Adding Some Info

The instruments that were on the boat when we bought it consisted of ST60 wind, depth and speed.  We used those with our compass and paper charts for about three years before deciding to try a chartplotter.  This opened up a whole new world to us.

We installed a Raymarine C120-W multi function display.  We placed it on a ball mount (Scanstrut SPD-12D-W "Deck Pod") at the helm so we could turn it around and watch from anywhere in the cockpit.  We cut off the instrument hoop and had it welded into a platform to hold the display.  This project kinda snowballed because we built a custom drink holder that mounts to the platform.  Also found out we really needed stuff to grab onto while crawling around the cockpit when we were underway so handholds need to be added.  Something else that happened with this was we realized that up to date instruments would have a big effect on our boating experience.  We made up a list of gear we wanted to take with us for our extended cruise plans and things happened from there.

The next thing we added was a 24", 4KW digital radar (Raymarine RD424D).  This is mounted on the mast using a Scanstrut swivel mount to keep the radar level with the horizon no matter how much the boat was heeled over.

After about 9 months we got serious and installed the rest of the gear on our list.  We decided to stay with all Raymarine gear for simplicity.  The list of gear includes AIS650 (AIS transceiver), DSM30 digital sounder (fish finder used as sonar) and an SPX-30 auto pilot with a type II linear drive and P70 controller.  In addition to these we're replacing our old ST60 instruments with an i60 for wind, P70 for auto pilot and an i70 that is sorta like a mini multi function display.  The i70 can display as many as 10 different pages, changing from one to another with just the push of a button.  I plan to use this to show speed over ground, rudder angle, engine information, water temperature, course information and who knows what else.  Pretty versatile.

With the new instruments I was introduced to the NMEA 2000 backbone concept where all the instruments can share information with each other.  I decided this was really the best way to go and rethought our whole set-up.  Laying the backbone and tying everything into it is pretty simple and once it's done you have access to all the information at several places around the boat using the i70 displays (helm and Nav Station) and the C120-W multi function display (MFD) at the helm.  We took it one step further by adding the WLN2net by Digital Yachts.  This cool little device reads NMEA 2000 data and transmits it wirelessly.  It can then be picked up and read by our mini Mac and iPads.  We'll be able to monitor our AIS and navigation info anywhere on the boat.  The real goal is to be able to set up course information and way-points on the computer and then upload it to the MFD.  As the NMEA 2K concept progresses we'll be able to monitor all of our boat's functions and maybe even control them remotely from the iPad or computer.  As an example we could sit up on deck fishing while the boat is cruising along under auto pilot control.  We'd be able to pull up info on the batteries state of charge and kick on the genset to recharge them if needed.  We could read about an interesting atoll several hundred miles off our present course and reprogram the auto pilot to head there.  All while sitting there with the fishing pole.  Pretty cool!