'Tronic gadgets

[zoidberg]

The latest imprint of Yachting World has an article extoling the many virtues benefits of having lotsa 'electronic gadgets on board.

I can understand that some peeps squeeze some pleasure from having lots of toys to play with. For my own part, I tend towards the 'keep it simple' mantra, for my satisfaction derives from a minimalist 'being there'.

To me, there are two questions - 'Do I need this?' - and 'Do I want this?'
Different criteria apply to the decision re acquisition. Occasionally, I struggle a bit to allocate to the appropriate list...
.... such as a small hand-powered individual coffee maker.

What gadgets and devices make the Short List for you - and why...?

 

[wonkywinch]

On the other hand, I'm a coffee loving nerd so as well as the capsule machine I have an Actisense NMEA to wifi gadget that is picked up by Open CPN to which I've added some apps inc the polar recorder.

Looking forward to comparing the actual vs published performance of my Elvstrom "Multi Code" sail.

Polar Plugin

 

[st599]

On the other hand, I'm a coffee loving nerd so as well as the capsule machine I have an Actisense NMEA to wifi gadget that is picked up by Open CPN to which I've added some apps inc the polar recorder.

Looking forward to comparing the actual vs published performance of my Elvstrom "Multi Code" sail.

Polar Plugin

A true nerd would have written a proximity alarm so as you enter an achorage or near your berth, the coffee is switched on.

 

[jamie N]

At the other end of the scale, what electronics can you happily do without?
My boat log currently doesn't work, and the wind speed/direction thing's intermittent.
The former isn't an issue due to the sailing that I do, and having GPS, whereas the wind thingy doesn't bother me as they're numbers, when I actually only pay attention to heel/feel and senses. They're more important than the 'nice to have' other things.
The depth gauge is a must have though, and would be repaired or replaced 1st thing if it failed.
As a caveat, of course all of these things are incidental as one wouldn't actually be at sea without a top grade coffee facility onboard, the beans being stored in a vibration free and soundproof box to prevent 'bruising'.
Obviously......

 

[RunAgroundHard]

On the other hand, I'm a coffee loving nerd so as well as the capsule machine I have an Actisense NMEA to wifi gadget that is picked up by Open CPN to which I've added some apps inc the polar recorder.

Looking forward to comparing the actual vs published performance of my Elvstrom "Multi Code" sail.

Polar Plugin

@wonkywinch A couple of days ago I downloaded OpenCPN onto my MacBook Air. I have managed to get Antares charts showing, but need to get a source for UK charts. Not really looked into it yet. The Polar Plugin, does that record polar data automatically for a boat from boat data wind and speed through water?

@zoidberg My want gadget is a night scope. I bought it on here a while back, ITT Night Vision Monocular, £70 IIRC, and it has proved invaluable. For years I sailed about maintaining my night vision but this device has reduced the risk associated with ruined night vision. I think it has migrated to the need list. Solar is on the want list.

 

[dunedin]

@wonkywinch A couple of days ago I downloaded OpenCPN onto my MacBook Air. I have managed to get Antares charts showing, but need to get a source for UK charts. Not really looked into it yet. The Polar Plugin, does that record polar data automatically for a boat from boat data wind and speed through water

The O Chart shop has both digital and raster chart sets for the UK for Open CPN (or at least did last year) for under £30.
Personally not a great fan of Open CPN user interface but lots of functionality if persevere.

 

[veshengro]

The latest imprint of Yachting World has an article extoling the many virtues benefits of having lotsa 'electronic gadgets on board

In that case I must update my thinking...
I shall invest in an electric Pencil sharpener to keep my charts nice and tidy...

 

[lustyd]

I tend towards the 'keep it simple' mantra, for my satisfaction derives from a minimalist 'being there'.

Mine too, that’s why I use Navionics to check tidal stream data in seconds on deck rather than arsing about down below with books and pencils for 20 minutes Gadgets can improve the situation and simplify too.

I also made a screen recently that shows barometer graph, inside and outside temp and humidity as well as battery and fuel levels. Saves loads of time and keeps us aware.

 

[davidaprice]

Sometimes it's the small things: last week I installed a natty on/off pushbutton for the boat's WiFi network, complete with blue LED ring which lights up when the button is on. Very nice. The week before I installed a green LED on the electrical panel that lights up when shore power is attached, so you don't have to plug in the kettle to find out whether you've got power. (I may regret this last one, the LED is very bright and if we're overnighting in a marina with shore power, the whole saloon (where I sleep) will be lit up with a green glow).

 

[st599]

It all depends on your requirements - on our volunteer led boats, having the electronics set up to send a report at the end of a trip on the engine hours, battery state of charge etc. is invaluable so we can plan maintenance and diagnose simple problems from afar.

For most though, there are some useful updates that can be made. OpenCPNs ability to show where a DSC alarm originated from is very useful.

 

[mrming]

I’m guilty of having gadgets on board, but the only ones I truly need are the depth sounder and VHF. I do like having a fridge, chart plotter, AIS transceiver, autopilot and diesel heater, and the kids like having 5G / WiFi.

