NASA Instruments

[Twister_Ken]

Do you actually need Navtex? I had one (NASA Clipper) on the old boat and gave up on it. Well, actually, it gave up on me. Haven't bothered to put Navtex on the new boat. There are so many ways of receiving met if you're inshore (Smartphone, CG on VHF, BBC) that Navtex seems unnecessary. Might think again if I'm considering being offshore and out of CG VHF range for more than 24 hours.

 

[affinite]

I have a set of NASA stuff

NASA Navtext (not clipper) Works fine in Greece - Nice clear display - recommended, although we now prefer tinterweb for forcasts

NASA BM - Great (unsophisticated) piece of kit for the price - recommended

NASA GPS Repeater - Great piece of kit for the price - recommended

NASA Wind - Nice display but as for the other end ... I dont really need to say do I ? - NOT recommended

 

[boatmike]

Do you actually need Navtex? I had one (NASA Clipper) on the old boat and gave up on it. Well, actually, it gave up on me. Haven't bothered to put Navtex on the new boat. There are so many ways of receiving met if you're inshore (Smartphone, CG on VHF, BBC) that Navtex seems unnecessary. Might think again if I'm considering being offshore and out of CG VHF range for more than 24 hours.

I was brought up Ken with a compass,watch, paper charts, pencil, dividers, parallel rule, a log and a tidal stream atlas. Everything else is an AID and therefore not NEEDED. I now welcome any information I can get from any source though and don't intend to stick to UK inshore waters.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I was brought up Ken with a compass,watch, paper charts, pencil, dividers, parallel rule, a log and a tidal stream atlas. Everything else is an AID and therefore not NEEDED. I now welcome any information I can get from any source though and don't intend to stick to UK inshore waters.

Me too re compass, etc, and it doesn't need to be UK inshore waters. Any inshore waters nowadays and you'll get ample weather info, from the web if nowhere else. And a lot more options that the somewhat terse and infrequent Navtex info.

 

[Barry Jones]

In terms of reliability, I would go for the Furuno Navtex.

Check the Furuno screen layout and controls carefully before choosing. Not the best laid out, but if you can drive and read it happily, then it would be my recommendation.

 

[boatmike]

Not wishing to argue for the sake of it Ken but web based info relies on WiFi or similar which is not easy offshore. In harbour yes, but even then if you miss the forecast on the Beeb it's there on the Navtex. No you don't NEED it but it's fairly cheap info and also alerts you to nav hazards etc. Well worth having in my opinion, but if you choose not to have one that's your decision.

 

[Bobc]

I had NASA Log, Depth & Wind on my last boat and they were a lot more reliable than the over-priced Raymarine stuff I have on the current boat.

 

[Tintin]

I've got Nasa wind, depth, log, AIS 3, and BM1 - happy with all. No problems other than log impeller / growth problems that any manufactureres unit will suffer from.

3 years and happy with the first three.

And great aftersales service whenever I have called them (odd wiring questions).

A simple rule I apply to things is that if item b costs twice as much as item a, will I get twice the life from item b? If the answer is unsure or unlikely then I go for the cheaper unit.

Of course if you really want a nice gucci brand name and lots of flashing lights or features you will never use then go for the more expensive units.

 

[DanTribe]

I've always found them very good value and have had excellent service from them by phone and personally at boat shows. Also they are cheap enough to upgrade when necessary without major pocket trauma.
My Target echo sounder lives outdoors and has just worked for 13 years without a hitch. The Navtex Pro was fine for several years until it got hit by lightning which Horlicksed it completely. However Nasa supplied a recon unit at very good discount, so well pleased. It has problems picking up the UK stations but Holland, Belgium and Spain all come through fine so probably a transmitter problem rather than Navtex unit.