What electronics are needed?

[kenfyoozed]

I am starting fresh with electronics on my 26D as it has nothing to speak of right now. What I want to add is a VHF radio, Chart plotter, and a wind gauge for the chart plotter would be nice. I am sure I am missing something, so please let me know. What about AIS? And how do all these work together? I am also planning on redoing the entire electrical system, since its mostly non-existent as well. And help and tips are appreciated. I am doing as much research as i can but starting to get overwhelmed.

[Jimmyt]

How, and where are you going to sail? I have a vhf radio and a chart plotter. I recently added a fish finder/depth instrument just for grins. I grew up boating/sailing the eastern shore of mobile bay, and found out the western shore depths are quite different. Didn't want to sacrifice a dagger board, so thought it prudent.

The chart plotter is nice, especially in the dark. It's also nice if you are actually going to a destination. Otherwise, it's just an expensive knot meter.

We have a lot of water to sail that shouldn't allow a ship to run us over. So, I'm thinking, in our area, AIS is a nice to have; but not a "have to have". If you are solo sailing and aren't always on deck, it might move up to a necessity. Or, if you plan on doing more traveling in commercial traffic areas; or in the dark... I will admit to wanting one, however. You can get AIS receiving as part of your vhf - if you're only after what's going to hit you vs letting folks know where you are. If jet skis, bass boats, or other small, high speed craft were using it, then I might think differently. In the bay, or the river, you are more likely to get hit by non-commercial traffic.

Wind instruments... I grew up without them. Don't even have a Windex, or shroud tell-tales on my boat. A lot of folks like to see all of that stuff, and that's fine, too. But, I dont need a gauge to tell me the wind is blowing hard enough to require reefing. That's what the Admiral does .

A little off your main topic, but I converted to the electronic SOS "flare" in lieu of incendiary flares. I wrote the battery date on the device so I can remember to change them annually. If boarded, you have to have batteries in it and it has to work. I didn't want to keep collecting out-of-date flares.

These are just my thoughts. Most of this topic is subjective. If you want your boat decked out like the bridge of the starship enterprise, I'm fine with that. In fact, I'm going to want to see it.

[kenfyoozed]

As of right now I see my Sailing grounds much the same as my boating grounds, from Destin to Gulfport. We hope to spend a night here and there along some of the Gulf Islands. I like to have as much info as I can, within reason. I know the Garmin chart plotter I'm looking at has an option for wind input which I think would be nice, but as you said not needed. I like to be able to read the bottom depth and type just because it always interest me as we float over something cool. With the AIS you are probably right and I may just go with a VHF unit that has it . Now just to figure out how all this works together.

[Russ]

Wind instruments... I grew up without them. Don't even have a Windex, or shroud tell-tales on my boat. A lot of folks like to see all of that stuff, and that's fine, too. But, I dont need a gauge to tell me the wind is blowing hard enough to require reefing. That's what the Admiral does .

^^ This

I think a VHF is a cheap safety item and well worth it. Maybe even a handheld as well. AIS? For our boats, I don't see the need.

Chartplotter/depth devices are well worth it in my opinion.

Other than that, the rest is gravy.

[ris]

we use a small garmin chartplotter with a depthfinder that is mounted to the back of the transom. Up north this is nice if you leave a cove early in the morning you can just follow your track back out to the main channel. Our VHF receives AIS so we get notified when boats over 40 feet get close. It displays this on our chart plotter. It is nice on the rivers as you can see tows pushing barges on your chart plotter while they are one or two bends away. The best chart app is Aqua Maps which we use on our Ipad and Iphone to navigate. They use all the NOAH charts that are kept up to date automatically. Some folks use Navionics on their Ipads also a decent program but a little too much info for us. Aqua maps will put down a track as you travel, give you your speed, and has charts for US and Canada in one small price. Your Ipad must not be the wifi only model or you will have to get gps puck to hook up to it in order for you to see your location on the chart plotter.
Richard

[Be Free]

I'd start with a VHF with recieve only AIS and a chart plotter with depth finder (gulf waters are pretty shallow even well away from shore. Network the AIS data to the chart plotter so it will be easier to read.

If you still have money left, add in a stand-alone class B+ AIS so folks can see you as well.

[kurz]

It gets more and more...
As a plotter I use smartphones (Navionics), that is in watertight bag, and also there is shadow, otherwise the mobile stops when sunny and hot.

