What Electronics Should I Add To My Boat?

[El and Bill]

We initiated a topic, What Should I Know Before Buying a Boat? and the topic has had many excellent ideas to help a new boat buyer.

Now we are initiating another topic that we think will be useful for a new boat owner. Many of these ideas have been expressed elsewhere in topics specific to each item, but we thought it would be useful to have many of the general thoughts (not what specific brand of unit) under one topic heading.

In other words, if someone asks you, "What electronics should I have on my boat? what would you answer?

This is the procedure we suggest to help make a decision:

First, how do you plan to use your boat? If you plan to use it only for a fishing run to the same place, following the same route every Saturday, your choices might be different than for a long-distance cruiser, but the following MUST have topic we believe every boater should have for their safety:

Must Have For Safety:

1. Radio - A VHF radio is essential for communication, weather information, reporting accidents, and for personal safety if you (or others)require assistance. Don't leave harbor without it. A subset might discuss new additions to radios, such as DSC (digital selective calling). For many areas, this might be considered an essential safety addition to your radio -- Coast Guard (and other nearby boats) know your location and identification if you send a MayDay call.

2. Chartplotter with GPS - Knowing exactly where you are on a chart is essential for safe boating. Yes, one can plot on a paper chart off bearings taken by hand-held compass, but that is not as fast or accurate as an electronic chartplotter. Too much attention to paper, and not enough out the window can be dangerous.

3. Depth Gauge - Often the greatest danger to the safety of a vessel is unseen. A good depth gauge has a warning sounder (set by the skipper for the depth required). One can also navigate with a chart and depth gauge if the GPS goes down.

Second, how deep are your pockets and how comfortable are you with risk?

Helpful for Safety:

1. Backups (preferably run by batteries independent of the boat and small enough to carry in a waterproof ditch bag). Handheld waterproof VHF radios and GPS (with charts) units are available and might save your life if you had to ditch your boat.

2. Radar - In some areas, with frequent fog, high boat traffic, and tricky navigating a radar is a must have. For others, day use only, close to harbor, familiar water, rare fog, radar might be considered an option.

Third, how deep are your pockets and what are your individual needs, uses and purposes for your boat?

Optional Extras

1. Auto Pilot - perhaps essential for trolling fishermen, and useful in a number of other individual circumstances. Potentially dangerous if not used prudently. Many an accident has occurred when there are no hands on the helm.

2. Integrated Electronics - useful to see all the data on one screen, especially the radar contacts on a chartplotter. Downside is the confusion of too much data, too small a screen for too much data, and so much data on one screen that is not failsafe.

3. Flow Meter - Can give useful information for economic operation, but not essential information.

4. Trim Tabs - useful to level the boat while under way and may improve economy. Not really electronic, but close enough.

5. Windlass - helps to save a weak back to lift the anchor mechanically and nice during a rain, but not essential. Again not electronic, but close enough to consider in this thread.

6. EPIRB - If you do much deep water or remote area boating this device might be considered. It automatically sends a MayDay call if activated.

There is considerable information on the Electronics Topics on this website for more detailed information on manufacturers, uses, and opinions. But, in general, are there other electronics any of you would suggest -- or would you have different opinions on must have, helpful to have, and optional to have?

[snal]

Thanks El and Bill! I had to search all through the "electronics" forum to piece together what you've put in one post!

I've also been searching for items to form my list of other things that should stay on our boat. Just things that will make life on the boat as simple and pleasant as possible. This subject might be difficult to define under a single topic, but just as helpful to new owners like us.

[ffheap]

Good list El and Bill.

I know this is not Electronics, but a good course on boating safety and costal piloting and navigation should be taken. It's kind of tough to run a GPS, Radar, and Chart Plotter if you do not know the theory behind it.

Fred

[Casey]

B & E - Excellent topic.

A few comments RE the items you mentioned (I agree with all of them).

Auto Pilot. For us it was a last minute over-the-top option. In retrospect, I use it so much it would have been higher on the list. Your comments about the careful use of auto pilot are absolutely correct; the helm must be attended every second the vessel is in motion. Period.

Windlass. As we age, having someone/something to retrieve the anchor is delightful, and the windlass takes less room (and eats less) than a teenager. With a windlass I was able to step-up the anchor size; which permits me to sleep better at night.

EPIRB. Not a critical item, but like the others - if you need it, you REALLY need it! Given some of the remote locale's we travel-to, having an EPIRB (they're now making good one's that are much smaller than ours...and the batt's aren't $300!). Having an EPIRB gives us (particularly Sandy) some assurance that if I drop to the deck with some serious medical event while traveling in a remote location; there's something she can do besides a burial-at-sea. Rather like a parachute in a small airplane (you hope to never use it, but comforting to have).

ADDITION: XM (or Sirius) satellite radio. I didn't know how delightful it is to be in a remote anchorage with some nice music Quietly playing in the background. A major quality-of-life issue. ...wouldn't leave home without it.

