Instrumentation

[Charlie Farlie]

Okay then,

If you were starting from scratch and re-instrumenting a boat, for instance a 21 foot Corribee what would the panel put on it in the way of basic and slightly more advanced instruments (in an ideal world).
The intention is to fit everything in the small space available but be comprehensive to make up for lack of skill and seamanship.
For instance what is the best way of getting weather information, ie laptop, navtex, grib files (whatever they are), sticking your heid oot the hatch.

Thanks

Charlie

[Silkie]

I have fixed and handheld vhf, depth, log and handheld gps. In an ideal world I'd also have a small chartplotter for those moments when a look at the chart would be useful but there aren't enough hands/eyes available.

I use the vhf for weather but if the coastguards are on strike then the first option is to phone a friend with internet access. If there's no phone signal then it's time to ask the audience. Many of those big boats clogging up your favourite anchorage will have more sophisticated means of obtaining a forecast.

I couldn't honestly see a pc lasting long on wee Silkie if it was used while on the move (not to mention the power requirements) and navtex seems a bit erratic around the west coast, to say the least.

[ljs]

Vhf (weather first and safety second) and gps with back-ups would be my priorities, perhaps depth also (for anchoring).
Of course an anchor ball and motoring cone would be de rigeur, as well as a Bluemoment burgee

[Nick]

.

I couldn't honestly see a pc lasting long on wee Silkie if it was used while on the move

I would get on one of the new generation netbooks with a solid state hard drive for internet access, with a pay as you go mobile broadband dongle (eg Vodaphone) and a wireless amplifier for pulling in unprotected wireless networks. For a netbook my current choice is the Dell Mini 9 with WinXP and a 16Gb solid state hard drive. It is well-build with no spinning hard disk - usually the weakest component on a shipboard PC. You will be able to run a copy of CMap or something similar on that, which is available with worldwide charts for nothing if you know the right pirates.

Instrument-wise the ideal option would be Tacktick - small, unobtrusive, no wires and you can easily take the system with you when you flog the boat and move up to something bigger. Cheapest wind/depth/speed option comes to £900 though. More realistically, get the NASA Duet + windspeed from Allgadgets for £349.00 inc VAT

You will of course also need a GPS . . . a second-hand Garmin 128 or 152 from Ebay would fit the bill cheaply, and then, if your budget stretches to it, fit a cockpit repeater (se Allgadgets again). The cockpit GPS repeater is the best instrument (including the shiny new chartplotter) that we have ever fitted.

[ljs]

I would get on one of the new generation netbooks with a solid state hard drive for internet access, with a pay as you go mobile broadband dongle (eg Vodaphone) and a wireless amplifier for pulling in unprotected wireless networks. For a netbook my current choice is the Allgadgets for £349.00 inc VAT

If you were starting from scratch and re-instrumenting a boat, for instance a 21 foot Corribee what would the panel put on it in the way of basic and slightly more advanced instruments (in an ideal world).

Nick the poor bloke is going to think he's on the wrong forum

[Nick]

I believe he said in an ideal world.

Your quote is a little misleading. The Dell Mini 9 with XP is £299. This was to deal with the weather forecasting part of the OP. In light of the endless coastguard strikes here last Summer the VHF is no longer very reliable. Our own experience is that if you want to do some serious cruising in a small boat good weather info is important.

If a pc/internet access is not a consideration then the £349 is for the Target wind/depth/speed package, which is what I would call minimum basic instrumentation. A second hand older model fixed GPS off Ebay will help to lighten the spend, or a hh which will run off the 12V supply.

On the other hand, a lead line and a cheap compass will leave plenty of money for Skippers and other cruising essentials.

[sahona]

I'm trying to imagine your situation as some Corries were home finish, therefore different..
We had "swing round" stuff from the port 1/4berth area to the companionway.
depth and compass was all we had for 1st few years
VHF and log next. really that's enough..........however once you've started it's difficult to stop!
navtex allows you to sleep in and ignore the CG, but by this time you're using leccy and you may not have a valid method of recharging.
The problem is that when you add all these gizmos, you need the structure to support them... so we need to know what you've got already.

[Clyde_Wanderer]

A chart plotter and vhf withen easy reach and usable from inside or out.
A swinging CP bracket allows you to use it inside or in the cockpit, this one I made using some hardwood and a bar counter flap hinge which is plenty strong.
I got a second hanger for the vhf mic, and the unit can be easily reached from the cockpit.
The swinging bracked is locked in place with a finger latch used in the opposite way to what it was intended, without it the bracked kept swinging in because of the incline of the bulkhead.
Also a pic of my home made basic instrument pannel, with a back up gps and vhf.

[Rowana]

This is what Rowana came equipped with

Fixed VHF - Non-DSC
Log
Depth
GPS

I already had a hand-held GPS, and I've since bought a hand-held VHF. The H/H VHF gets more use than the main set.

The log usually stops working after about 6 weeks of launch, and I don't like the idea of taking it out and having a hole in the bottom of the boat. The GPS gives me speed and distance anyway.

The depth usually stops working after about 20 meters, and as I only draw about 1.4 meters, I'm not going to hit anything, or at least I haven't up to now.

Personally, for the type of sailing I do, I would never consider a chart plotter, radar, navtext, DSC VHF or any more electronic gubbins. I go sailing to relax, and not go staring at screens. I do enough of that here!

[claymore]

Assuming you use an outboard to power you along, the charging capabilities will be limited so,
Vhf and depth sounder with the luxury of a handheld gps would be ample.
Plus a radio to listen to weather forecasts and the Archers.

[Charlie Farlie]

Thanks very much for all the suggestions, lots of food for thought.
I do have a Petter mini six inboard fitted and a solar panel so can charge batteries without too much of a problem.
Thanks for the info about the laptop Nick, will look into that also.
Will also build in a large locker for the Skippers and Crabbies which as Hazard to Shipping will agree is all thats required for sustenance on board.

Thanks again

Charlie

[claymore]

Will also build in a large locker for the Skippers and Crabbies which as Hazard to Shipping will agree is all thats required for sustenance on board.

Well that Hazard to Shipping is a fine one to be taking advice on sustenance from - did I not see her down 11 pints of Pipers Gold then deck the Barman in the shaker place with only a packet of crisps for solids?