Electronics….. so many options

PaulK · 2025-08-14T10:49:25-0700

Have to suggest going wireless where possible. Much simpler installation and opportunity to put screens where they can best be seen.

BarryL · 2025-08-14T10:51:59-0700

Hello,ut

If you can install everything by yourself then I think $2500 is enough. I would buy all of the gear from the same vendor to make it easier. I would suggest B&G or Garmin or Raymarine. They are all more similar than different. Personally I like B&G but I have used the others are they are ok too.

Whatever you get I suggest you make sure it's NMEA2000 (or Raymine Seatalk NG which is basically NMEA2000). The plotter, VHF and instruments will all connect and communicate with each other.

You didn't mention an autopilot but if you plan on installing one then I would suggest you stick with Raymarine as the Raymine wheel pilot will work well with a Raymarine plotter.

Good luck,
Barry

BigEasy · 2025-08-14T11:44:06-0700

Definitely stick with same manufacturer for Instruments, chart plotter, & auto pilot. All of that equipment + VHF will likely be between $3-4 boat bucks, possibly more depending on size & features of plotter..

dlochner · 2025-08-14T12:36:01-0700

The place to start is to determine how you will be using the boat and in what conditions. There is a big difference between what you need or want for day sailing weekend cruising, and long distance cruising.

All VHF radios have DSC the better (more expensive ones) have an integrated GPS. The most valuable feature of a DSC radio is the the panic button. With one push of the button a distress call is sent and if a GPS position is available it is also broadcast. A distress signal without a position is just one small step above worthless. VHFs without GPS rely on an external source for the GPS position. VHF manufactures have been slow to adopt N2K networking relying instead on 0183. This just makes the installation more difficult and requires translating the 0183 to N2K through another device. A VHF with N2K, AIS receive, and GPS will run around $800-$1200.

AIS receive only is really next to worthless too. With receive only, you will know where other AIS equipped boats are which can be handy, the real value is letting others know where you are. Additionally some AIS/VHF combinations allow for direct calling from the AIS screen using DSC. Push a button and a DSC call is made to the target. Sailing up near the Straits of Mackinaw you will run into freighters and some fog. Having others see you in those conditions is a huge safety factor.

Most through hull transducers are now tridata, speed, depth and temperature. Airmar makes most of the transducers regardless of brand. You can go their website and take a look. Only get a transducer with N2K.

Another issue is touchscreen or touchscreen and knobs/buttons on the Chartplotter. The more expensive ones with knobs and buttons are easier to use. Sometimes when fingers are wet or bouncing around the touchscreens are a PITA. I have one of each.

The one downside to Raymarine from my perspective is the proprietary connectors. RM uses the N2K protocol but not the connectors. This makes it more difficult to integrate non-RM devices because a converter needs to be included in the system. On the plus side, RM is one of only 2 manufacturers of wheel pilots, so integration with the chart plotter is easier.

Wireless wind transducers are out there, however, they get mixed reviews and if the battery dies, someone goes up the mast. If your mast comes down each year, installing a wired sensor is not all that difficult.

I have a full B&G suite, chartplotter, displays, AP, VHF, and radar. I've been happy with them. The chart plotter is Zeus 3s. The two features I like best are the Sail Steer and Wind Time Plot. Sail Steer puts AWS, TWS, AWD and TWD on a digital/analog screen, it makes seeing wind angles, tacking angles and jibe angles easy to see. It also plots any current you may be experiencing. The Time Plot shows a graph of wind speed and direction for up to an hour. Helps to see trends and patterns in wind shifts, a great asset when deciding on sail changes and tacking or jibing.

All electronics have a narrow price margin and they rarely go on sale and shopping between vendors will give you little to no discount. The West Marine Pro price for a Zeus 3s 9" is only $400 below list. When a new product is introduced any remaining inventory of the older product usually goes on sale. That can save you a few dollars.

If you live near a West Marine or other marine store with electronics on display spend sometime exploring them. I find the 9" screens to be a good size compromise. The 7" screens are too small to see more than a couple feet away and make using the touchscreen more difficult. The 12" models are really expensive and take up much too much space at the helm and too eye catching and distracting.

When you figure out what you want, make a good list and ask West, Defender, and Fisheries Supply for quotes.

Enjoy the shopping and learning.

BarryL · 2025-08-14T12:41:06-0700

Hello,

You can buy an AIS receiver for under $300. You will need either another antenna or a splitter. The AIS receiver will put the data on the NMEA 2000 network so the plotter can display the information, sound an alarm, etc. You could buy a new VHF / AIS receiver like the B&G V60. You mount that down in the cabin and you can buy a wireless second station mic. It's hard to say which is better. If the plotter and VHF are B&G you can probably send a DSC message from the plotter but I don't know anyone who uses DSC messages.

Where are you sailing? More and more boats are being equipped with AIS transceivers. It is nice to see a boat (especially at night) and be able to see on the plotter the heading, speed, and Closest Point of Approach (CPA). The B&G V60 is $700 or so and the model with AIS broadcast is $1400 or so.

IMHO VHF voice transmission is used less and less often. I love AIS but I use my handheld VHF way more than my fixed mount. If I were installing a new system I would probably buy a stand along AIS transceiver.

Good luck,
Barry

moe_1200 said:
I would be doing the install work myself yes. Agree with B&G, that’s kind of where I’ve been looking. Something like a B&G Vulcan 7. Can I add a standalone AIS receiver to that and have it display on the screen? I could keep my existing VHF at that point but would I need an additional antenna? Or would it be better to just get a new Standard Horizon VHF with built in AIS? I like idea of the “black box” B&G VHF/AIS that is installed below decks with a handheld device in the cockpit and cabin though.

auto pilot is currently a older Navico Tiller pilot connected to the emergency tiller. Will
Probably leave that alone for now.

