Replacing Instruments

[flando]

We recently purchased a 1992 Catalina 28 with no functioning instruments. It seems like a chart plotter and depth finder would be a good start. I was thinking about a Garmin 9 Echomap chirp 93sv but I am concerned that the transducer may not be ideal. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[BarryL]

Hey,
You are opening a can of worms . Some people are happy with a handheld GPS that provides basics like lat/lon and speed. Other's won't leave the dock without 12" color screen, radar on, AIS broadcasting their location and the Satphone and EPIRB ready.
Think about what you want today and what you might want tomorrow. Most common plotters today are quite sophisticated and have lots of bells and whistles. Do you just want a plotter and depth display? Do you want to have a wind instrument too (and if so, should the wind data be displayed on the plotter?)? What about receiving AIS information? Any desire for an autopilot? What about VHF? All fixed mount VHF radios today have DSC. This required GPS information to be useful.
Lastly, what is your budget? For under $350 you can have a basic system. $500 gets more and the sky is the limit.
Good luck,
Barry

 

[jcb2]

Flando, I've been getting along with a handheld Garmin GPS Map and a 30 year old depth indicator that works most of the time but not always. I've had enough of this and I want to enjoy sailing more. I've decided to upgrade my boat by buying a 7" chart plotter and a single indicator instrument package (wind, depth, speed). I have wheel steering, so to mount the plotter and instrument indicator, I will also have to replace the pedestal guard with a higher bent one and then mount a box for the plotter and the single instrument. I'm trying to buy all of it for ~$2K. I'm leaning toward Raymarine E70166-LNC & T70216 and Navpod AG18 & GP1513. So far, I've been unable to get it all in my budget-but I'm getting close. So I'm looking forward to a sale on this stuff. Good luck with your boat.

 

[Ken Cross]

I'd take a bit longer view before I started throwing money around. Figure out what you think you will eventually want and buy the components that move you in that direction. One thing I would do is stick with the same brand for everything if I could to ensure easy compatibility and setup. Now go get the minimum equipment knowing interface is simple when you expand. it. I have no experience with the equipment you referenced, but I've done pretty well just shooting through the fiberglass with transducers. That way you have no hull penetrations. Depending on the old gear you may be able to use the old hole in the hull for depth, not meter, etc. ON our first sailboat we used a handheld GPS and a fish finder (which works fantastic for depth, shows trends, bottom type, etc.)

Ken

 

[reworb]

Nice boat. We had a 28 MKII for many years.

I think what instruments to get depends on where you're going to be sailing. However in my opinion no matter where I was sailing I want a wind instrument along with a knot meter so I could get true and apparent wind direction and speed. If you're going to be in shallow water a depth sounder is also important. As for a chart plotter/GPS that depends if I'm sailing where I was out of sight of land yes I would get one if I was on a lake (not including the Great Lakes) I would save my money or spend it on new sails or something.

 

[Johnb]

For my money the one thing I need is a stand alone, absolutely reliable depth finder with alarm capability and minimal power requirement and no network connections.

Totally agree about waiting before you spend, you can waste money any time you want but once its gone its gone.

 

[Stu Jackson]

a handheld Garmin GPS Map and a 30 year old depth indicator

My depth finder works, after I had it refurbished years ago and repaired the BNC cabling to it two years ago. I find I need nothing else. So far, having moved from SF to Vancouver Island, with ground level fog. Always something, but proves that where and how you sail answers most of the questions.

no matter where I was sailing I want a wind instrument along with a knot meter so I could get true and apparent wind direction and speed.

Sailed and raced for 35 years without this information. Useless to me, not to others.

Figure out what you think you will eventually want and buy the components that move you in that direction. One thing I would do is stick with the same brand for everything if I could to ensure easy compatibility and setup.

Very good advice.

I believe a handheld with charts is simply a very small chartplotter. Because it is.

I sailed up the coast last August with just (gasp!!!) my Garmin GPSMap 76Cx. 850 nm.

You are opening a can of worms . Some people are happy with a handheld GPS that provides basics like lat/lon and speed. Other's won't leave the dock without 12" color screen, radar on, AIS broadcasting their location and the Satphone and EPIRB ready.

Barry's right, but not so much a can of worms, but questions that'll bounce around inside your own head, 'cuz it matters not what WE do, it's what YOU want to do and spend.

It remains Your boat, your choice.

 

[Calif. Ted]

We recently purchased a 1992 Catalina 28 with no functioning instruments

I'd usually start with making existing instruments functional, hopefully the most economic and expedient procedure, what have you got and what aren't they doing ? Got Power ?

 

[markwbird]

That seems like a lot of instrumentation for a 28 ft boat on a lake.

