My old Datamarine DART4 is showing its age. The depth is erratic and the speed works just fine. Am thinking since they are 89 vintage that its time to replace. If you have had good luck with a certain brand or bad luck I am interested. The boat comes out soon for bottom paint and will have to replace transducers. thanks wayne
What brand depth/speed/wind do you recommend?
- Thread starter redfishnc
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Sailboat Instruments
If you provide your email link, I will provide you with the results of exhaustive research for Signet, Navman, Raymarine ST-60, Comnav Nexus NX2, and B&G H1000. I have put together the strong and week points, packages, and pricing configurations.
If you provide your email link, I will provide you with the results of exhaustive research for Signet, Navman, Raymarine ST-60, Comnav Nexus NX2, and B&G H1000. I have put together the strong and week points, packages, and pricing configurations.
Rick, post your results here.
Rick: Please post your results here. There is always a question about alternative instrument systems.
Rick: Please post your results here. There is always a question about alternative instrument systems.
Sailboat Instruments
As a preface, I have 4 Signet Instrument heads - boat speed, depth, wind speed, and wind direction. The instruments are 20+ years old, speed doesn't work, winds don't work (but probably is the cable because tranducer and heads wotk with direct connection, depth needs new button. Question is do you put new money into old instruments that do not communicate? Signet has free evaluation policy and would give trade-in price of $1700 for a new identical setup. Benefit fcould use existing transducers, mounting wholes, wires,and new instruments. Drawback is they are 20+ year old technology and the heads do not communicate. Since I have four bulkhead mounting holes, I want to replace with four instrument heads.Now for the new instruments: Tack Tick - I really like the simplicity of wireless, but the cost, battery life, and radio interference are weaknesses. Ok the battery is charged by the sun and should not need replacing. Just as in my watch, capacitors do wear out and need to be sent back to be replaced. Not cheap. Navman is a good lowcost system, but not the most durable equipment for sailing the Great Lakes. B&G H1000 S4N is a very good system, makes use of a server, interchangeable dot matrix LCD digital instrument displays can display up to four lines of customizeable information, single interface cable, fast, accurate, high quality repairable wind transducer, waterproof instrument heads, accurate true wind speed/direction, easy calibration, highly desired by the sailboat racers, but the LCD display was difficult to view at the Strictly Sail Chicago show, additional instrument heads are ala carte, and the system is approx $1000 more expensive than the Comnav NX2. The Comnav NX2 w/ FDX Start Pack uses a server that can be interfaced into a laptop, includes race software ($500 Raymarine option), customizeable LCD multifunction display heads can display up to 4 lines of customizable information, can be interfaced into NMEA instruments, very accurate transducers, standard marine grade wire is easily connected to NX2 plugs eliminating std cable lengths for customizeable installation, high quality wind transducer w/ graphite boom, fast, and highly accurate true wind calculations, can add multiple display heads in the network, highly desired by the sailboat racers. Draw back is that the three additional displays are alacarte, display require familiarization to understand symbols, approx $600 higher than Raymarine ST60 Plus w/ graphic. The Raymarine ST60 and ST60 Plus are basically the same system with the plus having a bright back light, capabilies of turning off one instrument instead of system, and cosmetive changes. The pro are accurate wind transducer(same as std ST290), easy to read instrument displays, capable of using Seatalk (9600 buad vs NMEA 0183 4800 baud) or NMEA 0183, can be interfaced into the Autohelm 4000 display creating additional repeater, accurate instruments. The shortcomings are the transducers must be wired directly to each instrument head, Seatalk to each Seatalk instrument plug, special Seatalk wires w/ Seatalk plugs, instrument heads display one function only, ie depth=depth, speed=speed,wind=wind, the graphic diplays multiple lines data(a positive like the B&G H1000 and Nexus NX2 displays), more wires to route. The price difference between the ST-60 Sail Pack Plus and ST60 Sail Pack is approx $100 and expected shipping date is mid-March 2006. I have an excel spreadsheet with different package configurations and prices that can be emailed as an attachment to anyone providing and email address.
