor, 1Gb ram, 20G hd.

Belfield Chartplotter software which comes with all 800 UK Admiralty raster charts (ARCS)

Polarnavy's PolarCom instrument display and PolarView plotter software with all UK vector charts. (AVCS)

NavmonPc (free download) provides AIS radar display, and routes the nmea data to the plotters and Polarcom.

Shipmodul Miniplex 2USB nmea multiplexer which combines data from the sounder, heading data via Seatalk from a ST4000 AP, AIS data from a Navicom VHF/AIS receiver and wind data from a Tacktick nmea interface. One of its nmea outputs feeds the data back to the ST4000 in the cockpit where it can function as a nmea repeater.

I have an elderly Navman 5600 plotter as backup.

So the total cost was:
Notebook £250
Belfield + GPS receiver £100
PolarNavy inc Polar com £70
Shipmodule 2USB £280 -
Ie just £700 and the notebook is of course handy for storing pdfs of service manuals etc as well as for internet access using a wifi dongle.

Ian

 

[Elessar]

The electronics on my boat was last upgraded about 10 years ago - with a conventional nav instruments (Wind, speed, depth), separate GPS (with map - not chartplotter) and separate Autohelm (it is connected to GPS/Wind via NMEA but I don't use that). This is all set up for use from the cockpit.

The major weakness in the this system is the poor user interface on the GPS

Sailing on other people's boats I notice that marine electronics have moved on a lot. I like the idea of a chart plotter display, and I like the idea of an integrated system that could plug in AIS and the like.

What is the modern approach to connecting a boat?

Ideally I suppose I would like a system down at the chart table - with a decent display - but also the ability to have the key information available in a repeater in the cockpit with say a 5 - 7 inch daylight viewable screen that can be switched to display a chart for pilotage and so on.

I am happy with the idea of using a PC or equivalent on board - but not convinced that I want the system to be entirely dependent on a PC

MFD in the cockpit.

Use a pc or ipad down below for planning. You can have another MFD down below but that's way too expensive and unnecessary I reckon. Note with decent modern electronics the chart table becomes the secondary rather than the primary nav station......

Baggywrinkles system sounds ideal and excellent value.

Some new MFDs can link directly to Ipad I think - anyone know more?

 

[johnalison]

I have just fitted a 7" screen which is adequate for my needs. Since I have to wear specs to see any screen, the size makes little difference.

Integrating everything will make a big difference to your enjoyment of the boat, but can hardly be called essential. It all depends of the length of your pocket and how handy your are at getting things to work. I also kid myself that good gear will make my boat more attractive when the time comes to sell.

What you have in the way of cockpit displays depends partly on the boat and how kit can fit in. I have gone the route of having my plotter inside and a Graphic Repeater in the cockpit, but those with a good binnacle mount may well prefer a full repeat.

 

[pvb]

Some new MFDs can link directly to Ipad I think - anyone know more?

New Raymarine e & c series displays will sync wirelessly with iPads.

 

[Elessar]

New Raymarine e & c series displays will sync wirelessly with iPads.

That would make them very attractive. Ipad ideal for down below use - and you're not tied to the chart table either.

They are pricey but the new screens look absolutely fantastic, streets ahead of the old E series like mine. Got to be worth a look.

 

[bedouin]

Yes - I was thinking of a budget of around £1000 rather than £10000!

Certainly the sort of solution Baggywrinkle describes fits pretty well - I suppose the question would be how well the ChartPlotter communicates with the PC.

I do fancy getting a notebook with navigational goodies as well - but I worry about the ability to relay all the info up to the helm.

What would be great would be to be able to do the nav at a notebook and at the press of a button transfer all the info to a plotter so the notebook can be switched off with no loss of functionality.

 

[bedouin]

New Raymarine e & c series displays will sync wirelessly with iPads.

Yes - just been drooling over those on the Cactus site

However I really need a solution with a compact, waterproof "repeater" unit at the helm and beautiful though they look, raymarine don't really seem to have a unit to do that.

 

[pvb]

Yes - just been drooling over those on the Cactus site

However I really need a solution with a compact, waterproof "repeater" unit at the helm and beautiful though they look, raymarine don't really seem to have a unit to do that.

Lovely, aren't they? But realistically do you need linked units in 2 places? My boat just has a chartplotter in the cockpit, under the sprayhood. Its 12" screen is visible from the helm. It's easy to plan routes, etc, sitting in the shelter of the sprayhood. Can't imagine why I'd want anything more complicated.

 

[Elessar]

Yes - just been drooling over those on the Cactus site

However I really need a solution with a compact, waterproof "repeater" unit at the helm and beautiful though they look, raymarine don't really seem to have a unit to do that.

put it in the cockpit then your ipad is the repeater down below.......

