What instruments do you have onboard?

[Woodlouse]

I've always enjoyed reading 'The Cruise of the Dreamship', the account of a cruise to the South Pacific in a 40 foot Colin Archer in 1919/20. The instruments they carried, consisted of a Sextant, Chronometer, trailing log, upright piano and a clarinet.

I find it quite appalling that todays manufactures of yachts make no allowance for the installation of a piano. It has taken all the class out of cruising.

As for the instruments on my vessel:
In the cockpit you have the Sumlog. The compass is usually kept down below, but gets mounted in the cockpit when out of sight of land, or if the helmsman doesn't know which way to go.

Down below there is a depth sounder, which gets turned on when it might be getting shallow.

A GPS, which gets turned on when I might want to plot a fix on a chart.

A VHF, which gets turned on when I want to call someone.

And finally a PC with Seapro installed, that gets turned on in the same circumstances as when the compass comes out.

Most of the time all of the above is turned off. Except the Sumlog, which doesn't use power, but works on a cable attached to a little propeller.

I don't like using electronic instruments for one very important reason. I need that battery power to run the stereo.

 

[johnalison]

As well as some Raytheon (ie old) stuff and radar I have a gadget usually called something like a Swimbo. As well as giving out audible alarm calls when the depth decreases or the wind increases it has a series of colour signals, such as white when there is nearby shipping, and green when the sea state becomes a bit disturbed. An additional red alarm and 140 decibel sound signal occurs when the skipper says something foolish.

 

[Slow_boat]

In cockpit; Autohelm, wind speed and direction (broken), echo sounder, log, steering compass. Mk1 eyeball.

Chart table; GPS, log repeater. Chart plotter (no signal)

Forecabin; Guitar, penny whistle, harmonicas, saxophone.

 

[fireball]

Grand piano.

As much as I'd like one on board (having been taught on a Steinway baby grand) I think the elec piano would be as much as I could stow ...

 

[fireball]

In cockpit; Autohelm, wind speed and direction (broken), echo sounder, log, steering compass. Mk1 eyeball.

Chart table; GPS, log repeater. Chart plotter (no signal)

Forecabin; Guitar, penny whistle, harmonicas, saxophone.

Hmm - bother the rest - but doesn't the Sax get tarnished?? I thought the pads wouldn't really like the salt ...

 

[TamarMike]

Lead line - (always use this when anchoring or if depth is really critical (in conjunction with the next one)
Electronic depth sounder - useful as a general guide, especially now I've got a fin keel
Wasp trailing log - great this but always worry about losing the one and only spinner
Paddle wheel log - occasionally gives the right reading but difficult to know when to trust it.
Bulhead steering compass x2 and a 360 degree steering compass on hatch cover - I think a previous owner was a compassophile!
VHF (Non DSC) - used for checking the handheld VHF works
Handheld VHF - used for checking the ship VHF works
Handheld GPS - showing its age a bit, takes about 1/4 hour to find satellites!
Handheld compass
Engine rev counter
Tiller pilot (if my repairs have been successful this year?) - a very useful alternative to tiller lashings
Mobile phone - provides weather forecasts, tide tables etc
Handheld anenometer
...oh and does the burgee at the masthead count as an "instrument"

Oh, and on my old boat I sold 3 years ago with which I did somewhat more adventurous voyages than I have recently:

Wasp trailing log
Lead line
Handheld VHF
Handheld compass (used for steering when necessary)
Handheld GPS (only for the last few years)
MW/LW radio
...and that burgee

 

[Slow_boat]

Hmm - bother the rest - but doesn't the Sax get tarnished?? I thought the pads wouldn't really like the salt ...

I have a cheapo alto that I leave on the boat. It's in a hard case and doesn't seem to suffer cracked pads, though it's not as shiny as may be. The Selmer tenor I don't leave on board. I intend to get a cheap guitar to leave onboard, I feel a bit guilty taking my Macafarri to sea.

 

[mikeinkwazi]

Brain engaged

Lead line - (always use this when anchoring or if depth is really critical (in conjunction with the next one)
Electronic depth sounder - useful as a general guide, especially now I've got a fin keel
Wasp trailing log - great this but always worry about losing the one and only spinner
Paddle wheel log - occasionally gives the right reading but difficult to know when to trust it.
Bulhead steering compass x2 and a 360 degree steering compass on hatch cover - I think a previous owner was a compassophile!
VHF (Non DSC) - used for checking the handheld VHF works
Handheld VHF - used for checking the ship VHF works
Handheld GPS - showing its age a bit, takes about 1/4 hour to find satellites!
Handheld compass
Engine rev counter
Tiller pilot (if my repairs have been successful this year?) - a very useful alternative to tiller lashings
Mobile phone - provides weather forecasts, tide tables etc
Handheld anenometer
...oh and does the burgee at the masthead count as an "instrument"

Had a compass and sextant when I went to the Med in '74. Not much more now but for a working VHF and a GPS! (I 'discovered' GPS in '95!!!!) Eyeballs still ok, not sure about the brain.

 

[Slow_boat]

I must admit that I was resistant to GPS but now I have one it is a comfort to know I can make a plot or check a known position almost instantly. Handy for course and distance to waypoint, too.

Though crossing the Raysand for the first time with a big wind behind us, I couldn't leave the tiller to check the GPS so had swmbo at the chart table calling distance to waypoint. Then she said all innocent ' I think it's been going up for about half a mile' We had past the waypoint and she hadn't gone onto the next. Half a mile is quite a bit when looking for a 'channel' with 2 mtrs of water at high tide!

 

[smartcom]

And if all you guys want something to play with that will use your instrument data, have a look at the TeamSurv project. We're looking for volunteers to log GPS and depth data, to be uploaded to a sertver on the web when you get ashore and to create more detailed coastal charts. We're just testing the systems, so won't be taking volunteers till towards the end of April, but have a look at www.teamsurv.eu (and register there if you are interested in logging data), and at www.cosudec.eu for a broader view of the project.
Tim