Value of old B&G kit on eBay?

Shuggy

Shuggy

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Having spotted this on eBay it got me wondering if there is a market for old period kit like there is for classic cars? Perhaps one day we’ll all be trying to make our classics look ’period’! Unlikely, I know... but you would never have thought that old Smiths gauges for Range Rover classics would be desirable again. Thoughts?

Radio beacons, anyone?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Job-lot-...use-marine-electronics-equipment/323163688194
 
Shuggy said:
Having spotted this on eBay it got me wondering if there is a market for old period kit like there is for classic cars? Perhaps one day we’ll all be trying to make our classics look ’period’! Unlikely, I know... but you would never have thought that old Smiths gauges for Range Rover classics would be desirable again. Thoughts?

Radio beacons, anyone?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Job-lot-...use-marine-electronics-equipment/323163688194
Click to expand...

The problem with old electronics is fixing it if it doesn't work, may be more difficult than an old mechanical gauge if no spares available. As an aside - B&G does a range of classic looking instruments for boats which want that look...

https://www.bandg.com/bg/type/instruments/h5000-analogue-boat-speed-25kt/
 
I think all you need to do is look at old VHFs, DF sets, Decca etc...basically worthless. There's some value in "proper" old instruments such as trailing logs, sextants, compasses etc...however I suspect most of those are on mantelpieces rather than on boats.

Agreed that Smiths gauges for a Rangey Classic or nice VDOs on an 80s Golf GTi are cool, but they are going to be the missing jigsaw piece of a factory look restoration. Yachts never had that...bits would be added over time to suit the owners requirements.
 
Until about three years ago I had a Hornet 4 system. The log transducer was damaged when relaunching and proved impossible to replace. The wind transducer seized up and the cost of having it repaired was astronomical. I bit the bullet and replaced the lot.
 
There is a a small trend for wealthy people renovating classic yachts, wooden but I doubt that these types of renovations would use electronic equipment. The renovations also tend to include a sympathetic but modern upgrade in the electrical department, where that is relevant.

My own boat, from 1974, has some old electronics: radar, plotter, auto helm. I have just completed a refit and have tried to be sympathetic on the upgrade e.g. 70's windlass fully refurbished but on electrics, modern and eventually on electronics / instruments - as state of the art as I can afford. These days modern electronics have become unobtrusive and quite classy looking as flat panels.

I think the market in stuff like this would be very limited. There could be a market in an individual buying up parts at low costs and offering to break for spares. However even that is limited as the real cost of modern electronics is getting low in price, never mind more efficient power wise.
 
vyv_cox said:
Until about three years ago I had a Hornet 4 system. The log transducer was damaged when relaunching and proved impossible to replace. The wind transducer seized up and the cost of having it repaired was astronomical. I bit the bullet and replaced the lot.
Click to expand...

And, as I recall, sold your stuff to some mug in Scotland ...
 
I sold some old B&G instruments a while ago to people who wanted spares rather than replacing their entire system. I suspect the market is getting smaller as more people chose the utility and reliability of modern electronics.
 
Those old-school B'n'G masthead units are works of art. If I had a yacht with the same unit, I'd consider bidding for a spare.
The analog display units would easily be driven by an arduino.
Shame there's no close-hauled indicator.
 
Electronics of that era is probably far more repairable than modern electronics, because of both the lower degree of integration and lack of use of software to implement functions (I doubt if those instruments include anything resembling a CPU!). The PCB is probably populated with mainly, if not entirely, discrete components that will have been soldered in place. IF (big IF!) the PCB is OK, then almost any part should be replaceable by someone with a steady hand and a soldering iron. Mechanical parts are another matter, of course.

However, they don't have the market of Classic Car parts, because electronics were (and to a large extent still are) after-market equipment. There's no such thing as the "wrong" instrumentation for a yacht; a yacht of the same generation could have been fitted with Seafarer equipment just as well as the upmarket B&G kit. And, as others have noted, it is commonplace for owners to replace electronics as existing kit breaks, becomes obsolete, or new functionality is required.
 
lw395 said:
Those old-school B'n'G masthead units are works of art. If I had a yacht with the same unit, I'd consider bidding for a spare.
The analog display units would easily be driven by an arduino.
Shame there's no close-hauled indicator.
Click to expand...

I was very reluctant to change mine, we loved the analogue speed and wind gauges. Fortunately the Zeus2 can show some fairly realistic digital simulations, so we are happy.
 
Shuggy said:
Having spotted this on eBay it got me wondering if there is a market for old period kit like there is for classic cars? Perhaps one day we’ll all be trying to make our classics look ’period’! Unlikely, I know... but you would never have thought that old Smiths gauges for Range Rover classics would be desirable again. Thoughts?

Radio beacons, anyone?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Job-lot-...use-marine-electronics-equipment/323163688194
Click to expand...
I had to replace a window on one of those dials. It cost me £25. I would replace a whole display if it broke and was priced right as they still work great and give a clear display. So there’s a good value in some of it if you can be bothered.
 
lw395 said:
Those old-school B'n'G masthead units are works of art. If I had a yacht with the same unit, I'd consider bidding for a spare.
The analog display units would easily be driven by an arduino.
Shame there's no close-hauled indicator.
Click to expand...

When I bought my Fulmar with B&G instruments, I did not realise the wind strut was missing and even the surveyor did not comment on it. My plan had been to use the B&G instruments for a year and replace them with modern ones. However the log and depth worked fine, so I decided to buy a new wind strut. Well the strut was going to be £625 to £650 depending on the exchange rate. Well I kept a check on eBay, after finding out exactly which model I needed. Eventually some months later the correct one was listed. It cost me £205. So still only a third of the replacement cost, but a lot cheaper than new system at about £1200 to £1400. B&G of this period are the best quality manufacture and designed to last a lifetime. So until something stops working, I shall continue to use them.
 
lw395 said:
The analog display units would easily be driven by an arduino.
Click to expand...

Did you know that there are two sorts? The earlier ones, as on the eBay list in the OP, are straightforwardly current driven. 0 - 10mA, I think. Later ones look identical except for the work "Syncro" on the face and use sine and cosine drivers so the needle can be driven through 360o. Writing a driver for either would have its challenges, but they are so beautiful that it would be worth doing. I keep spares of everything, and when I run out I shall look for ways of driving the repeaters with modern instruments.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
There is a a small trend for wealthy people renovating classic yachts, wooden but I doubt that these types of renovations would use electronic equipment.
Click to expand...

The ones I've seen generally have up-to-the-minute electronics discretely hidden under a beautifully-varnished lid or some similar arrangement.

Gypsy Moth was restored with classic B&G instruments (not sure whether original or reproduction/fake), but also modern ones under a lift-up flap.

Pete
 
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