Electronics

[rose8878]

I am getting ready to buy a 29' Ericson and will sail mostly Lake Erie. I was wondering what experienced sailors would suggest that I add to the boat in the way of electronics, ie GPS, auto helm, radio, chart plotters, radar etc.
The boat is very limited in it's equipment, or the equipment it has is old and needs replaced. I expect to do a lot of single handed sailing, mostly day sailing but some cruising. Any suggestions and even models you would recommend would be appreciated.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Yep....Chart Plotting GPS, Autohelm, VHF, Depth, and a stereo (You have to have tunes). Those are the basics but they will get you there and back.

The rest of the items will be denoted by where you cruise.

If you add VHF, consider one of the new ones with AIS. That is nice to have!

 

[Apex]

good questions Rose:
I have a Garmin Chartplotter that will be the base of my upgrading of systems. They allow the start of a network. Below is what I see in order of importance, and will watch this for others input.

VHF
Compass
Depth
GPS
Speed
Radio

 

[sailingseadragon]

Rose
In order of priority from my point of view as one who sails singlehanded most of the time are:
1. VHF (handheld)
2. Autopilot
3. GPS (handheld)
4. Speed/Depth instrument
5. Wind instrument

After a season or two you will have much better feel for what is most useful your sailing style and cruising area.

Garner

 

[rose8878]

Thanks for the info. Does the handheld VHF have good range? Is there a particular brand that you would recommend?

 

[bawlmer]

I would definitely recommend a VHF with remote capabilities. Install the remote mic at the helm. You will find it invaluable while single handing. At least I do. There are a lot of reasonably priced VHF radios with GPS and AIS built in.

 

[Ken Cross]

Yep....Chart Plotting GPS, Autohelm, VHF, Depth, and a stereo (You have to have tunes). Those are the basics but they will get you there and back.

The rest of the items will be denoted by where you cruise.

If you add VHF, consider one of the new ones with AIS. That is nice to have!

Good list, but I installed a Garmin 441s which provides a GPS, plotter, and fish finder (which provides depth and more) I wired it to the AIS on my VHF radio for GPS position.

The reason I point this out is one unit providing multi functionality. The fish finder is great just to see a plot of the bottom contour even if you aren't chasing salmon. by purchasing a multi-function unit it's actually cheaper than individual parts and they provide all the information in one place and only one device to mount. The depth transducer I just shoot through the hull making installation a snap.

On the navigation screen I usually show depth, distance to next waypoint, arrival time, speed, heading, and track. All this at a glance. I also run a shallow depth warning and low battery warning all the time. While at anchor an anchor alarm as well as depth alarm (common 12 foot tides here).

I'm sure you can also locate other brands with the same functionality.

Ken

 

[Joe]

Thanks for the info. Does the handheld VHF have good range? Is there a particular brand that you would recommend?

Get a floating, water proof handheld to keep at the helm and for going ashore. I have a West Marine brand (made by a major builder) that has been very reliable. It is often on sale for around $100... which is cheaper than a remote mike for a fixed mount.

Then... get a fixed mount for the nav station.

A handheld gps is a necessity... the Garmin 72H is currently the most popular. A chartplotter is great... but it is a major investment requiring consideration for your particular needs.

Depth instrument... if the existing unit works.. I'd keep it... a new instrument means transducer decisions.

Auto pilot... if you have a tiller.. these units are much less expensive... Installing a wheel pilot will require some major decisions on mechanical aspects. Either way... an auto pilot is a huge, huge benefit to single handers. It is only a huge benefit to crewed boats.. heh, heh. Get one.

Finally, there are a lot of smart phone/ tablet apps. Here are the three I use the most:

Navionics... a full blown navigation chartplotter. It is a standalone app that doesn't require internet connection. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.navionics.singleAppUsa

Boat Beacon... this is a web based AIS app. VERY COOL but you must be in cell coverage area. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.electricpocket.boatbeacon

Sea Compass Racer.. a really neat handheld electronic compass. Many features. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chartcross.seacompassr

 

[Clansman]

Welcome rose8878.

If money is no object you are about to have a lot of fun!

On the other hand if you have a budget check out some of the nav applications available for your smartphone.

We use one called Gps Nautical Charts.

Cheers

 

[Captn TJ]

I am getting ready to buy a 29' Ericson and will sail mostly Lake Erie. I was wondering what experienced sailors would suggest that I add to the boat in the way of electronics, ie GPS, auto helm, radio, chart plotters, radar etc. The boat is very limited in it's equipment, or the equipment it has is old and needs replaced. I expect to do a lot of single handed sailing, mostly day sailing but some cruising. Any suggestions and even models you would recommend would be appreciated.

Rose8878

If and when you're going to be sailing at night I'd get a VHF that has AIS on it. I've come across tugs with long tows in the south passage. In the north passage you'll come across lots of freighters - but I'm sure you know that already. These along with the Kelly's Island ferry and jet express all use AIS. Unfortunately Millers doesn't yet. It's amazing how fast all of the above will come upon you so having advance warning is nice.

