nav aids for small boat.

[aztec]

sensible post for a change, i'm looking at nav aids for my old boat. GPS, CHART, DEPTH, etc. would it be better to try and get a PC setup, or do what most do and have an array of different machines on the console.

i have never used any electrinix befor so don't know what most do, so second question is do i need them? what are the views of the experts, and looked at the up coming day skipper stuff.. bloody 'ell, what's all that about. in the past as long as there was water.. we just went!

please help, steve.

 

[ccscott49]

IMHO. Depth sounder, GPS, Hand bearing compass, chart table instruments, good paper charts and pilot of your area, including some big scale ones, almanac (for tides etc.) That should do you for now. (try and get some of the imray type charts, with tidal streams on them, very useful for UK.) Then learn what the charts and all the rest are telling you, as you are doing, good luck.

 

[DavidJ]

The PC setup is possible (I've done it myself) but the first wave sloching in will wipe out your laptop. If you keep it dry in the cabin then there is really no point. So in support of Colins thread handheld GPS (mounted on a bracket with main 12v supply) with charts.
Also take the speed from it of course...no need for those forever clogging wheel thingies.
David

 

[EME]

Don't know what you are lspecifically ooking for but I just bought a handheld Garmin 175 ...it's a GPS/Chartplotter that's now being replaced by a colour model. I find it brilliant and does all of the above (apart from actual depth). MES are I still believe (?) selling recon units at £199............ I'm guess there must be cheaper but if you really want electronics then this portable version seemed reasonable value to me compared to other stuff that I was looking at at the time....also jfm was looking to sell a Magellan (???) unit that was surplus to his needs

still waiting to get a boat

 

[brianrunyard]

Steve
Appart from the VHF, the main aids I've got are:- Garmin 128 GPS, Garmin 240 Fishfinder. I've also got Radar, only because it didn't cost anything, a friend didn't want it. Unfortunately the boats out of the water at the moment or you could have had a play with them as I'm only a few miles from you (Poole). In fact the boat's at home (Upton) so you could still play if you wanted, the 240's got a simulation mode.
If you're interested send me an E-mail.
Regards,
Brian

Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard

 

[hlb]

As the esteemed CC Scot says. You can manage with very little. Much dependes on where you want to go. Is it local all the time and do you know the area. Or are you forever going to new places. Whats the area you sail in like. Ie. Loads of rocks and sand banks or nothing much in the way. Course then theres all ways that day which comes along every now and then, when thick cloud, rain or fog come down unexpected and you cant see the front of the boat. Thats the time when only a good radar, GPS and Plotter will do. You cirtainly need a depth sounder, if only for bumming around in the , so these days it might a well be a fish finder.

<font color=blue>The X Invisible Volunteer/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif<font color=red>

Haydn

 

[Col]

Na! Do it the old fashioned way with transits, bearings off etc:
For instance - With the Italian in line with the pub, and Duncan visible in the bottom of the boat, you should be lined up perfectly on the Frome for fast exit
(wait till you clear the Sambuka's first) /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[BarryH]

All I've got and found I've needed is echo sounder, compass, good chart set of dividers, portland plotter and I've got a handheld gps in a brkt, but to be honest I use it more to check my calculations, and a vhf, almanac and all the other normal safety stuff. Looked at a plotter, but they looked more hassel than their worth.

Best thing is understand how to do it manually cos if all that leccy stuff goes pop and you don't, yer lost, well sort of!!

 

[mtb]

Re: basic\'s

That's all I have
Hand bearing compass charts lead line ( yes I use it ) Binoculars
I seem to forget most of the stuff re tidal streams distance covered
One thing I would like is a sextant .
As it is I'm still learning and prefer to understand the bottom line before relying on electronics.
I have the internet addresses of free coastal navigation sites if you want them let me know
cheers
Mick

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler or tug v, cheap or swap for tug

 

[burgundyben]

On the old boat I had gps, log, echo, depth and auto pilot and vhf which was fine, but auto pilot was bit extra really.

New boat (well 35 years old) has raytheon bi data, cheap gps, compass, plus will have hand bearing compass and will have a dsc radio by next spring.

I know how much of a tight arse you are so heres what I suggest for your boat, raytheon bi data, hand held gps magellan 310 from compass24, mounting bracket and power lead from gpsw.com, secondhand hand held vhf as before long you'll need a dsc (poncy nu radio), pencils, logbook, rubber, pencil sharpener, charts, as per CCS imray are v good and waterproof to a point, I massivley reccommend the shell channel pilot or the new cruising assoc almanac has two years of tide tables and is v good book, in our area both Wight hazards and Solent hazards are both v good books but shell channel book has it covered although is v costly (30 beer tokens!!) , log book, note pad, beer, more beer.

For sale, 1970 Triumph Spitfire-sold, 1947 Lambretta, 1922 Great grandmother, PM for details.

 

[Guest]

Did'nt have any nav aids on mine when I got it apart form old style depth gauges. Only fixed thing I've
put on is a Garmin fishfinder better than the old gauges.
All my current nav aids are portable so I can use them on any boat, (not including radar of course)
Held held Garmin 12xl, plugged into 12v socket, and into laptop using Transas Navigator software,
laptop plugged into boats inverter, but you can buy independent lead inverters.

Lot easier to put in waypoints at home with the laptop mouse, than entering all the lat & longs on
a handheld, plus you can edit it any time. Laptop also shows boat in real time with all buoys
and hazards etc. Oh and also carry the app charts & pilots books.

"The Med has got me" (no not the Medway the other Med)

 

[aztec]

cheers chaps, thanks for your valued replies, general consensus; learn the basics manually then use electronix, to make it easier.

thanks again,steve.