Casey
C-Dory Naknek
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[Sneaks]

Great topic. Good enough to be a "Sticky".

I agree with Casey re: windlass, btw. It's always dangerous to get up to the bow and work there, especially while single handling the boat. Probably the second most risky act for a male piloting alone at sea.

Don

[1TUBERIDER]

Hi Bill and El

Nice topic

I believe where you boat and how you use your boat will be considerations for electronics. I am doing all of my boating in the open ocean. Therefore I focus on what I need to get back safely. Conditions change before you return. I want to be covered in fog, high wind, and most situations were there is some danger.

I have all items on your list except for the windlass. I am considering that as well. I also know how to use my equipment. But I like redundancy. Therefore I have 2 motors, a backup handheld vhf and a backup handheld charting gps. I also have several lights and whistles and sound making devices as well as mirrors and smoke and light sigals and thowable devices and lifejackets.

I believe the most important device on board is my anchor setup. Therefore I have around 10 foot of stainless chain attached to 300 foot of line. I know many like more chain, but I like to keep my bow as light as I can. I don't use my anchor very often as I prefer to drift fish or troll, but I would not leave home without it.

I also have on board a forward looking scanner but have found that I am just as happy with the fishfinder.

My radar and gps chartplotter are itegrated jrc 1800. My fish finder is furuno.

Minimun electronics would be a radio, but I probably not be comfortable to go very far if that is all I had.

Safe boating.

Jeff
1tuberider

[ffheap]

Hi Folks,

Great list. (my reason for above message is that navigational electronics is useless if you don't understand navigation.)

I think the three most important items are a VHF-FM Radio, A depth finder, and a windless.

Radio to contact friends and to call for help, as well as hearing others that may need help.

Depth Finder. You can not see what is under your boat. Hit a rock with your prop could make you a very unhappy sailer..

Windless. I am 68 years old. One day I got caught with a change of tide so I had current and wind from the same direction. On top of that, the wind was building the seas up. It was a long and hard pull sitting on the bow. I went out and purchased a windless. I love it.

Fred

[El and Bill]

Fred -
You don't think a GPS/chartplotter is a Must Have instrument? At age 68, squinting at charts, shooting sights, and plotting must be getting a bit tedious. No?

[hardee]

El and Bill,
Terrific list, and I like your priorities. There is one thing that I didn't see on your list. I suppose it may show up as an auxiliary function on some of the other devices, but one of the first things I installed, (every thing else on your list was already there), was a Digital clock with a screen large enough to read from anywhere in the boat. Function: Coordinating travel and tidal flow. Secondary function. 2 minute timing for fog horn, should that situation arise, since our radio doesn't have a built in loudhailer. That will be an alternate function of the 2nd backup VHF radio that gets installed.
A Second Item That could be electronic or not: a Barometer. Yes I know that the weather channels are there, but I guess I'm a bit old schooled in that way. I like to know what is happening around me, and though it is simple. It can be useful.
Thanks for the good thread.
Harvey
Sleepy C

[Dreamer]

Harvey alluded to the second VHF he was installing. I couldn't agree more. In the PNW, especially the Straits of Juan de Fuca, a second VHF is a must IMHO.
In addition the the mandatory monitoring of Ch 16, we have large vessel traffic on Ch 5, Coast guard operations on Ch 22 and Ch 6, Often club or friends on Ch 68 or Ch 69. Scanning these is marginal at best. It was the best advice an old friend ever gave me, "Operate two VHF radios". Thanks Max.

[marvin4239]

The handiest instrument I have for local waters in the Southeast is a combination time/tide clock. With a 6 foot tide I can tell at a glance how I should beach my boat or what my route options are without fumbling around with tide table charts. Many routes I take only hold enough water on the upper part of the tide.

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[ffheap]

Bill and El,

Yes at 68 I am a bit old fashion.

I did see a great chart plotter/radar/everything else when I was aboard HUNKY DORY. Maybe another cruise with Rick and a little money might change my feelings.

Until then,

Fred

[snal]

[hardee]

By way of clarification. I think a second VHF is a must, (need to convince Deena of that yet) but it is to serve more than one purpose. 1. Scan the other channels. Yes. 2. Have a loud hailer built in that includes foghorn capabilities. Yes. And 3. Backup the DSC to GPS incase the Multifunction goes out and takes the GPS with it.

marvin4239, I like the time and tide clock, but have not found one for the left coast yet. Think maybe Weams and Plath have not discovered tides run this far east yet? I have been looking for a watch that has barameter and tide capabilities.

Have a great night Always,
Harvey
Sleepy C

[El and Bill]

Harvey -
Our chartplotter has tide tables for zillions of locations all along the left coast. I click on it in am before pulling anchor, any time during the day when underway and think I need it and always when about to anchor for the night. It's easy to access, quickly visual, and up to date as you move along from place to place.

Thanks, folks for your ideas. This should be a help for new owners -- all in one place.