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C-Nile



Joined: 09 May 2008
Posts: 638
City/Region: Connecticut
State or Province: CT
C-Dory Year: 2012
Vessel Name: Betty Ann
Photos: C-Nile
PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 4:14 pm    Post subject: Marinaut Electronics Reply with quote

We followed Les Lampman's recommendation to install an integrated Raymarine electronics system. My father was an electrician, and were he alive today, he would truly appreciate Les' beautiful wiring job. We have the C90W GPS chartplotter, 18" High Definition radar, S1000 auto pilot, NMEA interface between the Honda and the Plotter, transducer and electronic compass. He also installed a Ritchie back-up compass on the dash. Having used a Garmin 540s for 4 years, we were ery pleasantly surprised by the feel and control of the Raymarine system. Les says that the difference between Garmin and Raymarine is personal preference -- its like an IBM vs. Apple thing. I should say that after spending 32 years in the IBM/Microsoft field, that the computer I bought for home use was an Apple.

As you are no doubt aware, on the C90W, the radar screen can be set to overlap the chartplotter. We use the radar all the time, and it is a good thing we did. When we left Friday Harbor two week's ago, we encountered pea soup fog well out into the Rosario Straight. Raymarine radar is so sharp, that we can even pick up pilings and buoys. We found it easy to stay out of the way of other boats. It should be noted that the large ferry does not always show up as a small, crisp image. It can be so large when close by, that it looks like a reflective echo from an adjacent land mass. Thank heavens for AIS. At any rate, after using Raymarine, I don't think we'll ever use anything else. There is no question in our minds that radar is not a luxury -- it is a necessity. In Long Island Sound on the East Coast, we have seen thick fog banks roll in from Block Island sound when the wind direction changes during the middle of a summer's day, reducing visibility to zero, while people speed by at a high rate of speed, because they have radar. We need radar not to go fast, but to steer away from these people!

Regarding the wiring, when Les installed the twin-horns, the manufacturer did not state what size of fuse to use. So we had to replace a fuse after the first one had blown. It was so easy, because all the fuses were properly labeled and easily accessible. This may seem like a small point, but there are scores of fuses on this boat. It was a pleasure to go directly to the right fuse for inspection and replacement.

Finally, the Matrix radio worked great. We loved the way the cord was out of the way and it was nearly impossible for us to accidently knock the mic off of its bracket like what used to happen our CD 16. Also, Les' philosophy has been to make the microphone easily reachable by either the pilot or copilot, which it is.

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CD 16 Cruiser "C-Nile" Sold 06/2011
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thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did you have the Standard Horizon Matrix, with AIS--if so, which model?
How did it interface with the RayMarine screen?
Thank you.

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Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
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C-Nile



Joined: 09 May 2008
Posts: 638
City/Region: Connecticut
State or Province: CT
C-Dory Year: 2012
Vessel Name: Betty Ann
Photos: C-Nile
PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello Bob,

Here is the information you requested:

Standard Horizon GX2150 Matrix AIS, Hailer Remote Control
Standard Horizon 220 hailer horn 5” round
Raymarine C90 with DSM30, P66 transducer system pack
Raymarine S1000 Wireless autopilot system
Raymarine 4KW 189” Digital Radome
KVH Autocomp1000

You set the AIS activation range and it pops up on the C90W chartplotter in order to provide you relevant information about the target. I'm still a novice in regard to all the capabilities of this unit, so I should defer more detailed discussions to Les.

Thanks!

Rich
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Les Lampman
Dealer


Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 779
City/Region: Whidbey Island
State or Province: WA
PostPosted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thataway wrote:
Did you have the Standard Horizon Matrix, with AIS--if so, which model?
How did it interface with the RayMarine screen?
Thank you.


Hi Bob,

As Rich says it was the Matrix GX2150. It interfaces to the C90W via standard NMEA 0183. One of the available ports on the C90W is set (via a menu option) to 38,400 buad rate to accommodate AIS. Really it's just the same as connecting any other NMEA piece of equipment and is very straight forward.

Les

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C-Nile



Joined: 09 May 2008
Posts: 638
City/Region: Connecticut
State or Province: CT
C-Dory Year: 2012
Vessel Name: Betty Ann
Photos: C-Nile
PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

On the morning of June 15th, we had occasion to use our radar and S1000 autopilot in fog on the connecticut River. Honestly, even though it is easy to activate the autopilot through the Raymarine chartplotter, I prefer to use the hand-held remote control with a strap so that it can hang around my neck. We were traveling at less than slow-no-wake speed as I watched the radar for other boats. Les was right: an autopilot allows a person to concentrate on the radar screen in fog, while it does its job in keeping a person on course. Even the radio, with its fog hailer automates required fog signals such as when underway or at anchor. Regardless of whether one buys a Marinaut or a C-Dory, I highly recommend getting an autopilot.

Rich
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Captains Cat



Joined: 03 Nov 2003
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City/Region: Cod Creek>Potomac River>Chesapeake Bay
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Captain's Choice II
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rich, I found that the s-1000 wouldn't work ay very low speeds. Haw fast were you going?

