El and Bill
New member
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?
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?
