How much do you spend on electronics and what did you get?

[Charitybull]

So, as a new Mac26D owner who mostly sails in Great Sacandaga Lake but intends to get his boat on Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain, some Bay boating in NJ and maybe even a Florida Keys trip one day I am faced with the decision to spend money on outfitting my boat with electronics. Can I justify spending $4,000 on electronics when I only spent $3,000 on the boat. The guys that I am working with say they can set it all up to be removable and truly they are some of the best IMTech as they do this stuff for major shipping vessels.

Any thoughts? Specifically what stuff is a must have, what stuff is a nice to have, and what stuff is a great if your wealthy?? Thanks in advance.

 

[kappykaplan]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

I dropped close to $5000 to add a pair of E90W displays and a new radar after the old radar display crapped out. The installation included another GPS to go with the displays. Chartplotter, wind instrument, depth and speed are good to have in the cockpit. The main VHF is in the cabin and I keep a handheld VHF at the helm. Autopilot is another critical piece of electronics.

 

[Rick D]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

I'd say a good compass is the most important thing. After that, a depthsounder, although perhaps less critical for your boat. A handheld GPS to go with a chart kit would be fine for navigation, or a better handheld with maps built in. Remember, you can download Open CPN or SeaClear freeware for a tablet or laptop. Along with an inexpensive GPS puck if needed and NOAA charts, you'll have a pretty sophisticated navigation system that costs you nothing if you already have the hardware. A knotmeter? Not really since you can pull speed off your GPS, but it is fun to see what speed you have obtained. Wind? No, telltales and a masthead fly are plenty. In short, I'd avoid spending anything material. It will not be worth it on resale; if you remove it with a bunch of scars, it will depreciate it, and, most importantly, you just don't need it, in my personal opinion.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

In my opinion, a hand-held GPS, a hand-held VHF, a chart book while you can still get one, a good pair of 7 x 50 of binoculars, and a pair of dividers at this juncture. Up grade later if you think you need more-- add a compass if there isn't one installed already.

 

[woodster]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

you may need to look at this like you would an energy budget and see what you will be comfortable with and comfortable without...i got a used auto pilot and a new vhf with ais and dsc and a remote mike along with a chartplotter/gps with bronze depth/temp transducer and a windex and thats about 1600.00 sitting the box and i am sure there will be more in due time

 

[Charitybull]

I dropped close to $5000 to add a pair of E90W displays and a new radar after the old radar display crapped out. The installation included another GPS to go with the displays. Chartplotter, wind instrument, depth and speed are good to have in the cockpit. The main VHF is in the cabin and I keep a handheld VHF at the helm. Autopilot is another critical piece of electronics.

Thanks Kappy. its hard to contemplate spending so much on a boat that I just bought let alone didn't spend much on. They are proposing roughly the same set up you seem to have so I am sure that the price is right and they are terrific and honest guys. I just don't quite know what I need. Its not a blue water boat in the best of circumstances, but i am a gadget guy and I love to have information especially where my kids safety could be at stake. I am not sure they added an autopilot but that is ok as all of my sailing will be done relatively near land and not overnight.

 

[Charitybull]

you may need to look at this like you would an energy budget and see what you will be comfortable with and comfortable without...i got a used auto pilot and a new vhf with ais and dsc and a remote mike along with a chartplotter/gps with bronze depth/temp transducer and a windex and thats about 1600.00 sitting the box and i am sure there will be more in due time

I just don't quite know what a shoal boat really needs. Yes there could be fog on any of the lakes I sail, but I don't think we are doing many week long trips, rather one or so a year, maybe an overnighter or a two nighter.

 

[Charitybull]

I'd say a good compass is the most important thing. After that, a depthsounder, although perhaps less critical for your boat. A handheld GPS to go with a chart kit would be fine for navigation, or a better handheld with maps built in. Remember, you can download Open CPN or SeaClear freeware for a tablet or laptop. Along with an inexpensive GPS puck if needed and NOAA charts, you'll have a pretty sophisticated navigation system that costs you nothing if you already have the hardware. A knotmeter? Not really since you can pull speed off your GPS, but it is fun to see what speed you have obtained. Wind? No, telltales and a masthead fly are plenty. In short, I'd avoid spending anything material. It will not be worth it on resale; if you remove it with a bunch of scars, it will depreciate it, and, most importantly, you just don't need it, in my personal opinion.

Thanks a ton for the advice! boat does have a 6 foot daggerboard so depth sounder might be a good investment.

 

[Chief RA]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

The above advice is sound and you will know when you need redundancy for certain items.
Do this set up yourself and save much money with the forums help. If you need me just send an email. Chief, EE,FCC lic#1890

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

VHF, depth sounder ( fish finder- I use a Lowrance), hand held GPS, compass and tablet with charts.