 

[chriscallender]

I go sailing to get away from electronics to be honest... I'm in that line of work. I sail a very basic, power limited boat (Leisure 17 with only a small solar cell for charging). It is also quite budget limited in the sense that it doesn't seem worthwhile spending more on gadgets than boat itself is worth, even though if I wanted to I could afford them. I'd worry about the boat getting broken into, andthe other thing is that electronics become quite dated quite quickly and there are lots of subscription services so even if you spend the money, it isn't the end of the story. So I'm very much in the "keep it simple" camp - its almost my reason for going sailing and it works fine for me.

On the other hand, paper charts will eventually be consigned to the history books. If you end up in fog in a busy shipping area in the 21st century, an AIS transponder would be a very good idea etc etc, it goes on. So the world has (and continues to) change and whether I like it or not, gadgets are somewhat necessary even though our forefathers could cross oceans with a compass and a sextant and we could too if we had to, but why would we?

The other side of this is that, at the basic level, a phone or tablet does 90% of is needed even for the modern world much better than it was done when I started sailing (chart plotter, internet connection,, wifi hotspot, weather forecasting etc). That would be pretty amazing to our forefathers. The rest of what I have is mostly safety critical stuff like a VHF and a PLB which I feel are necessary for what I do, and in my dreams I'd have an AIS transponder as well.. Oh yes, and upgrading from incandesant to LED nav bulbs was probably the best electronics I ever installed even if quite simple (I'm sure they said the same about switching from paraffin). So I'm not completely gadget adverse, I just don't like staring at screens.

 

[Supertramp]

A 12 volt vacum cleaner makes it easy to keep things tidy. And a Bluetooth speaker system through the interior as I like radio/music. Considering wiring in the VHF cockpit speaker but that might exceed my competence.

Paper charts for planning but a set of tablets and plotter so I have multiple chart systems simultaneously available inside and out. There is sometimes a disturbing amount of difference close to shore in less frequented spots between UKHO, Navionics and C-Map.

No coffee maker or inverter!

 

[johnalison]

We found a 19” TV handy. With a powered aerial just dangled on the boom it worked in most places. We watched the late Queen’s jubilee while sitting in the marina in Cherbourg. French TV gave three days of daytime TV to it and by all accounts their version of the river pageant was vastly better than the BBC’s.

 

[st599]

We found a 19” TV handy. With a powered aerial just dangled on the boom it worked in most places. We watched the late Queen’s jubilee while sitting in the marina in Cherbourg. French TV gave three days of daytime TV to it and by all accounts their version of the river pageant was vastly better than the BBC’s.

At major events like that, there's a host broadcaster who creates the feed, then the local broadcasters add commentary and interviews. They don't shoot their own coverage.

 

[johnalison]

At major events like that, there's a host broadcaster who creates the feed, then the local broadcasters add commentary and interviews. They don't shoot their own coverage.

By all accounts, the Beeb’s broadcast was dire, though I never saw it myself. If the feed was the same, it must have been the commentary that everyone seemed to be complaining about.The previous days were full of studio discussions of the occasion, from the clothing to the protocol. It appeared that the French were more interested than the UK.

 

[wonkywinch]

@wonkywinch A couple of days ago I downloaded OpenCPN onto my MacBook Air. I have managed to get Antares charts showing, but need to get a source for UK charts. Not really looked into it yet. The Polar Plugin, does that record polar data automatically for a boat from boat data wind and speed through water?

Yes .. I got the tip from this guy ..

 

[Neeves]

.... such as a small hand-powered individual coffee maker.

I had an additional list

Can I afford it?

But explain to me

what precisely is a 'hand powered individual coffee maker'

Coffee in its simplest form needs 'almost' boiling water - how is this 'hand powered'

I have a USB powered, capsule, one measly cup (very selfish), coffee device. It leaves me wanting another cup.

In my world of keeping it simple a French press works quite well.

or do I need another list headed by:

Do I need to get out more?

Jonathan

 

[zoidberg]

Coffee in its simplest form needs 'almost' boiling water - how is this 'hand powered'

I have a USB powered, capsule, one measly cup (very selfish), coffee device. It leaves me wanting another cup.

In my world of keeping it simple a French press works quite well.

Yes, Jon. Getting out more is encouraged - for both of us!

In the cause of scoring more exercise, here's one suggestion: Non-'lecky piston pumping handheld perpetual coffee generator

I, too, have a 'French press' or 'cafetiere' in daily use. In fact, I have several, of differing capacities. Also, hidden away in the back of cupboards, there are other fierce and fiendish steam-driven machines gathering dust. I'm like that....

The main trick I've discovered in my long years building a good coffee habit is to persuade someone else to make and present the brew. It has taken time, patience and guile - but now my preferred mid-morning bowl comes with associated little almond biscuits.

 

[PeterV]

My boat had all original electronics on board when I got her, from 1979. I didn’t have a big budget but was actually quite amazed at what I could buy at a reasonable price. I went for a dsc radio, a Garmin Echomap, a simple AIS transponder and a NASA depth sounder. This gives me more functions than I know how to use, with amazing tricks hidden away like anchor alarms, racing start line information, AIS alarms and many more.