Then raymarine autopilot ev-100, recent with a windvane, that also works with the rotation mast. Including remote for the AP (via smartphone or fob).

And theres a triducer at the stern (airmar) the shows on the AP-display depth, speed though water and water temps.

VHF radio handheld

Thats all I think...

NO, there is the anchor light on top of the mast. It is solar powered and with remote on/off, so it also electronincs (of course it can do tricolore and blink ...?

[Highlander]

JimmyT

Is ur SOS electronic flare orange/red light or the white light one ?

J

[Jimmyt]

JimmyT

Is ur SOS electronic flare orange/red light or the white light one ?

J

Red body, white light that flashes SOS in Morse code.

[Highlander]

JimmyT

Is ur SOS electronic flare orange/red light or the white light one ?

J

Red body, white light that flashes SOS in Morse code.

Thx Jimmy the orange/red is 5x the price of the white one
the Canadian Coast guard on Nov 9th 2021 approved these for a 5 yr trial period for pleasure craft & at the end of that trial period will decide if they will officially approve them for night time use only not totally replacing regular smoke flares for day time use. the reason for me bringing this up is I see them advertised as Canadian Coast Guard Approved & technically they r not at this time so I,m thinking this is something we should let all our members be aware of , as I,m thinking if u r USA member crossing into Canadian Waters u r going to b in violation as well as any Canadian member !
Here,s the link

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transpor ... sure-craft

Maybe the Power,s at B would want to open up a new post on this as a Info. & safety aspect

J

[Jimmyt]

Thanks John! Good info! Down here in LA (lower Alabama), i believe they are legal. They come with a distress flag for daytime use.

[Highlander]

Just remember a lot of Marine Nav elecronics r considered obsolete after 5 yrs to most boat buyers as u,ll likely not b able to get any upgrades or service after 7-10yrs sadly such as it is in todays market

J

[NiceAft]

I’d like to address the subject of AIS.

It’s not that our boats don’t need this; it’s where you go with our boats that determine whether or not you need it.

If you are on a twisty waterway that has commercial traffic, you can’t see around a bend; radar can’t see around a bend if there is sufficient obstruction. AIS allows you to know what commercial vessels & any vessels that broadcast the signal, are coming.

How, and where you use your Mac should determine your need for AIS.

[ris]

That is so true Ray. In fact in some areas like Norfolk VA you have to turn the AIS warning off as there are simply too many boats with AIS even smaller boats. It is really a pain when people in a marina leave their transponder on as this clogs up the system. If you buy the transponder instead of just the receiver in the radio it is much more expensive. Most electronics is this way like Radar. If you do not travel in the dark or thick fog often why would you buy a radar. Traveling in the dark and thick fog is not my idea of "pleasure boating".

Richard

[Highlander]

Out here in the NWP u can run into a bad fog from no where half way thru a planned trip so the likes of radar & AIS may not b as nec. for u , but if u r in a heavy Commercial shipping area + Commercial shipping anchorage + coast guard Base + Canadian/USA Navy Bases + Navy Submarine Traffic & not to mention Tugs Towing Barges it,s sure nice to have if u can afford it if u r in a regatta stick close to the boats that have radar & or AIS
I have both on my boat , but if u have a MFD unit that,s Radar Compatible it,s not that much more $$$ to buy a Radome they come as small as 18" mine is 22" so has a wider longer range than the smaller ones & lets u upgrade to radar, I got my radar unit as a package MFD/Radome on sale as an introductionary new unit price at winter boat show special price $700. off reg price plus a $300. rebate MFD & $200 rebate Radome from Raymarine best time to buy is late fall , winter boat show or early spring special pricing ! , if u r just buying a radome check to see if ur MFD is 3kW or 4kW compatible & buy the appropriate Radome
AIS I got mine on sale early spring a few yrs back I got the newer Class B + which is transponder/receiver which signals every 5 seconds at 5W the older class B is every 30 seconds at 2W , class A is every 2 seconds at 12,5W so class B+ is the way to go , I,m not even sure if the old class B is still avail & don,t waste ur time & money on a trans unit only get a trans/rec unit so as U can see where they r too !

Here,s a link on AIS units for those who would like to B in the know

https://www.navigation-mac.fr/les-nouve ... s/?lang=en

J