entry level electronics

[kappykaplan]

Sailing is not a video game, the instruments are there to supplement the visceral data you collect from your senses.

 

[shemandr]

With regard to chart datum it is notable that when the QE2 hit some rocks off Cuttyhunk in 1992, the datum was from 1939! And based on 1939 technology it was not accurate.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I was thinking the vulcan7 and the two displays , just wasn’t sure if one screen would have all functions integrated ( display wise)
Thank you

Since you are sailing the Hudson River around mid-town, I would ABSOLUTELY have a chartplotter on board. The chartplotter has multiple displays set up as pages that you can scroll thru, which includes an instrument display. You will also be able to see depth and GPS speed, for instance, on a chart display. You can very easily customize each display to show what you want to see. At my helm, I have a 12" Zeus chartplotter, a B&G instrument display (Triton), and the autohelm control on the NavPod. This easily provides everything I want at the helm.

I also set up 2 B&G instrument displays on a NavPod over the companionway so that they are easily viewed from the cockpit (without needing to climb behind the helm to see the helm display). That's why it is good to have at least 2 instrument displays. You can place them where it is convenient to see them. It's not necessary to duplicate displays when you can just scroll thru the pages to see what you want. For me, it's the ability to set up each display for more specific purposes and scrolling options.

Believe me, it is overkill to have all these displays. Each Triton MFD has 16 pages of which you can choose up to 8 pages to scroll thru. The pages can be customized or left in the factory default. You can spend hours playing with all the data that will come through and much of it will be meaningless to you, probably. The old days with individual displays for wind, speed and depth were far simpler and the new MFD instruments can be way overkill, but I prefer to have all the options that come with the modern innovations.

Also, if you buy the Triton package of displays and transducers, you will also receive the external GPS antennae. It isn't necessary to have the external antennae because the chartplotter obviously has it internal. But, there are numerous features that you will find in sailing applications that require data from the external antennae when it is connected in the network. You will definitely enjoy having the added features, so .... use it!

I had the Vulcan 7 display. It was adequate on my 27' boat (cockpit space is always a consideration), but I think you will prefer the 9" display. I would go with Vulcan 9. My buddy has a 7" Raymarine model on his Catalina 30 and after sailing on my boat with the 12" display, he says he much prefer to have a larger display.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

BTW, since you are on the Hudson, I would get a VHF radio with built-in AIS receiver at minimum and have it networked so that the AIS is displayed on the chartplotter. You can spend more to get the AIS transponder, but that would be up to you.

 

[dlochner]

BTW, since you are on the Hudson, I would get a VHF radio with built-in AIS receiver at minimum and have it networked so that the AIS is displayed on the chartplotter. You can spend more to get the AIS transponder, but that would be up to you.

If you routinely go through NY Harbor and have AIS turned on, be certain to select a display that has small icons for the AIS targets. There are so many active AIS transceivers the underlying chart can be hidden by all the icons. The Zeus2 was terrible this way, the Zeus3 is better. Not sure about the Vulcan or Zeus S.

 

[thinwater]

In self-defense I was distracted by a dolphin and her baby dolphin swimming near us, a quick glance at the chart said there would be some water on both sides of the mark. There wasn't. If someone had drawn a line between the two Red channel marks, it would have gone through the middle of my boat. When I went through the same spot this year, I was very careful.

Chart data is just guidance, not gospel. Aquamaps does use the most recent USACE soundings in areas prone to shoaling, which helps a lot, especially on the ICW. The charts are updated at least weekly if not daily.

I should correct. I've run aground plenty. Not from chart reading error, or from incorrect visual observation ... but from dumb stuff not unlike like watching dolphins! You can't fix dumb, not even with decades of expereince.

 

[jssailem]

If you have not run aground, you have not sailed much.

 

[garymalmgren]

In the photo you can see an ancient phone with Boatspeed app. A fishfinder and a tablet.
Boatspeed gives my speed in Big font along with my heading , position , night lighting. vocal read outs of the speed, maps. vocal countdown to start. planner and a lot more. (free)

Boatspeed

https://boatspeed.app/index.html



Below that is a Hummingbird fishfinder as recommended by JBP-BA (#2) and beside that is a $100 tablet with Navionics that I can swing out or stow away.
https://boatspeed.app/index.html
I sail
I pay attention to what is around me and refer to the instruments when it is appropriate.
Gary

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Given your location on the mid-upper Hudson (shifty winds and strong currents) you’d get more benefit from a wind sensor and wheel/tiller pilot than anything else. Next would be a depth sounder. You’d get reliable depth information from a chartplotter app on your smartphone or tablet. The most popular are Navionics/Garmin Boating app or Aqua Maps (I prefer the latter but they both have advantages). I’d consider a dedicated chartplotter only if you have extra budget for it.