Update

Hurricane

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Its a rainy day and I'm bored so here's an update on the new boat.

Its been over three weeks since we delivered the new JennyWren to Southampton for her final fitting out. Bespoke stainless steel brackets for the domes and scanner etc. have led to a bit of a delay but we wre able to initially "fire up" the new systems during my visit yesterday. Essentially, everything that we tested worked but we ran out of time so testing continues into next week.

This is probably the first really big G Series installations and I've complicated things by adding a load of extra electronics - PC feeds and LAN cabling etc. I'll probably do a separate write up on this later if anyone's interested.

In the meantime though, I thought you'd be interested in some pics that I took yesterday.




As you can see from this the fitting out is extensive but I've been involved and I now know much more about her - where most of the cables run etc. This is EXACTLY what I wanted - it took me over a year to find out this sort of thing on the old boat.

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I, initially, thought that the new G Series (G Boxes) would be fitted in the electronics bay under the main helm station but it is already packed full of kit and there just wasnt enough room. So the guys from Maricom came up with a great idea of fitting it all behind the dinette seating.
In this photo you can see the two main GPMs - these are the new CPUs that control all the various bits of navigation kit that feed into the system. Each one contains a hard disk with the Navionice charts covering the whole world. We are feeding these two units onto four monitors (2 at each helm position).
You can just see the Comar Class B AIS transponder in the top left on the recess.


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This is the lower helm position which was only finished yesterday. We only had room for 12" monitors but they still have more display area than the older integrated units. Notice the lack of controls for the navigation kit. This is done from two separate portable wireless keypads. Each one is capable of operating the whole system but I will be configuring them so that the helmsman will have one and the navigator/radar operator (SWMBO) will have the other. They work throughout the boat so the same keypads will be used on the flybridge.

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And here is the flybridge - duplicated from below. Well, infact all the units are networked so they needn't duplicate the main helm - they can be set up as you choose. I will probably reverse the stations so that the helmsman (who is to port on the flybridge) has the same as he does on the main helm downstairs where he sits to starboard. You can see from this photo that we have had to move the instruments and VHF etc around a bit to fit everything in. The port display only just fitted.

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And a couple of shots of the radar arch with the domes and the new HD Digital Radar. Notice the two GPS stalks. One is a standard Raymarine RayStar and the other feeds the AIS transponder. The TV antenna used to be fitted on one but its now installed INSIDE the empty dome. There are two whip aerials fitted (one each side of the flybridge) one is for the main VHF marine radio, the other will be used by the AIS transponder and FM radio broadcasts will be picked up on the TX antenna (inside the dome). Not sure how good the FM receprion will be but this seemed a good use of the antennas.

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OK so here's a little competition - no prizes.
Whats this

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The plan is to work for delivery at the end of this month at about the same time as the delivery of another well known forum P42. So I expect that we will be having a party to celebrate - of course open to members of the forum - no dancing on the tables though (Roger???). There wont be much time to announce it - weather dependant etc but I expect it will be around the first May Bank Holiday weekend.



Looking round Swanwick yesterday I saw this great looking boat. Doesn't she look stunning.

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Apart from the scanner seems to be on the wrong way round. I wonder what the opposite of "head up" display is??

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Its the same for mine as well so we have a few questions for Raymarine here - in fact mine doesnt seem to park as well as this. These radar systems are really new - these are possibly the first two that have been commercially fitted in this country (apart from Brian's of course).

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Anyway, I thought I'd update you with the progress - more to follow if you are interested.

Mike
 
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Always interested Mike - really interesting stuff.

The launch party sounds like a good idea /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif - never mind keeping Roger off the tables, you have to try and keep him out of the water!!!!
 
Very interesting stuff, keep up reporting!
A couple of questions and a guess.
Wasn't it possible to get rid completely of engine instruments and show them on the screens?
Why weren't the two gps mushrooms fitted directly on the arch?
Aside from the cleaner look, those are the only pieces of equipment that should stay as low as possible.
Finally, my guess for the short stbd antenna: gsm phone?
 
Although I'm a great advocate of electronics, I like to keep things as simple to operate as possible. There's no point having a system that nobody uses. The instruments are all fitted as standard and give a perminant readout. They are tried and tested over millions of installations. I dont see a reason to change. What I really wanted was to integrate a PC into a manufactured navigation system so the G Series seemed the right option for me.
As for engine instruments - this might still be possible but the little MTU units are so neat I dont think there is any need to do so. If you meant to replace things like rev counters and fuel guages etc then I'd dissagree - a constant readout is much more appropriate - you get instant view without having to search through umpteen menus and if you need to hand the boat to a delivery skipper you need something that they dont have to learn.

Why are the GPS mushrooms on stalks - no idea - the origional factory one was on a stalk so we matched up the AIS one on a similar stalk. I seem to remember that the old boat had a mushroom flush fitted in the flybridge deck - I supose that it would have been possible to cover it with something and loose the signals - never did though.

Your guess - WRONG
 
We've come a long way since a paper chart and a compass /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I also know what the antenna is, fitted one on my Sealine years ago, hah

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I'm impressed by the sheer practicality of the strategic design, and by the workmanship, too.

One question (it's my job, so apologies) what considerations did you give to system redundancy, and have you a basic "get you home in fog" nav system ?

You must be itching to fire up the donks and go !
 
She looks FAB!!

Keep the updates coming........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Entry >> An Aerial?

Am I right? Must be!! What do I win?

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Not sure what you mean?
The radar works just as Raymarine spec
On the old Pathfinder kit I could get home just using it.
Did you mean if the radar fails?
If so this would apply to nearly 100% of all leisure boats.
 
[ QUOTE ]
One question (it's my job, so apologies) what considerations did you give to system redundancy, and have you a basic "get you home in fog" nav system ?

[/ QUOTE ]

My concern is the power supply these days, in a number of cases it all relys on one supply. Have they installed an alternative source ?

As systems get more complex, and do more functions, we put more reliance on them. Having heard of one new large cruiser, batteries mounted between engines, had a hose fail mid channel. Resulted in main power lose, killing fly-by-wire engine controls, all nav equip, VHF and communication.

How many concider power supply reserve ?

Brian
 
I'm still working on power supplies.
The PC systems will all be separate from the main nav systems - I'll be doing that bit myself later. The PC is built and working from a mains to 12v adapter and is capable of operating off 24v but I will probably install another DC/DC converter to drive the PC, WiFi router and bridge systems that I'm installing. The TV systems are running from a mains inverter and apart from adding a satellite rx box (sky+ for the moment) I'll probably just leave them alone.

I believe that Raymarine have advised that the DSM (digitai sounder) is best operated from a 12v source so there is a DC/DC converter for that. All the other Raymarine kit is running off 24v.
A 24v supply feeds a small fuse panel which then feeds all the devices. Another fuse panel has been supplied after the DC/DC converter to distribute the 12v.
But, essentially, the whole system is fed from one main 24v switch. I dont see a problem with this but I know your background and you can probably advise something different.
 
I'd be tempted to do the 12v install using a gang of DC-DC converters. Spec it so that if you need n converters to fully meet the 12v load, then you provide n+1. Set them up in parallel feeding a separate 12v busbar/fuse panel to feed all your 12v consumers. I would shy away from using separate DC-DC converters for each task.

But that might be tricky from an installation point of view of course....

Rick
 
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