What might I want to install at my future chart table?

[prv]

Whiteboard
Gas detector

Gas detector is already installed at the galley. Whiteboard is a good idea, but I don't have the space at the table itself and I'm not sure of the aesthetics if placed on the adjacent bulkhead. On Kindred Spirit I inherited a couple of spring clips, like bulldog clips with one side mounted to the bulkhead. These could hold pieces of paper when there was something to display or avoid losing (marina codes, sketches of anchor transits, etc) and I may well do something similar here.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[prv]

I installed two 240v outlets, one v near and one 'at' the chart table bulkhead.. I then went on to put in a 'ring main' totalling 6 plus water heater and charger..
And have two three way adaptors
Let's see. At the chart table ( which can be the office when on board) . Desktop , printer.. Recharge phone recharge bicycle lamp. Recharge other lamps. Recharge handheld VHF .. Liwwle pealights up the pillars
Pwetty desk lamp .. The trick is to future proof if space allows, perhaps .
Shame 240v outlets are so f'ugly.. The cool black ones are often coated mild steel( magnet test).

We obviously use our boats very differently though - am I right in thinking you live onboard?

I'm never going to have a mains operated desktop computer on the boat, or a bicycle lamp, and a printer is pretty unlikely too. All the chargers are or will be 12v ones, and lights are 12v LED rather than 240.

I never had 240v on Kindred Spirit (though the boat was wired for it) and never missed it.

Pete

 

[prv]

Surely heating control should be in the master suite for cold mornings?

Well, maybe if I find a circuit diagram for the controller I could patch in some kind of remote. Trouble is that I suspect my choice of boudoir may vary between bow and stern depending on who else is on board and whether we turn out to have a ripples-slapping-on-overhanging-bum noise problem (yes I know about floating something underneath).

Pete

 

[Woodlouse]

I'd definitely go for a baragraph. The ability to see pressure change clearly without having to note it every hour is invaluable. Honestly I don't see why they are so infrequently seen on yachts these days.

 

[johnphilip]

Minimalism

Moving the plotter to the cockpit is excellent but the comment on radios, does that mean you wont have a fixed VHF?

Only other things which I had a job to find room for were the Webasto control and the large breaker for the anchor windlass, Perhaps you scoff such softie fittings or do you have them fitted elsewhere?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I'd definitely go for a baragraph. The ability to see pressure change clearly without having to note it every hour is invaluable.

There's a YAPP for that...

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?274287-YAPP-Homemade-Seatalk-stuff

 

[prv]

Moving the plotter to the cockpit is excellent but the comment on radios, does that mean you wont have a fixed VHF?

Err, no. VHF is item number one on the list, in the original post, of things I already have or intend to add quite soon. I have a new GX2100 with a cockpit remote and all new Salty John aerial gubbins. (Mast was down and old radio a bit meh, so I took the opportunity.)

By Big Sexy Radios I meant ham or marine SSB kit for talking across hundreds or thousands of miles of ocean. I love the idea, but realistically am not going to be doing the kind of sailing that warrants such kit.

Only other things which I had a job to find room for were the Webasto control and the large breaker for the anchor windlass, Perhaps you scoff such softie fittings or do you have them fitted elsewhere?

Eberspacher control already mentioned above - will be near the chart table but not on it. Anchor windlass breaker will stay more or less where it is by the battery locker, to avoid more runs of heavy cable, though I plan to add a Big Feckoff Relay to conveniently turn the windlass on and off (not control it up and down) from the cockpit.

Why do you think I would scoff at such things? Never had 'em on Kindred Spirit, too small, but on the new boat the heater has been making itself very popular these last few months and I expect the windlass to do the same once we venture out of refit

Pete

 

[timmygobang]

A single switch that turns on red LED lighting illuminating the nav table, galley and the heads. Perfect for all those night shifts when you have to nip down and take a log, put kettle on and take a leak without waking the others up

 

[Blueboatman]

To the OP. I am impressed that you can keep the temptations of mains leccy away! Yup I am aboard for around 9 months a year thus far so got fed up faffing with extension leads and sharing sockets..and don't discount warm generous lighting out of hand. Ahem it gets you laid..

It sounds as tho everyone has thought of everything else tho. And of course one day a splash, drip or rain burst will come down the companionway, and a cuppa get flooding across the chart table so setting everything higher up and far back might not go amiss.

 

[lustyd]

A single switch that turns on red LED lighting illuminating the nav table, galley and the heads. Perfect for all those night shifts when you have to nip down and take a log, put kettle on and take a leak without waking the others up

I seem to recall a study which said red isn't necessary as it's just the lower light level which helps so I'd be tempted by something a little less seedy

 

[Greenheart]

Ah! That's another thing the big red 'Do Not Press' button would do...instantly, your cosy interior would be bathed in an ominous red glow.

And perhaps the stereo could imitate the sound of a gate opening and a large ferocious dragon being released in the forecabin?

How about equipping the nav station with a dedicated drawer to contain a 'grab-bag' of essentials, lest the worst ever happens?

 

[timmygobang]

I seem to recall a study which said red isn't necessary as it's just the lower light level which helps so I'd be tempted by something a little less seedy

ah really?? hmm reminds me about a tv documentary on amsterdam earlier this week. Ok revise, a preset dimmed light switch that gives off just enough light to do all the tasks stated in previous post

 

[lw395]

I'm surprised nobody else has suggested a compass.
If it all goes to rats' then proper DR should mean the navigator has his own compass to see where the ship is heading, as distinct from the course he asked for.

A pair of reading glasses on a retracting string?
I would say the best suggestion in the previous posts is a white board.
Also useful is some sort of open stowage for all the toot that people dump on the chart table, keys, sunglasses, mobiles etc.
I've considered a sort of lectern thing to hold the Almanac and/or pilot book open at the right page and off the chart.
I think tablet PCs, e-readers etc have moved on a lot in the last few years, they are only going to get better and may one day even be waterproof, so some sort of space for those?
And a built in pencil sharpener!

 

[prv]

I'm surprised nobody else has suggested a compass.
If it all goes to rats' then proper DR should mean the navigator has his own compass to see where the ship is heading, as distinct from the course he asked for.

Hmm, an interesting point. I have a heading display on the instrument repeater, but of course if I were seriously doing DR nav it's likely that that's not working. I don't think I'm going to dedicate panel space to that very rare situation though - especially since the hand bearing compass is stowed nearby

A pair of reading glasses on a retracting string?

How old do you think I am?

I would say the best suggestion in the previous posts is a white board.

Mm, I'm warming to the idea. Perhaps if I made a nice cherry-wood frame for it.

Also useful is some sort of open stowage for all the toot that people dump on the chart table, keys, sunglasses, mobiles etc.

Definitely - already in the plan for the saloon next to the chart table, below the stereo. It's always annoyed me how "in the chart table" seems to be a lot of people's default target for everything from phones to suncream to winch handles (winch handles!).

Pete

 

[oldbilbo]

One of these....