Need Advice on OLD Navigation Equipment

[GAJ52]

A few months ago we bought a Birchwood TS37, mainly to use on the Thames but also with the possibility of taking it onto the coast at some time in the future.

The navigation units that came with it look like they were used in WW2 and I suspect are now useless, but I would like some advice from the more experienced boaters on this forum before removing them.

The radar is a Raytheon Mariners Pathfinder Radar Model 1200, the radio is a Skanti VHF Radiotelephone type TRP2500, it also has a Decca Yacht Navigator iii. I have already Googled the Decca unit and realise its now obsolete as the Decca system is no longer used. Are any of these units worth keeping, I appreciate they are not needed for the Thames, but I would like the option to take the boat on the tidal waters later.

If as I suspect the advice is decommission them, what would be a more modern replacement for the Radar and Radio - do I even need them when hugging the UK coast ?

Glen

 

[vyv_cox]

Old cathode ray tube radars work very well, at the cost of high power consumption. In your case I assume that is not an issue. If it works I would keep it.
Many years ago several boats were on a night passage from Menai strait to Fishguard. One boat had an old CRT radar, two others had modern ones. The one with the CRT saw a submarine surface astern of us, the others did not pick it up.
Your radio is elderly but may well still be working. It is not equipped with DSC but at present that is not a problem. However, modern units are so cheap and convenient to use that you may choose to change it anyway.
PBO are running a feature on 'old but serviceable equipment' and may welcome a photo of yours.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

A few months ago we bought a Birchwood TS37, mainly to use on the Thames but also with the possibility of taking it onto the coast at some time in the future.

The navigation units that came with it look like they were used in WW2 and I suspect are now useless, but I would like some advice from the more experienced boaters on this forum before removing them.

The radar is a Raytheon Mariners Pathfinder Radar Model 1200, the radio is a Skanti VHF Radiotelephone type TRP2500, it also has a Decca Yacht Navigator iii. I have already Googled the Decca unit and realise its now obsolete as the Decca system is no longer used. Are any of these units worth keeping, I appreciate they are not needed for the Thames, but I would like the option to take the boat on the tidal waters later.

If as I suspect the advice is decommission them, what would be a more modern replacement for the Radar and Radio - do I even need them when hugging the UK coast ?

Glen

As you say, Decca is no longer useable, so that should go. It may be worth putting it on eBay - you never know what someone is collecting!

A modern GPS chart-plotter is the replacement of choice for the DECCA system, and will provide inputs for an upgraded DSC VHF if you decide to go that way. These days, most people would regard it as their primary navigation tool, though it does NOT replace paper charts and the skills to use them.

I'd try the other two out - they may well be in working order. If not, then I'd certainly replace the VHF; it is an important piece of safety equipment when at sea. Modern sets are DSC enabled - you'll have to feed the radio with a GPS position, hence my remarks about chart-plotters. What this means is that in an emergency, your radio can automatically tell the Coastguard where you are! You'll need two licenses to use a VHF - a ship's license (free of charge; apply online at the OFCOM web-site), and an operator's license (1 day RYA course; license granted at the end).

Radar is a nice to have, not a must-have. I'd suspect this one, if as old as you say, lacks facilities like MARPA (which tracks contacts and tells you of collision hazards), so though it is better than no radar, it probably lacks a lot of facilities that a modern radar would have. It will almost certainly have worse performance, as well. But I wouldn't replace it if it works, and if it doesn't work, I'd consider not replacing it.

 

[Blueboatman]

Somewhere on the Decca is a battery supply voltage readout. For this reason some people have hung on to them a tad longer!