Adding Instruments

[Kerry13709]

I am getting ready to update/add to my existing navigation instruments. At present I have st6000 (raymarine) auto pilot, st60 water speed, fishfinder by Garmin(used for depth indicator only). Hand held Garmin 76 GPS unit.I also have a vhf by icom hand held and a standard vhf below deck. I would like to get setup to cruise in the Bahamas, and possibly later in some of the other islands. I am looking for suggestions on what equipment to add to existing. Should I get compatible items that can be networked? Do I buy one of the multi function units that several functions can be viewed on to save cockpit space? Should I plan to install below deck, in the cockpit, or a combination of both? I need advice from some of you more experienced sailors as this seems to be a fairly expensive investment.( or a bigger hole in the water to deposit my money into)From what I have at present, what would be the order of importance of the suggestions? I will probably spread the project over a year or two.

 

[Capt. M]

Instruments

To start, if it aint broken, dont fix it.If your curent instruments are in perfect working order, don't mess with them. From what you stated, the only two missing items would be a chart plotter and radar-which could be purchased in 1 unit. Pros/cons of a single unit display is that if your system fails, you have just lost everything. It is nice to interface, but there is something to be said for redundancy. I have a Furuno system (Plotter, radar, GPS. Although they "talk" to each other, they are independant of each other. If I loose GPS I still have radar/ploter and so on.Good luck!

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

I agree, if it works, don't mess with it unless ..

they really don't do what you want them to do. Or, if you just have a bunch of money to waste and like to play with new toys.ST60 series are good instruments, and you can add additional units using Seatalk. Even if the new units can not be networked, there is nothing wrong with that. Not everything needs to be networked anyway.

 

[Tom Spohn]

NMEA 0183

If your current instruments can communicate via NMEA 0183 you can easily add the Radar/Chartplotter to your setup.

 

[Rick]

ST-60's vs B

I am replacing old non functioning instruments and tossing between the ST-60 sailpak and the B

 

[Liam]

Other stuff

Do you have a life/survival raft, epirb, cruising spinnaker, storm trisail, sea anchor, solar or wind charging, chain rode and windlass.There may be fancier electronics, but it sound like you have what you need.

 

[Liam]

Rick

I have had the Raymarine ST-60 for 2 years and 3000 miles. Never a problem, works great. I have never owned Brooks and Gatehouse so I don't know about that.