FYI I'd also learn how to recognize lights particularly tugs - almost impossible to see the barges they're towing (and more importantly the tow line).

I assume you'll keep the boat at MBI? We sail out of CIC.

 

[Captn TJ]

Thanks for the info. Does the handheld VHF have good range? Is there a particular brand that you would recommend?

Rose8878

Handheld is nice for an emergency or in a harbor but you'll quickly get out of range in the western basin. Don't be fooled by the signal you receive on your handheld both the CCG and USCG have very tall antennas so you'll hear them but they won't necessarily hear you. I'd opt for a base station type with a remote at the helm and get the antenna as high as you can.

 

[gettinthere]

I agree that a 5 watt handheld is a poor substitute for a 25 watt fixed base station. And a RAM mic at the helm works great.
The vhf with ais receive is a nice easy way to have extra features in a small inexpensive package

 

[rbringle]

We sail Lake Huron's North Channel. We added a chart plotter and love it. It covers most of your needs (charts, location, GPS, depth, speed), although we still have paper charts. If you go with the a chart plotter also have a handheld GPS for backup.

A VHF (with AIS) is essential for us to get weather, contact marinas, and in case of emergencies (we had one reason to contact the Coast Guard on someone else's behalf and you may be needed by someone else). We also use it to contact other boaters (e.g., asking for advice, talking to friends). It provides a foolproof way of reporting an emergency with MMSI. It should have an antenna on the mast and a remote mic for the cockpit. I would also recommend a handheld VHF for backup.

If the old depth guage works, I would keep it as backup. We are shooting our plotter transducer through the hull and it has lapses.

A radio is discretionary--personal choice.

 

[quadrille38]

Thanks for the info. Does the handheld VHF have good range? Is there a particular brand that you would recommend?

VHF signals are line of sight. A handheld that is 3 feet off the water has very short line of sight when broadcasting. Contrast with antenna that is on masthead where line of sight is dramatically increased. If your life depends on making a call and being heard you don't want to risk on a hand held where the range might be a mile or two. Essential for back up but not as primary and only radio.

 

[Doc_holiday]

Get a good radio with AIS or at the very least DSC. You can get a hand held If you want as a back up or to hail close by traffic or marinas. You want the main radio for safety and range. A remote mic is nice if you can. I don't have one.

A Chartplotter you can mount at or see well from the helm. A standard magnetic compass is always easy to look at too. It should be complimentary to the chartplotter. I have a 441s and it wires (it will) to my radio. There are some new ones in the $400 range that are darn nice. You'll need a transducer too to get depths.

An Autohelm is great, some can be networked, others can't. Some have remotes, others don't. Mine is old basic. I wish I had the new ones but that comes later.

Handheld GPS. In the event you lose power you still have direction.

Up to date safety equipment. Throwables and life jackets. Good flares and signals as required. Fire extinguisher. Fiberglass is more flammable that wood. All this is required but don't skimp.

Smart phone with life proof and apps as back up. Tides, charts, and other info. A means to charge your cell. GPS apps eat your phones battery quickly.

Upgrade lights to LED. This will provide good light and not tax your batteries. The Chartplotter and autohelm are power hogs.

A cooler for a cold one when you call it a day. Cleaning can wait till a cold one is raised.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Line of sight is not that big a deal with VHF. consider how you would use the radio, to contact that boat or bridge that is "in sight" and the USCG which has a very tall tower and your range to them will be longer.

 

[Doc_holiday]

Line of sight is not that big a deal with VHF. consider how you would use the radio, to contact that boat or bridge that is "in sight" and the USCG which has a very tall tower and your range to them will be longer.

You'll hear the CG but your 5 watts may no reach them. Hence the 25 watts you would get from the mounted radio (provided you don't kill it with a bad antenna or coaxial).

 

[gettinthere]

Line of sight is only part of the equasion. Otherwise you could talk to the international space station.

 

[Capt jgw]

The single-unit-does-everything systems are nice but when (not if) it fails, you've lost everything. I carry a hand held GPS and extra batteries as a backup. If it's a decent charting unit it will also tell you how deep the water is supposed to be at your location. Not as good as a functioning sounder but better than nothing. On a commercial boat I used to run, the owner was to cheap to install a sounder so we just went by the depths shown on the chart plotter. We're Great Lakes so there's no tides to consider. I never ran that boat aground, but one of the other Captains did.

 

[Ken Cross]

space station?

Line of sight is only part of the equasion. Otherwise you could talk to the international space station.

Actually you could talk to the international space station if you knew the frequency and type of modulation (and had equipment to do so.) There is a good reason that is kept secret. Can you imagine how bad communications would get if all over the planet were people interfering with the signal trying to talk to them?

Ken