 

[bawlmer]

I went through this 2 years ago but at least I had a depth finder. I would think that is the most critical device of them all. It reports on the one item you can't see. I would also be cautious of putting all of your eggs in one techno basket as you don't want one failure on the water to kill all of your instruments. Do you need a VHF also? I do not know how busy your lake is but if there is a lot of commercial traffic you may want to look into adding an AIS. You can get it on a new VHF without too much expense. I would spend this winter stalking the online stores (defender, GPS Store, etc) and look for deals. Standard Horizon has some incredible sales and rebates and I am sure there are more out there. I did a lot of damage for a relatively small amount of money by being patient and paying attention. Just my .02. Best of luck. Buying and installing new stuff is fun!

 

[jcb2]

Update: I retired and was paid for unused vacation days. It was my money and my wife had no problem with how I spent it. So I spent it on the boat with all new Raymarine electronics: Axiom 9”MFD mounted in pre-cut sailpod on a new binacle guide rail, wind/depth/speed instrument package with transducers, AIS 900, rudder reference to help the autopilot and Quantum radar on a Questus backstay mount. I also replaced my lifelines.

So you’re probably thinking that I’m foolish to over-improve a 32 year old sailboat. But in my case, I decided that this will be the last boat I will own so why not make it more safe and enjoyable? I’m 65 now and am thinking realistically that I may only have another 15 years or less to sail.

 

[jssailem]

@jcb2 Sailing after 60 is a mind over matter proposition. Some sail into their 80’s I hope to be one. And even you feel that pulling on the sheets is to much or you can not induce a younger person to join you and do the work, there is always the dark side - POWER BOATS...

Then an RV progressing to a Condo and “Senior Living - and Golf “

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

@jcb2 Sailing after 60 is a mind over matter proposition. Some sail into their 80’s I hope to be one. And even you feel that pulling on the sheets is to much or you can not induce a younger person to join you and do the work, there is always the dark side - POWER BOATS...

Then an RV progressing to a Condo and “Senior Living - and Golf “

I'll turn 78 next month and plan to sail many more years. I do and have done, a good bit of single hand.. I have three friends in the 80's who still sail often- one races

Age is a number

 

[Meriachee]

So is instrumentation. It’s not necessary to have all the toys, the boat will sail with and without them. I don’t need a chart plotter on a 270 on an inland lake. I also don’t want to tear everything out, box it up and send it away when it’s time for a software update.
Plus, it’s nice to be able to lock the autopilot to the wind angle and let the boat sail itself, when you gotta step away from the helm, and sooner or later you gotta go.

 

[Head Sail]

We recently purchased a 1992 Catalina 28 with no functioning instruments. It seems like a chart plotter and depth finder would be a good start. I was thinking about a Garmin 9 Echomap chirp 93sv but I am concerned that the transducer may not be ideal. Does anyone have any suggestions?

It depends on what type of sailing you do. Depth is most critical with a keel boat. I'd get that working or buy new. Autopilot if you cruise but not necessary for a day sailor. Additional sails if your a racer but still need depth.

 

[LakeOntario270]

Lets see
Knot Meter - Adjust main sail, speed up .1 knots = WHOOPEE, down .2 knots = GRRRRR.
Depth Gauge- Love going ground, gets the heart pumping, very aerobic.
Wind Gauge - Avoid much neck cramping looking up though some would find it good exercise.
Auto Helm - Freedom to move about, slave to the wheel without.
Chart Plotter - I'm old and I deserve the toys.

My last boat only had a knot meter that only worked a 1/3 of the time and I sailed it for 30 years so YES I can sail without them.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

A functional sounder and compass (and good charts) are all you need to start. A iPhone or Android with Navionics is also a good to have until you know what you want, If the 28 is a tiller boat, sailing for a year or two will firm up where you want to place the toys including lines, winches, stoppers and electronics.

Go to some of the Rendezvous the various Catalina fleets sponsor and bend folks ears. Join a Catalina 28 group and get the MainSheet mag. Lots of good info out there.

Les

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

11,800 miles cruising, partly single hand- Across Gulf of Mexico twice (once alone). Keys, Bahamas, east coast, Chesapeake up to Annapolis double hand, back to Texas single hand

32 watt solar panel, VHF, hand held Garmin 76 Map, tiller pilot, GOOD compass. I turn the depth sounder on when entering anchorages, other wise it's off. Wind? the sails and boat tell me what to do- who cares if it's 8 or 18 knots. Reef when the boat says reef. Last trip across GOM sailed 10 hours under just working jib (of the wind) making 5.6 knots - hull speed.

 

[jcb2]

Charlie, Thanks for sharing your history in sailing. Your skills and courage are very impressive. At this point in my life, I’ll enjoy using the electronics. Fair winds, my friend.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Charlie, Thanks for sharing your history in sailing. Your skills and courage are very impressive. At this point in my life, I’ll enjoy using the electronics. Fair winds, my friend.

LOL Not courage- just HAVE do it it'is. Know the song "Wayward Wind"? been considered my theme song