Arduino Projects For Your Boat

[Neo]

It seems the better I understand Arduino the more I start to add to my requirements. I'm adamant now that if I'm going to all this effort I what a solution that will hold me directly into the wind (while I mess with the main). Having said this I kinda worry about how I'll integrate external wind, rudder and mast rotation sensors. But I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it

[sailboatmike]

I'm wondering if rudder position sensors are necessary if you are using a stepper motor, you can set the limits by the number of positions (or steps) the motor takes, this will also give you rudder center.

Well maybe, just thinking out loud

[Neo]

That's true but one of the things I'm concerned about is the buzzing noise that a stepper motor my cause. I don't know but apparently the Raymarine Wheel Pilot drives people nuts with it's constant buzz, burrr, buzz! ... Just something else I need to check into before I select my hardware.

[Sumner]

... I'm adamant now that if I'm going to all this effort I what a solution that will hold me directly into the wind (while I mess with the main)...

I have an autopilot on the tiller and to do the above I start the outboard and put it in gear. Push the 'standby' button on the autopilot, turn the boat into the wind and push the 'resume' button and the boat will stay on course while I lower or raise the main. I've done this lots sailing solo, another great benefit of having an autopilot,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Neo]

I have an autopilot on the tiller and to do the above I start the outboard and put it in gear. Push the 'standby' button on the autopilot, turn the boat into the wind and push the 'resume' button and the boat will stay on course while I lower or raise the main. I've done this lots sailing solo, another great benefit of having an autopilot,

Yes thanks Summer. Yes I have done the same on a friends Mac using Raymarine EV-100. It's good but no real-time correction of wind changes. I have no doubt that a Raymarine Wind Vane patch/option could be added but the cost of Raymarine stuff is ridiculous... Our Macs are low cost yachts (low cost to buy and run) so spending 10 to 30% of our Macs purchase price on an Autopilot, Anemometer, TriSensor is nothing short of bazaar!

[Stevenhigbee]

Sensing and alerting, that's what I would like a computer to do.

In addition to autopilot steered by wind direction, a dead-man switch, that puts the boat in irons if it decides that nobody is on board.
Alarm that senses if another ship is detected approaching.

That's where I think I would start.

[sailboatmike]

This project is just getting bigger and bigger.

For the first step I'm just happy to have a unit the will keep the boat pointing in the direction I point it by reading the compass module and maybe turn 45 degrees either side of that, with 5 degree jogs.

The wish list is endless, automatic toilet block detection and clearing is also right up there on the agenda

[sailboatmike]

Another great resource for those wishing to do some Arduino tinkering, I think there is some great stuff in here https://brainy-bits.com/blogs/tutorials

[kadet]

Our Macs are low cost yachts (low cost to buy and run) so spending 10 to 30% of our Macs purchase price on an Autopilot, Anemometer, TriSensor is nothing short of bazaar!

Yep so lucky I got all my cheap NZ Navman Marine stuff before they were bought out by Navico and stopped producing affordable boat electronics. When my Wind 3100 sensor broke I could not believe the cost of equivalent Raymarine or Garmin replacements. Luckily I found a replacement part on ebay from a chinese electronics manufacturer and was able to repair the sensor for $1.35 including delivery with a spare as it was a 2 pack . Apart from wiring it in reverse on the first attempt it was not to difficult to solder on the new plug

When you realise just how simple a wind sensor is the prices demanded by Raymarine and Garmin are outrageous. Clipper is about the only budget boat electronics manufacture left. So learning to do it yourself with opensource tools and cheap electronics is a valuable skill to have.

[Neo]

Clipper is about the only budget boat electronics manufacture left. So learning to do it yourself with opensource tools and cheap electronics is a valuable skill to have.

Thanks for the encouragement Kadet .... But who are Clipper? ... website?

[sailboatmike]

http://www.nasamarine.com/product-categ ... s/clipper/

They are way cheaper than Raymarine etc.

Some nice arduino wind instruments using rotary encoders

[kadet]

http://www.nasamarine.com/product-categ ... s/clipper/

They are way cheaper than Raymarine etc.

Some nice arduino wind instruments using rotary encoders

What sailboatmike said

Ebay direct from UK is normally cheapest source.

[sailboatmike]

What sailboatmike said

Ebay direct from UK is normally cheapest source.

How can I be a grumpy old so and so If you agree with me , grrrr on you

Being grumpy is one of the benefits of getting old, and I have taken to it like a duck takes to water

[sailboatmike]

Got some new shields from China today, amazing it only took 2 weeks (Australia Post took a 8 days to move my last delivery 1000km from Sydney to Melbourne)

This stuff is so cheap and powerful, in reality the big marine companies are charging thousands of $$$s for parts that I can buy retail for less than $50 in total.

Will order the GPS shield today for the grand total of $6 delivered and thats a 50 channel unit

[Neo]

Funny just got a postal notice as my kit is waiting at the post office

Are you buying your China shields on eBay? .... Lots of Arduino stuff on AliExpress too. Often eBay sellers are just drop shipping from AliExpress. The down side to AliExpress is it only (mainly) accepts Credit Card but I find that delivery is usually quicker (no middle man) and any issues you nearly always get a full refund.

Which Magnetometer Compass are you looking at? .... I've read we need to compensate for sway and tilt (heeling!!) so I'm guessing Multi axis is best. One Youtube video said CPMS11 was best but that was a 3 year old video and I've seen you can buy 9 Axis Shields now ??

I'm going to investigate controlling the gear selector a throttle on the OB (maybe 1st) too. Because I'm fed up of paying hundreds of dollars for a control leaver and the cables are a pain too ..... this Arduino thing is only limited by ones imagination