 

[Elessar]

Yes - I was thinking of a budget of around £1000 rather than £10000!

Certainly the sort of solution Baggywrinkle describes fits pretty well - I suppose the question would be how well the ChartPlotter communicates with the PC.

I do fancy getting a notebook with navigational goodies as well - but I worry about the ability to relay all the info up to the helm.

What would be great would be to be able to do the nav at a notebook and at the press of a button transfer all the info to a plotter so the notebook can be switched off with no loss of functionality.

I'm pretty sure that's what baggys system does.
That's sort of how it works with my e series and PC. I store the route on a card on the PC, put it into the plotter and it uploads. So there's no PC in the main nav system of the boat. If the PC goes AWOL then you have to put the routes in at the helm, but that's no real hardship.

 

[Elessar]

Lovely, aren't they? But realistically do you need linked units in 2 places? My boat just has a chartplotter in the cockpit, under the sprayhood. Its 12" screen is visible from the helm. It's easy to plan routes, etc, sitting in the shelter of the sprayhood. Can't imagine why I'd want anything more complicated.

I agree - if you only have one unit, upstairs is where it belongs.
PC upload is nice though, plan routes at home or down below in the warm. But I agree it is not essential.

 

[bedouin]

Lovely, aren't they? But realistically do you need linked units in 2 places? My boat just has a chartplotter in the cockpit, under the sprayhood. Its 12" screen is visible from the helm. It's easy to plan routes, etc, sitting in the shelter of the sprayhood. Can't imagine why I'd want anything more complicated.

We really don't have space in the cockpit for anything big enough to serve as a main plotter - we are looking at something more like 5 or 7" display (swinging out from the cabin).

We could consider mounting one on the cabin roof - under where the sprayhood would be if we had one but this is hardly ideal for doing the main planning - waypoint entry and the like that I would prefer to do from the chart table.

 

[johnalison]

I don't know how others get on, but my iPad only connects intermittently with my E7, which is a bit frustrating. I must get a boffin to sort it out. When it works it is good, and sits in an aquapac in the cockpit, where it will work through the cover.

 

[pvb]

...this is hardly ideal for doing the main planning - waypoint entry and the like that I would prefer to do from the chart table.

It sounds preferable, but recent chartplotters are so easy to use for route planning that it's almost a "point and press" operation. I haven't found that having to do route planning in the cockpit is a chore.

 

[maby]

The big advantage with modern gear is easy networking andcompatibility. All the major manufacturers now support NMEA2000 networking - Simrad and Raymarine give it different names and use different plugs, but it is easy to make up adaptor cables.

Our boat came with a Simrad radio and basic Tacktick instruments fitted. It also had a Simrad audio server and Simrad network already installed the full length of the boat. I purchased two Lowrance plotters - a large one for the helm and a smaller one to put by the chart table - just plugged both to the network (making up adaptor cables) - and they came straight up, able to see each other, exchange information, feed navigational data to the DSC radio and control the Sonic Hub. I connected the NMEA0183 output of the Tacktick to one of the NMEA0183 ports of the larger plotter and immediately all the speed, depth and wind data showed up on both plotters, and the date/time/latitude/longitude showed up on the Tacktick displays.

I then bought a Garmin AIS receiver (AIS300), plugged that into the boat network and vessel icons magically appeared on both plotters. This weekend I added a Raymarine autopilot - just plugged the control head into the network port at the helm and it immediately saw both plotters and all the data coming in from the speed, depth and wind instruments. So I now have an integrated network with equipment from five of the big names all cooperating perfectly. Just make sure that everything you buy supports NMEA2000 (Simnet/SeatalkNG) and it all just works together.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Just to clarify, the PC is running OpenCPN (which is free) and the communication with the plotter/DSC/AIS is NMEA0183 which is admittedly a bit outdated now - hence the current prices. I will have to switch out OpenCPN at some point due to availability of vector charts.

However, I can confirm that routes/waypoints in their entirity can be transferred in both directions over the USB link (no memory cards or cartridges) to the plotter, as can marks.

Once in the plotter they are also stored there so shutting down the PC has no effect.

If you are seriously considering SH gear then I can send you the schematics and other details of my setup, just PM me.

 

[jtwebb]

I am making little changes to my long standing system of a laptop with Seapro planning and tracking with the autopilot actually controlled by the GPS which has had the desired route uploaded. I recently added an AIS receiver. I now have a younger touch screen laptop running Windows 7 with a solid state drive so no moving parts. I am adding a wireless router so I can see and control the laptop from my Android tablet using Splashtop, will fit that soon when I am able to get in the boat after a knee op!