Much has happened since my last update.
Sundance
We have now had time to assess the whole of Sundance and have found a few unexpected items that require addressing. we had expected to replace the chart plotter and radar at some point in the near future. However the radar failed on the passage to Jersey, luckily after crossing the shipping separation scheme. It was also fund that the GPS has failed which is understood to be a common failing with Raymarine.
Navionics on a tablet
As we wanted to get out on the water as soon as possible I have been using a tablet for a chart plotter with Navionics Charts. As I know the our sea area very well, this is not a problem for me, but this is not by any means a permanent solution.
I have always preferred to have separate independent navigation aids as I think that if one unit fails you still have the other units available. For example if the plotter fails you still have a radar and a depth sounder which can be a great help in navigation. These days however it is becoming difficult to purchase separate units as manufactures are leaning towards single integrated multifunction units which displays the depth, plotter and radar, engine data and much more. This is all very well but if it fails all is lost!
What I find most frustrating is that these units come with so many extra bells and whistles. When you look at the manufactures sales personal introducing there latist creation they are more intent on demonstrating the units capability of connecting with a tablet, and sharing data. Sharing and playing music from your smart phone and being able to play radio one, rather than the user friendliness of the charts, radar and tidal information. I do not want to play music through my navigation equipment, this has no place on a boat helm in my view.
Dragging me into the 21 century I must go down the line of embracing the new technology. Having said that there are some equipment on Sundance which work just fine and I am loth to rip out kit which is in good working order. So the Raythoen Auto pilot works although the heading is incorrect and Raymarine compass works, but again the heading is incorrect.
The problem with steel boats is that the steel generates magnetic deviation which affects the compass. As fluxgate technology is being used, it should be able to iron out the deviation and some calibration is required. The problem with radar technology available for recreational vessels is that aids such as MAPA (mini-automatic radar plotting aid), Doppler rely on good heading input as does radar overlaying on to a chart and the ability to use the electronic line to establish what targets are doing in relation to your vessel and collision risk assessment. I will probably require a new heading sensor as the new sensors are better the older fluxgate units.
Raymarine Axion pro 9
At first I was looking at he Raymarine Axion range which comes in different sizes. this seemed a logical starting point as there are already Raytheon and Raymarine equipment on Sundance. The twelve inch unit however is to big, so the only option is the nine inch unit. This has a touch screen and buttons. This unit is multifunctional and will display charts, radar and could display other things such as images from cameras and sonar.
We have recently had a boat show in Jersey and I took a look at the Axion Pro 9 on display, while the unit is very good, I think that the nine inch screen is going to be to small, which is most frustrating. There is also the addition of compatibility with the existing equipment, although I am told that there are converters available.
I had considered Simrad kit but having used the equipment on another vessel I am not so impressed and find the menu’s frustrating. I guess you get use to what you use.
Garmin GPSMap 1022
I have always had Garmin on all of my vessels so have great faith in the product and I am familiar with the menu’s. This unit does not have a touch screen, but that is a good thing as buttons are easier to use than a tough screen when the vessel is pitching and rolling. This unit will do the same things as the Raymarine and is available in a ten inch screen which is perfect for Sundance. The only thing is I have not had a chance to see the unit so am considering buying blind!
So I am pricing up two multipurpose screens, Radar, AIS and an adaptor to integrate with the Raymarine & Ratheon kit which work to provide depth information on the screen if I wish. I should be able to use my tablet via WIFI to act as a remote unit or display the plotter while the fixed unit displays the Radar or vice versa.
I will up date on the plotter/radar as and when things happen.
This was our first run out of St Helier. No chart plotter of radar, but I know the area so well it is not necessary.
We have been having a strange smell in the saloon which we thought was the waste holding tank. Find out what the problem is on my next post……
Short cut to my ShutterStock Portfolio – https://goo.gl/5Mvedj