That's done me very well, from the tip of Texas, around to Annapolis, and back, and all through the Bahamas. Never felt I needed more.

 

[sesmith]

Need? Compass, a set of charts, and a radio. We were out on Ontario with one of our previous boats minus the radio (when I was in my 20's and stupid, and the weather turned crappy). Not recommended. If I had a radio that day, I might have listened to the weather channel, and not been out on the lake in the first place. These days, we have a radio on the boat and a hand-held backup.

Our current boat has a chartplotter. Now I think that's indispensable. I also use my 7" tablet with Navionics on it, as a backup, and for planning. Also indispensable. I still carry a chart book of the area we're in. Some of the new radios have AIS built in. That could be useful on Ontario. We also have a wheel pilot. It came with the boat. I never would have bought one. The wheel pilot broke, for good, a couple of weeks ago. Now it's indispensable. I just ordered a replacement. FWIW, Defender has the newest Raymarine unit on sale right now.

So, the bottom line is what you don't have, you may not miss, but there's a lot of cool stuff out there that can be helpful. Most of it isn't necessary, though, for where you are cruising. You also don't need to spend a fortune for some of these things. Handheld gps, or maybe a Navionics program on a tablet you already have, cheap fishfinder for depth, cruising guide and chartbook for the area you're cruising, compass, handheld radio, etc. You can make a set of telltales for the shrouds using yarn or tape from an old cassette. If your boat has a tiller, a Davis tiller tamer isn't the same thing as an autopilot, but it's the next best thing. You can start small and add things as you feel you need them.

 

[Stu Jackson]

It's not the cost, it's what instruments you need

Just to be clear for you:

A handheld GPS, like a Garmin GPSMap 76Cx IS a chartplotter. With just a smaller screen.

Compass, charts, VHF is bare minimum. You might want to read a basic navigation book, like Chapmans or Duttons.

 

[topcat0399]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

It really depends on where you are and what you are doing I would suppose. We have sailed on inland lakes for several years before we got any electronics. We finally got a depth finder this year and had to add VHF because we entered US waters - otherwise we wouldn't have that. A compass and a map can go along way.

Now if you want to know what we want....everything.

GPS
Depth Finder
Chartplotter
VHF
SSB Radio
AM/FM Radio
Ham Radio
CB Radio
Big Screen TV - hell 2!!!
CD
DVD
8 Track
Record Player
Radar
Barometer
Thermometer
Wind Gauge
Blender
Microwave
Popcorn popper
Bilge pumps
Battery monitor
Shore Power
Air Conditioner
Hot Water

I'm sure I missed a million things.

 

[higgs]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

Lake Ontario is easy to navigate. Thousand Islands are a little tricky, but nothing that can't be handled with a handheld GPS, charts, parallel rules, dividers, compass, and depth sounder. A lap top with Sea Clear (free) tops it all off. Of course you will want a VHF.

 

[Joe]

In my opinion, a hand-held GPS, a hand-held VHF, a chart book while you can still get one, a good pair of 7 x 50 of binoculars, and a pair of dividers at this juncture. Up grade later if you think you need more-- add a compass if there isn't one installed already.

I really like KG's list... couple that with a good all around instructional book, such as John Rousmanier's The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, which will teach you to effectively use the tools mentioned allowing you to literally go anywhere.

I would also add a good quality magnetic compass, such as the Plastimo Contest.

If you sail in an area with good cell service, get an AIS app... cheap and very cool. Later, on you might want to equip your boat with a stand alone unit...

 

[mitiempo]

I find it sad that nowadays sailors don't want to leave the dock without a boatload of electronics. I have traveled the B.C. coast for months with only compass, charts, and pilot book.

I would look at the above as a minimum with the addition of a handheld vhf. If you want to spend money get a chartplotter/fishfinder combo. That will give you depth as well as electronic charting.

In my opinion you can learn to navigate or look at a screen. Best to learn to navigate first and add the optional items later.

 

[Chris Patterson]

The price paid for a boat is rarely indicative of its worth, and truly seems to be arbitrary numbers at times. I have seen people give away very expensive boats, and some way over pay for derelicts. Fit the boat out the way YOU want it. What anybody else has on their boats, or doesn't, should have little relevance on your decision..

(When I proofread some of my replies, it sounds like I'm knocking someone's opinion, when it boils down to it's just my own.)

 

[kappykaplan]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

Good on ya, Chris!

 

[rgranger]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

If you are trying to save some money, I'd think a depth sounder on a 26D is a luxury that you can live without. You can always pull your dagger board up if you kiss the bottom.

 

[SloopDogg]

Re: How much do you spend on electronics and what did you ge

I dropped about $3000 and got Wireless wind/depth/speed, new Sytex chart plotter and and a wheel pilot