Navtex needed?

OK. We are not a large vessel. Our two yachts have been 31 and 34 ft.

31 and 34 are big compared with a 26. Much easier to read from the comfort of a saloon berth rather than twisted round at the chart table - for me at least. Space management is considerably easier. Screen visibility is better. Management of the messages is good though I have never had a fixed set to compare it with.
 
Has something changed recently to improve Navtex recently? We sail on the Clyde / West coast and Navtex, whilst good idea, has never worked. We only ever seem to get garbled gibberish.

However, turned the unit on at launch this year whilst boat fettling and messages actually came though. Same again last weekend. It feels like the first time it has actually presented a coherent transmission.

I installed a NASA Navtex some years ago, when the CG were playing silly b******, and refusing to broadcast their SAFETY broadcasts. :rolleyes: I sail on the West Coast, and Navtex has been good, particularly when they started to transmit from Malin Head as well as Portparrick. All I want from it is the Inshore Forecast, and it saves having to listen at particular times for the CG transmissions.
 
31 and 34 are big compared with a 26. Much easier to read from the comfort of a saloon berth rather than twisted round at the chart table - for me at least. Space management is considerably easier. Screen visibility is better. Management of the messages is good though I have never had a fixed set to compare it with.

Oh, well, everything is relative. We lust after 40ft but cope with 34.
 
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