Connecting old NAVMAN instruments to modern chartplotter

[take.yvr]

One of the winter projects I'm working on is adding a new chartplotter to my Hunter 306.
Currently, the boat has NAVMAN wind 3100, NAVMAN multi 3100 (depth, speed, and temp), and Raymarine autopilot ST4000+. The plan is to connect them to a new chartplotter using NMEA 0183/Seatalk to NMEA 2000 multiplexer. (considering to use NMEA 2000 Wi-Fi Router YDNR-02 for NMEA conversion.) But I don't know if this approach is realistic since the instruments are quite old and data conversion between different companies is involved. Attaching a diagram of my plan.
I searched through the forum but couldn't find information on NAVMAN NMEA 0183 conversion to NMEA 2000. So, I'd like to ask if anyone has succeeded in connecting NAVMAN instruments (NMEA 0183) to a chartplotter (NMEA 2000) to get wind, speed, and depth data.
I hope I'm not the only active owner of NAVMAN instruments in this forum!

 

[Davidasailor26]

I don’t know anything about NAVMAN specifically, but NMEA 0183 is a pretty straightforward data protocol. I would guess that any NMEA 0183 to 2000 converter could take the input sentences.

 

[HMT2]

Your plan looks good. I’m curious about why the N2K WiFi router, other than your future chart plotter nothing is WiFi capable. I put in a new Garmin chart plotter and it comes with its own proprietary WiFi network which you can access via the active captain app, and even control the chart plotter from your phone or tablet.

 

[take.yvr]

Thanks, Davidsailor26. That's my expectation but If anyone has tried this before, I'd like to hear thier experience.
My other concern is that the multiple NMEA 0183 data (depth, temp, wind) is converted into a single NMEA 2000 feed. I don't know if it causes data delay/loss on the chartplotter due to bandwidth/throughput limitation of NMEA conversion.

 

[take.yvr]

HMT2, good point. Wifi is not requried feature for my purpose. I am just curious to see what kind of NMEA messages are being converted on the router. The wifi router allows to show it on my tablet. I think it could be used for trouble shouting if something is wrong with conversion.

 

[HMT2]

I did a kickstarter deal with Digital Yachts for an Ikommunicate (see this link for more info) iKommunicate - NMEA TO SIGNAL K GATEWAY. I wired in a wireless router and hooked up the Ikommunicate with it. So I could get N2K info on my tablet. It worked great, but then I ended up getting a new chart plotter with the WiFi so it made the Ikommunicate redundant. I still have it and use it occasionally.

I had that same concern about your 0183 data from three sources coming into one spot on the backbone. I would do some research on that. Good luck! Keep us posted .

 

[take.yvr]

I haven't heard of Signal K before. Interesting.

The autopilot connection is not critical for me, so it's possible to use two NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 converters to make a dedicated NMEA 2000 connection for each NAVMAN instrument. It could reduce the conversion issue.

 

[take.yvr]

I talked with engineers at Yacht Devices. They confirmed that their multiplexer has no problem handling my configuration. It took over 2 months to get the device (YDNR-02N) since they shipped the device from Russia. That's the reason for no update since last Nov.

Anyway, I connected YDNR-02N to my NAVMAN devices and my new B&G Vulcan 7R. It worked as expected and I didn't notice any data glitches so far. The Vulcan shows the wind, depth, and temp data from NAVMAN. YDNR-02N has Wifi capability and sends the data to my phone. Nice!
Next, I need to find out a path to route an N2K cable from the instrument panel above the companionway to the pedestal guard where I will install the Vulcan.