Upgrade original Nav Instuments on 1998 Hunter P-42

[schooner39]

Hello Hunter Team,
I have a Raytheon radar dome, (Raymarine) Raystar 120/112LP GPS receiver, Autohelm ST 50 Plus, Autohelm ST6000, and a Raytheon Autohelm ST6000 Plus. I have only owned this boat for a few years and have been doing S.F. bay sailing only. My wife and I are preparing to start coastal Cruising and the chart plotter is black & white and updates the screen very slowly-4 to 6 seconds-not happy with it. Also the radar display unit is about 13"x13" and blocks our forward field of view. I would like to change the chart plotter to one that can display my charts and geography in color as well as the radar echoes on the same screen. I went to our local West Marine and he said that I could purchase a new chart plotter system but that it would not talk to the depth, speed, heading and wind instruments. He said to get everything to communicate, I should expect to spend around $12K for a whole new system plus installation.

Have any of you gone through a nav systems upgrade and do you have any cost savings suggestions or know of any pitfalls from which to stay away.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Shooner39

 

[scottdube]

That's about what I spent in 2015 to do that. I replaced everything but I think you can connect to depth and speed depending on how old the current equipment is. Call Raymarine with the model numbers. You definitely want the new digital radar that displays on the chart plotter.

 

[schooner39]

Wow, that looks so much better than my Grapes of Rath display set up.
Thanks much,

Schooner39

 

[seadaddler]

I would call raymarine and they will help and think they make some kind of converter.

 

[schooner39]

I would call raymarine and they will help and think they make some kind of converter.

I will give them a call.
Thanks

 

[Butch23065]

Schooner 39

I have replaced my systems twice on my 2004 H41, thanks to Mother Nature. The first time was in 2005. It was direct replacement ST 60 series with color chart plotter. Easy!
This last time, last year, was different. You can make some things interface with the new chart plotters but if they fail you can not replace them and you will need to upgrade at that time. They have not made nor supported (repair) the ST 50/60 series for several years. The wiring is simpler and the set up is simpler if you replace it all. The newer equipment also provides some redundancy. Just my opinion.
The support at RayMarine is pretty good. They can usually answer specific questions but I don't think they will put a lot of time into helping you design a new system around outdated equipment.

Butch

 

[schooner39]

Butch,
That is good news. I would like to start out with just the new chart plotter. Once we start cruising, in about a year, we will upgrade all our nav instruments. I was going to call Raymarine and get the name of approved installers, or as you say "Easy" is this something that I can just switch out. What was the size of your replacement?
Schooner39

 

[Butch23065]

Schooner39,

I replaced all instruments. They handle data transfer differently and require different cables. The MFD is pretty much the controlling piece of gear. I have a neighbor that spent 6 months trying to link the systems, I don't believe he has it working yet. I had a very good marine electronics man hook mine up and it still required a couple of calls to RayMarine. On one call they said the equipment would not work that way, but it does and he figured out how. I have an es 97 9" MFD, I50 depth, I50 speed and I60 wind, and finally an EV400 Auto Pilot with P70 control.

Butch

 

[schooner39]

Thanks Butch,
I have engaged a marine avionics guy to come to the boat and review my equipment and advise me how best to proceed.

Schooner39

 

[Butch23065]

Schooner39

Unless you are really up to date on marine electronics and data transfer, I think that is the best way to go. The guy has no vested interest in selling new electronics.

Butch

 

[schooner39]

Butch,
I wish I would have posted this three weeks ago, I was in Cape Coral two weeks ago.
Schooner39

 

[Butch23065]

Schooner 39,

Yes. Then you could have stopped by and at least seen one setup. It is basically the same as what I had but todays technology.

Butch