Stu Jackson · 2025-08-14T12:50:42-0700

Dave's right about the approach you should take and all the details. AIS without transmitting IS worthless. While I appreciate his take on wind angle instrumentation, only you can determine if it's necessary. Perhaps I have been sailing for too long, but I personally haven't seen the need for wind speed or direction in three decades or more: I can tell speed by looking at the water and direction by the hair on the back of my neck!

Using WM to 'try out" the gear is priceless, and actually a necessity, before you lay your money down. Touchscreens, IMHO, should be outlawed, regardless of screen size, they are dangerous for the user.

VHF units down below are also worthless, but sometimes helpful. Unless you're sailing where long distance comms are necessary from the helm, put the VHF down below and get a handheld. Think it all through first, happy purchasing.

kappykaplan · 2025-08-14T13:16:30-0700

moe_1200 said:
In fact avoiding getting run over by a 1000ft laker in Fog is the primary reason I want AIS. My thought process for receiving only is that it would be my responsibility for avoiding a collision with the big guys, it’s my understanding they are all required to transmit.

All the more reason for you to have a Class B AIS - you want them to be able to see you, too.

They do make VHF/DSC/GPS and AIS receiving all built-in radios that support a blue tooth handset that you use in the cockpit. The major advantage of this set up is that you're using the VHF antenna at the top of your mast. I have a SIMRAD unit - don't have ready access to the model number right now.

BarryL · 2025-08-14T13:29:33-0700

Hey,

Touchscreens worthless? That's news to me. I have a B&G Zeus S3, my friend has an old original Zeus. Mine has a touch screen, his does not. Try entering the name of a waypoint or inputting the lat / long with a dial and enter key. Then try it with a touchscreen. Have you noticed that the blackberry phone went out of business while every new phone has a touch screen?

Anyway, Zeus 3S has touch screen and a few buttons. I almost never use the buttons. The touch screen so intuitive and works so well. If it's pouring rain I might have a problem but seriously, how often do you need to touch the plotter anyway and how often is it pouring?

Lastly, I had AIS receive since 2010 or so and AIS broadcast since 2021. Broadcast and receive is clearly better and I've been hailed by large ships that called me by name because of AIS broadcast. However AIS receive is still very useful. When around large ships I take as MY responsibility to know where they are and to stay out of there way. AIS receive make that much easier, especially at night.

Barry

sailcapt340 · 2025-08-14T14:10:23-0700

I just installed the GX2410 Matrix VHF with AIS, GPS and NMEA200 with the Standard Horizon SSM-70H RAM4 Mic in my boat. Very happy with the unit especially the remote mic at the helm.
My install was a completely new in cabin mount, for the radio. I was forced into this as the my original Ray52 was out dated and there was no new radio that would fit it the space it occupied at the helm. Routing of the new cables was a challenge but doable. This unit has a wireless remote as well. Lots of features to this VHF, I’m still learning all it offers.
As others have said, if you are doing the install work you’ll save a lot.
The GPS Store (where I purchased mine) has a sale going on right now. Wait another month and you may even get Boat Show Specials associated with all the shows that start next month.

dlochner · 2025-08-14T14:17:52-0700

Stu Jackson said:
Dave's right about the approach you should take and all the details. AIS without transmitting IS worthless. While I appreciate his take on wind angle instrumentation, only you can determine if it's necessary. Perhaps I have been sailing for too long, but I personally haven't seen the need for wind speed or direction in three decades or more: I can tell speed by looking at the water and direction by the hair on the back of my neck! Using WM to 'try out" the gear is priceless, and actually a necessity, before you lay your money down. Touchscreens, IMHO, should be outlawed, regardless of screen size, they are dangerous for the user. VHF units down below are also worthless, but sometimes helpful. Unless you're sailing where long distance comms are necessary from the helm, put the VHF down below and get a handheld. Think it all through first, happy purchasing.

Stu's take on wind data is important. Before relying on instruments for data a good sailor should be able to accurately assess wind speed and direction within a few knots and degrees. I sailed for over 30 years without wind data and for daysailing and shorter cruises it is not necessary. However, on longer cruises where making miles is important or for easing the load on the AP, wind data is important. When set to steer to a wind angle the AP works better than when set to a course. The ride is smoother and less erratic and power consumption and wear and tear on the AP is reduced. It is necessary to pay attention to the course as the AP will take you far afield if the wind shifts.

As for AIS, the big boys want to know where you are, especially in adverse conditions. The last thing they want to see is an unexpected boat popping out of the fog (although, they should see you on radar if you have a decent radar reflector). When they do see you and have concerns about your course, they would much rather hail you by name and you are more likely to respond to a VHF call by name, rather than to "white sailboat". And when you call them they will know which white sail boat you are because they can see you on AIS. Commercial ships will call if they are concerned about the CPA (closest point of approach). Likewise they do appreciate a call from a small boat stating their intentions if the CPA is going to be close. If you do hail a freighter, hail them on Channel 13 not 16. All commercial ships are required to monitor Channel 13 and 16. They take general hails more seriously on 13.

To @BarryL's point about touchscreens, yes it is easier for some tasks to use the touchscreen, however, for some tasks and in some situations the knobs and buttons are faster, more accurate, and easier to use. I'm thinking of zooming in on a chart or putting the AP in standby, setting a waypoint on the fly or COB waypoint among other things.