Charlie

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C-Nile



Joined: 09 May 2008
Posts: 638
City/Region: Connecticut
State or Province: CT
C-Dory Year: 2012
Vessel Name: Betty Ann
Photos: C-Nile
PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Captains Cat wrote:
Rich, I found that the s-1000 wouldn't work ay very low speeds. Haw fast were you going?

Charlie


Charlie, It worked quite nicely at 6 mph. I've had no problems with it at any speed thus far tested, I'm going out today, so I'll perform some tests for you to see how low a speed it can function.

Rich
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Will-C



Joined: 21 Aug 2007
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City/Region: Temple
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C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 10:08 am    Post subject: Marinaut Electronics Reply with quote

S-1000 autopilots work well down to about 3mph between 2 and 3 mph then they will drop out. We do not need to use auto pilot below three mph. This is usually only an issue for fisherman trolling. You can spend twice as much money for a Garmin and get optional heading sensors another $700 if that really becomes a problem for you. Seems like a lot of extra money to be able to go that slow to use the auto pilot function. If we need to do that it's much cheaper to have someone drive the boat and with two or three people usually on fishing expeditions it does not seem to be an issue for us at least. The only trouble we have had is making sure to carry a couple triple A batteries for the remote control. It's a sad day when your auto pilot toy does not function due to dead batteries. Mr. Green
D.D.

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Captains Cat



Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 7313
City/Region: Cod Creek>Potomac River>Chesapeake Bay
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Captain's Choice II
Photos: Captain's Cat
PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not a problem for me any more as the S-1000 went with Captain's Cat. Thataway doesn't have an AP at all, but may at some point.

Charlie
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C-Nile



Joined: 09 May 2008
Posts: 638
City/Region: Connecticut
State or Province: CT
C-Dory Year: 2012
Vessel Name: Betty Ann
Photos: C-Nile
PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just went out today, and was traveling on autopilot as low as 3 mph. I agree with D.D., don't see any use for it at that low a speed (other than to troll), and intend to use it anywhere from 5 MPH to 22 MPH as appropriate. The one drawback I see at very low speeds is the autopilot making more frequent course corrections in rough waters.

Rich
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Les Lampman
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Joined: 30 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I talked to the Raymarine techs many moons ago about the S1000 drop out speed because of the type of trolling we do in the PNW, and because of our currents (it's often easy to get negative speeds!).

What they told me is that it takes about 3 knots of speed for the unit to initially "lock in" but then it will typically hold the lock down to about 1.5 knots.

That said, most of our installations get used for cruising rather than fishing and they work very well in that scenario. I have told die-hard fishing folks that want to slow troll with an autopilot that a unit with it's own fluxgate compass (and not relying on COG from the nav system) is a better choice. Unfortunately it's about a $2,000 choice since the S1000 is around $1,000 and the others about $3,000.
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C-Nile



Joined: 09 May 2008
Posts: 638
City/Region: Connecticut
State or Province: CT
C-Dory Year: 2012
Vessel Name: Betty Ann
Photos: C-Nile
PostPosted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 1:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

On Friday morning, August 10, we were heading back from Wickford Cove located in upper Narragansett Bay Rhode Island in very thick fog for the entire 66 mile trip home to Niantic Bay, Connecticut. Visibility ranged from 100 yards to 1/2 mile, and much of the trip was around 1/8 mile visibilty. We are very glad we heeded Les Lampman's advice in getting the Raymarine Radar and S1000 autopilot. With the autopilot engaged, we maintained our focus on the radar screen and view ahead of us. Our speed ranged between 6 mph and 22 mph, dependent upon where we were at the time and the degree of visibility. While the radar even picks up small boats, I'm not sure it would pick up kayaks, so in areas close to shore where Kayaks and small boats could frequent we traveled very slowly, and did not open the throttle until we got to mid-sound with better visibility. At one point, we picked up three targets ahead of us in deep water, and it turned out to be a Naval Vessel being escorted toward the Thames River. We heard a fog horn in the distance, heard a "securite" call, and turned to port to give them a wide berth to avoid coming too closely to their protective security zone. The point is that we could not be more pleased with our set up. The radar is so sharp that it picks up pilings sticking out of the water, buoys and even yacht tenders. The one thing I recommend to people new to radar is to use it all the time during the day, and get used to spotting targets and interpreting the results when visibility is clear. Then when you get in a situation like we did, you will be more comfortable and adept at putting your radar to good use. One other point: there are a lot of crazy boaters out there -- especially in Long Island, who have no regard for others. It's not unusual for a 30 foot power cruiser or fishing boat to creep up from behind and then to travel closely by you (approximately 30' feet) and then in front of your bow, leaving you with a heavy wake to contend with. Radar looks around you 360 degrees, so you can "see" these crazies approaching on the screen so as to have fair warning.

This is a little off-target, but one of the problems is that Connecticut, for example, grandfathered-in people for safe boating certificates without requiring them to take a class and be given a written examination. I was the recipient of such a safe boating certificate due to prior ownership of a 12 foot rowboat and electric trolling motor combination; what a joke! Regardless, knowing that we were (and still are) novices, my wife and I took the 2-day safe boating course. There really is a lot to boating in the way of safety, courtesy and rules of the road, and everyone should take a safe boating class, because there is always something to be learned; we benefited greatly.
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