Off season electronics deals?

[SoSound]

My wife and I are new boat owners this year, relatively speaking - still "novice" sailors, primarily interested in what I call "regional" cruising (couple of days at a time) in the Puget Sound...

I was thinking of purchasing a GPS chartplotter over the winter to install for next season. The thought is that I should be able to find a decent price on something. I'd like to be able to connect the unit to the other instruments that we already have (Raymarine ST60 depth/speed, ST40 (?) bidata repeater, ST4000 autopilot) but don't need to have a complete networked "home theater" sized multi-display in the cockpit.... For that matter, I can easily see the other instruments from the helm, I just thought there could be some benefit to linking the autopilot to the GPS?

Any thoughts or recommendations on what and where to purchase, likes or dislikes, features?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Dave
Among the best deals if you can find an "in" locally is with Raymarine which has a once-a-year sale on new inventory and remanufactured chartplotters/radar combos. Ray's program is limited to dealers and employees with whom you would need some association and that includes your marina or YC with whom you can discuss this opportunity.

I'm not recommending Raymarine over any other brand as they are all relatively equivalent and the choice is largly one of personal preference. Any can be linked if you ever so choose.

I would caution against linking a chartplotter to an autopilot, particularly for new boaters as such dependence could lead to inattention with less than enjoyable results...

 

[sailaway78]

GPS

Almost any chartplotter available at this time will make a direct hookup to your auto pilot via the NEMA output on the plotter. Since you have other Raymarine instruments, that would be the easiest using their sea talk cables, which are simply plug and play. For myself, and many on this board, Garmin is the preffered brand. Much more user friendly than the Ray unit, and will work nicely with your auto pilot, via the NEMA output. but not sure about any other instruments. Whatever you choose, I would highly recommend you get one with all the coastal charts built in. Will save you a bunch of bucks in the long run.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

................... to abstain from connecting your chartplotter to your autopilot was an excellent one. Best not do it now or any time in the future.

This is a favourite stunt of powerboaters. After entering the desired waypoints in their chartplotter, they go have lunch/cocktails and never bother to look where they're going again. We almost met our end two years ago when a large powerboat tried to mount us from behind at high speed. We never were able to raise or see anyone on the boat. Just kept going off into the distance.

Several powerboaters here in the Howe Sound area are believed to have met their demise through just such a navigational blunder. Best to use a human link between between your chartplotter and autopilot.

 

[SoSound]

Arrrrggghhhh!

I've wanted, for a long time, to have "land torpedoes" for idiot drivers. Now, maybe, I should get the real things? Let's see - Bremmerton and Everett are not too far away, maybe they offer the same kind of deal as Raymarine on rebuilts... :stirthepot:

I understand, I won't even use cruise control when driving except in PARTS of MT, WY, and the Dakotas.

 

[sailingseadragon]

Dave,

I think Don's comment is the most important "… the choice is largely one of personal preference." If you focus your search to the leading brands you will not go wrong...

I have found that the fall boat shows have the best prices for the most part. Many vendors will offer the same discounts even if you do not attend the shows, a good example is Defender.

I would suggest since you have Raymarine instruments, look first at their products. They do work well together. I am big fan of all of the instruments including the autopilot being linked together… The “Wind Vane” function on the Raymarine, and most autopilots, is great for the experienced and novice sailor. This feature is a great way to learn and improve your sail trimming skills and requires your instruments be linked together. The ability to have any data from any component shown on your chart plotter is very nice as well.

However, as others have pointed out the ability to down load waypoints to your autopilot is a pretty worthless feature for a sailboat and dangerous for any boat, more so for a sailboat (accidental jibs being my biggest fear).

Below is a link to the configuration that has served me well.

http://www.sailingseadragon.com/Instruments.htm

Good luck in your search.
Garner

 

[higgs]

Agree w/Ralph

I really could never find an advantage to hooking my AP to a chart plotter since I have to be on deck to keep watch anyways. I did it for a while, but really found little use for it. How tough is it to bring up a new way point and push a button on the AP to set a new course?