Nav System Ideas

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FredV

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Oct 16, 2011
148
Hunter 37-cutter Philadelphia, PA
The "Laptop Navigation" thread prompts me to ask about other navigation options. I've been playing with both OpenCPN and SeaClear II, and plan to have a laptop on the inside nav station running one of them. But, since I've removed all the old (original?) nav instruments (except the compass) from Fred V, I'm now trying to figure out what to replace them with.

I'd like to install some type of chart plotter on the cockpit pedestal which would include GPS info, speed and depth, but wonder how necessary or valuable other instruments might be. I've read many comments here and on other forums about the "absolute necessity" of an anemometer, radar, weather fax, etc., but I'm not convinced - at least not yet.

Any thoughts you may have on a good, reliable and not-too-complex system would be most appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
As a paper chart affectionato who cruises inland waters, I find that depth, wind speed and direction are the primary things I need to sail. course the wind info is more for the Corinthian crew as i use the windex and my face.
I have found GPS to be more handy then a knot meter as it does not foul and does in fact report speed. (please don't flame me on SOG STW I know and don't care, exactly like Magnetic and True just convert in your head). Course I have come to realize that by just looking at the amount of squat the boat has you can estimate (and that is good enough inland) the speed to a 0.25 knot.
So to answer your question, depth and windex
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,100
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Yes.. Unless you are racing, a good GPS unit and some paper back up is all ya need.. I have been using a Garmin 545 for a few years and I am pretty happy except for the cost of updating the maps. I play with the laptop on a gps puck, but having the little chartplotter at the helm is mostly all I use.. My wind instruments packed it in many years back and I find that if you sail a lot at night, it can be very handy, especially if a helmsman is not very familiar with that setting.. Look at this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-GPSMAP...TF8&qid=1356788410&sr=8-3&keywords=garmin+546
Ya have to be careful with the magnet inside on the right side. You can mount the unit to the right of the helm pedestal and the magnet will be far enough away to not affect the compass much. They list a 3 foot distance, but I found it was OK as long as it is on the right side of the helm. Power consumption is very low.. I measured mine and found it slightly less than posted numbers, a smidge under 0.7 ampere.. The newer 547 has a better processor and would be fine at a few dollars more..:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=148&pID=119849
 
Jim Legere

Jim Legere

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Jun 8, 2004
1,065
C&C Frigate 36 St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia
FredV said:
I'd like to install some type of chart plotter on the cockpit pedestal which would include GPS info, speed and depth, but wonder how necessary or valuable other instruments might be. I've read many comments here and on other forums about the "absolute necessity" of an anemometer, radar, weather fax, etc., but I'm not convinced - at least not yet.

Thanks!
Click to expand
Happy New Year Rainer! I have some old Datamarine sailing instruments to port of the companionway that I have been able to keep running by donations of spare parts from a friend who upgraded. I would not like to sail without wind, speed and depth instruments. The wind instrument keeps my neck from getting sore staring at the Windex, esp. downwind or with the bimini up. Apparent windspeed is also useful for predicting when to reef. Knot meter could be replaced by GPS at the helm I suppose, but depth sounder is a must. I still haven't got around mounting my chart plotter at the binnacle - just different priorities I guess.
 
Johnb

Johnb

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Jan 22, 2008
1,461
Hunter 37-cutter Richmond CA
In the Bay where the water is almost never stationary a knotmeter helps because it gives feedback on sail trim changes and has helped me to improve.

After a few occasions sailing in the dark or fog, a GPS with a map on it, right at the helm would be one of my priorities, and if it can display AIS data that would be a big plus.

If my depth sounder went bad I would severely restrict my sailing until I got it fixed, feel you just can't live without it.
 
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