Electronics for small cruisers

[Tom]

I'm looking to buy a used Hunter 26, a trailerable, water ballast pocket cruiser. My intended use will be a combination of coastal cruising and inland/lake sailing. Most of the boats I've considered have little more than a VHF radio (without DSC). I'm thinking I would need to add a depthsounder and GPS at minimum, but any advice from others using this boat (or similar boats) as I plan to do would be appreciated (both in terms of general requirements and specific product recommendations). I'm interested in where on the boat you've installed your electronics, as well (especially if it's an H26!). Also, any web or magazine articles you are aware of to help me get up to speed on this topic.Previously posted on Hunter small boat forum.

 

[Ben Allen]

Electrical Toys

Hi Tom,The H-26 is a good boat, you should really enjoy it. As far as electornics on a small boat, I sail an O'Day 26, and have put a VHF(fixed and handheld), compass, GPS(handheld on bracket), depth sounder, tiller-pilot, AM/FM stereo Cassette, 12V plugs, a deck light, additional lights below, and a couple of fans (needed in the south.) For all of this I have 2 group 27 batteries, tied to a selector switch, Shore power with a built in charger that is wired to both batteries. I am about to install a washdown pump in the cockpit, this will also help keep the fresh water tank circulated and fresher (if possible.) Hope this helps some, have a blast with your boat. If you get your boat pretty soon, there is going to be a Trailer Sailor get together over the Labor Day weekend in the Ft. Walton Beach/Destin, Florida area if you are interested, there should be about 15 sailors from up to 5 states there.Ben AllenMontgomery, AL"Latte Dah"O'Day 26

 

[David Foster]

VHS, GPS, Depth

These are the minimum to my mind, for safety and efficiency while cruising. (I'm in a similar case to yours, but working with a '77 boat with only the VHS working when I bought it.)Lots of other goodies to add, but I'll go slow, because every one adds to the battery drain, maintenance, and complexity.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Wanderer138]

Same here

Fixed and handheld VHF, handheld GPS wired into 12V supply and tillerpilot connected to GPS through datalink. A depthsounder will be added this summer. I often sail singlehanded and at night, but I rarely use the cabin lights. A 10W solar panel keeps my 2 batteries charged.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[William Jowell]

"My" minimum

I want no less than; depth, speed, apparant wind and GPS. I have all of these mounted on the cockpit side of the bulkhead to the starboard side of the companionway on my 26. Large offshore compass on port side.

 

[Tom Hultberg]

Tom, I lake sail my 97 H26

on Lake Pepin, in Minn/Wisc. Also have taken the boat to Lake Michigan's Green Bay. For small lake sailing, depth, VHF and handheld GPS is plenty. For Great Lakes, or coastal sailing I would add a compass and my VHF would be hard wired with mast antenna. I have a Navco depth/speed unit and a analog wind indicator. They came with the boat. After owning it for two years, I wouldn't install the wind inst. for the sailing I do. Speed can be read from the GPS. You definatly want a cd or tape player, and add a few plug in's around the boat. I agree that the more you add, the more there is to fix.Toms/v Chrisanna