Due to a too-small, ill mounted chart plotter and wind instrument, wiring & display destroyed by a nearby lightning strike, I've decided to bite the bullet and start from scratch with my electronics.
We're based in Atlantic Highlands, NJ and daysail Sandy Hook Bay, weekend to places around NYC and cruise up Long Island Sound to Block Island most summers.
Current configuaration includes the three standard Raymarine ST60 instruments (wind, speed & depth with SeaTalk), a small GPS chart plotter, an old/inoperative JRC radar (I have been advised to throw away) and a (recently upgraded) Raymarine ST-4000 wheel autopilot.
I plan on keeping the autopilot as is. I may or may not go with the radar now (cost) but my new system should accept the addition of a radar system.
I'm looking at Raymarine, Garmin and B&G equipment. I could probably save some money going with Raymarine and using the existing depth and speed transducers. I'm leery of Raymarine, as I'm hearing from local installers that they are falling put of favor due to rapid model changes and falling reliability. I'm frankly fascinated by the new B&G SailSteer integrated sailing display. And if I'm upgrading, now is probably the time to invest in a NEMA 2000 backbone, no?
Since there are probably as many opinions of electronics as there are of anchors, I'd like to hear a few. But I have one specific question… With the advent of multipurpose displays, I could get my wind, speed and depth readouts on the same display as my chart and/or radar info. Why do I need the old discreet instruments? I know I would be losing some redundancy without the discreet instruments if my multipurpose display were to fail, but other than depth, I can feel the wind and can use my iPad and iPhone as navigation back-ups. In fact, some systems can stream to the iPad as a complete replacement for the multipurpose display. What am I missing?
Thanks in advance for any ideas!
Joe & Patti Worth
"Tehani"
1999 C36 MKII #1810
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
I like the idea of the multifunction displays too. However, I don't like the 'all my eggs in one basket' approach. Like you said, I can get speed and location with my smart phone and tablet. But I'd keep the depth sounder as a separate instrument, even though I'd display it on the multi as well. I just can't stand not knowing the depth. I once chartered a CYC48 in St. Thomas. The one and only piece of electronics on board that worked was the depth sounder. If it hadn't worked, I would have refused to leave the dock until it did. I lived without the autopilot and knot meter for 10 days, but I'd have been a nervous wreck without the depth sounder.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Hi
Another option if your existing Raymarine depth, speed and wind still work is to mount them in the cabin and then display the depth, speed, wind on the multifunction display, Raymarine's current touchscreen chart plotter can interface with the ST60 instruments.
Mark Kozy
"COLDWATER"
1999 C36 MK2 #1742 FK/M35B
Vallejo Yacht Club-Oldest on the West Coast
Boat lives in Marina del Rey, CA (SOCAL)
I live in Placerville, CA (NORCAL)
My old Raymarine system is slowly dying out.
Replaced the useless ST4000 with an EV-200 below deck - wow! It stays. :)
Analog Radar died, I tossed it and took the boom down. The radar was more of a novelty than needed. My stern is much nicer looking now.
That leaves the C80 and DSM-300.
A bunch of us were just admiring the new Garmin touch screen interface on a new install - it's just so incredibly intuitive with no need for the manual. I'm really impressed. It also looks like I could get full chart plotter with integrated sounder, transducer and gWind for a pretty good deal.
My feeling is that Raymarine is focused on powerboats and their "lighthouse" interface takes quite a bit to get used to and you will need the manual. It's pricier than Garmin.
I am also intrigued by the B&G sail steer but no one has installed one in my neck of the woods and west marine has none in their store. It's definitely the most expensive route to go by a long shot but has the most sailing specific features. I'd love to see someone really take sail steer through its paces in a race to see how much it really contributes to finding the right lay line. I have strong skepticism here and also suspect these features are going to show up on units costing much less.
2000 C36 MKII 1825