As a preface, I have 4 Signet Instrument heads - boat speed, depth, wind speed, and wind direction. The instruments are 20+ years old, speed doesn't work, winds don't work (but probably is the cable because tranducer and heads wotk with direct connection, depth needs new button. Question is do you put new money into old instruments that do not communicate? Signet has free evaluation policy and would give trade-in price of $1700 for a new identical setup. Benefit fcould use existing transducers, mounting wholes, wires,and new instruments. Drawback is they are 20+ year old technology and the heads do not communicate. Since I have four bulkhead mounting holes, I want to replace with four instrument heads.Now for the new instruments: Tack Tick - I really like the simplicity of wireless, but the cost, battery life, and radio interference are weaknesses. Ok the battery is charged by the sun and should not need replacing. Just as in my watch, capacitors do wear out and need to be sent back to be replaced. Not cheap. Navman is a good lowcost system, but not the most durable equipment for sailing the Great Lakes. B&G H1000 S4N is a very good system, makes use of a server, interchangeable dot matrix LCD digital instrument displays can display up to four lines of customizeable information, single interface cable, fast, accurate, high quality repairable wind transducer, waterproof instrument heads, accurate true wind speed/direction, easy calibration, highly desired by the sailboat racers, but the LCD display was difficult to view at the Strictly Sail Chicago show, additional instrument heads are ala carte, and the system is approx $1000 more expensive than the Comnav NX2. The Comnav NX2 w/ FDX Start Pack uses a server that can be interfaced into a laptop, includes race software ($500 Raymarine option), customizeable LCD multifunction display heads can display up to 4 lines of customizable information, can be interfaced into NMEA instruments, very accurate transducers, standard marine grade wire is easily connected to NX2 plugs eliminating std cable lengths for customizeable installation, high quality wind transducer w/ graphite boom, fast, and highly accurate true wind calculations, can add multiple display heads in the network, highly desired by the sailboat racers. Draw back is that the three additional displays are alacarte, display require familiarization to understand symbols, approx $600 higher than Raymarine ST60 Plus w/ graphic. The Raymarine ST60 and ST60 Plus are basically the same system with the plus having a bright back light, capabilies of turning off one instrument instead of system, and cosmetive changes. The pro are accurate wind transducer(same as std ST290), easy to read instrument displays, capable of using Seatalk (9600 buad vs NMEA 0183 4800 baud) or NMEA 0183, can be interfaced into the Autohelm 4000 display creating additional repeater, accurate instruments. The shortcomings are the transducers must be wired directly to each instrument head, Seatalk to each Seatalk instrument plug, special Seatalk wires w/ Seatalk plugs, instrument heads display one function only, ie depth=depth, speed=speed,wind=wind, the graphic diplays multiple lines data(a positive like the B&G H1000 and Nexus NX2 displays), more wires to route. The price difference between the ST-60 Sail Pack Plus and ST60 Sail Pack is approx $100 and expected shipping date is mid-March 2006. I have an excel spreadsheet with different package configurations and prices that can be emailed as an attachment to anyone providing and email address.
I've had very good luck with
My Raymarine gear. I have not had good luck with Standard Horizon, Simrad & Data Marine. I have yet to have a Raymarine unit fail me except my wind speed unit at the top of the mast. I think an Osprey broke it. Raymarine fixed it for $35.00..
My Raymarine gear. I have not had good luck with Standard Horizon, Simrad & Data Marine. I have yet to have a Raymarine unit fail me except my wind speed unit at the top of the mast. I think an Osprey broke it. Raymarine fixed it for $35.00..
Try a rebuild
Wayne - I too had 20yr+ datamarine units that were failing. Instead of paying 4x more for a new system on top of having to remount and route wiring, I decided to get the units rebuilt! DMI in MA does rebulds on DataMarine products - look them up under google. Good luck! Rob
Wayne - I too had 20yr+ datamarine units that were failing. Instead of paying 4x more for a new system on top of having to remount and route wiring, I decided to get the units rebuilt! DMI in MA does rebulds on DataMarine products - look them up under google. Good luck! Rob
redfishnc what have you decided>
Redfishnc, What have you decided to do about your instruments. So many different options available. The first step is rebuild existing to new. After that decision has been made then the settling on a manufacturer and model.
Redfishnc, What have you decided to do about your instruments. So many different options available. The first step is rebuild existing to new. After that decision has been made then the settling on a manufacturer and model.
Instrument Spread Sheet
Rick, Would be most intersted in seeing your data. Please forward to blairwhome@hotmail.com
Rick, Would be most intersted in seeing your data. Please forward to blairwhome@hotmail.com
I sent my Signet Knot meter back...
The LCD was shot. It too was 20 years old. Don't know how, but it was busted. They tested and found everything else was fine. Replaced the LCD and returned. It was expensive for just a common part like an LCD display. But that is the cost of doing business. Got the Knot meter back and it still didn't work. Found out the paddle on the transducer was crushed when the boat was lifted out of the water. (I am not the original owner). Had to purchase a new one. But it was still cheaper than replacing the entire unit with a new Signet Knot meter and transducer. Only issue I have now is the paddle gets stuck sometimes. Working on that one.
The LCD was shot. It too was 20 years old. Don't know how, but it was busted. They tested and found everything else was fine. Replaced the LCD and returned. It was expensive for just a common part like an LCD display. But that is the cost of doing business. Got the Knot meter back and it still didn't work. Found out the paddle on the transducer was crushed when the boat was lifted out of the water. (I am not the original owner). Had to purchase a new one. But it was still cheaper than replacing the entire unit with a new Signet Knot meter and transducer. Only issue I have now is the paddle gets stuck sometimes. Working on that one.
Signet Knotmeter
Brian, If you don't kmind my asking, what did Signet charge for a new LCD? How long did the repair take? Signet tells me to send it in for a free estimate but I don't like not knowing? Mine only reads "0", but the transducer tests out OK.
Brian, If you don't kmind my asking, what did Signet charge for a new LCD? How long did the repair take? Signet tells me to send it in for a free estimate but I don't like not knowing? Mine only reads "0", but the transducer tests out OK.
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