Need New Electronics

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warren5421

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Jan 22, 2014
5
J Boats J-37 New Albany, IN
I just bought a J-37 at a steel. It has no electronics at all. It was laid up about 2 years ago in a heated/AC building. The survey showed very little needs worked on. 2010 boat was put through a complete refit/make over where owner lived. All stainless fittings replaced with a bronze base metal. Mast was rewired with all new fittings. The heated building is nice to do the small things that need cleaned (electrical connections and etc) or repaired (seals and etc).

What is the minimum electronics I need to be safe sailing? What would be nice to have? What would be good to have 2 of? I will go back down the Ohio to Mississippi to the Golf then hopefully the BVI.

I do want a longer range radar 80 nm or better but don't know brands. The electronics was removed by the son who had a house invasion losing the electronics.
 
Picflight

Picflight

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Jul 21, 2013
333
Searching for 1st sailing boat 27-28, 34-36 Channel Islands, Marina Del Rey
The curvature of the earth will hide things beyond 25 miles, will an 80 mile radar be useful?

If you have a marine store near you? You could explore the myriad of toys they have there and decide what is best for your budget and passage needs.
 
Picflight

Picflight

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Jul 21, 2013
333
Searching for 1st sailing boat 27-28, 34-36 Channel Islands, Marina Del Rey
Congratulations on the new boat, post some pictures, would love to see it.
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
That all depends on what you see as necessary. I would certainly want depth, speed, wind angle, vhf, chart plotter anyways. Everyone has differences of opinions on this and you have to decide what you will feel comfortable with.
 
B

Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,850
- -- -Bayfield
Furuno is considered to be one of the best radar systems out there and is probably used by more commercial vessels than any other brand, but I am sure you will be satisfied with most others too. For GPS I personally like Garmin over others because it is so intuitive and easy to operate and they have units that will provide all the data you will need. A VHF radio is another good item to have on board. And a depth sounder is too as you always want to know how much water is under you and is handy for anchoring. You can get speed off of your GPS.
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
warren5421 said:
...What is the minimum electronics I need to be safe sailing? ....
Click to expand
Just today I recieved the Feb issue of Boat US Magazine. It has just what you are asking about. See page 62. There is another article about making a wiring diagram, which you should really do since you are starting pretty much from Scratch.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,321
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Well at the bare minimum you need a depth meter... and you need to know your boat's draft.... then I guess you'd want a chartplotter with river charts and depths. If you make it to the golf you might need a simple range finder to give you distances to the pin. heh, heh...... what' your budget?
 
David in Sandusky

David in Sandusky

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Nov 8, 2007
1,616
Hunter 27_75-84 Sandusky Harbor Marina, Ohio
Gps, radio, and depth

Minimum for safety is a GPS, depth gauge, and radio. We have done over 5,000 NM on the Great Lakes with these.

Next, I would add an autopilot, if you intend to cruise.

We have used wind instruments on chartered boats, but I am more than happy with a clear view of my sails, telltales, and the windex. They are faster and more accurate than the instruments IMHO.

Radar is for fog. A must in New England, and the San Juans. Not so much on inland lakes, or Florida.
 
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