Understanding Sailboat-Instruments

Marine-electronics systems for yachts and sailboats have made spectacular advances in recent years, with marine communications and navigation becoming almost totally reliant on satellite based technologies. Most yachts now have a marine-map-gps or a handheld-marine-gps

My name is John Payne, author of the best selling Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible now out in it’s 3rd Edition. When I published this book some 13 years ago, we were still using Morse code, HF radio, the transit SatNav system and Radio Direction Finding (RDF). Like yacht technology the book has also moved on, and along with my Understanding Boat series of books you can find answers to your questions. Marine-electronics-repair is now even easier

How Have Sailboat-Instruments Changed for the Better?

The NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) service is used in everything from integrated mapping systems in your motor vehicle to small handheld units on day sailing yachts. The average price of a GPS has dropped to that of consumer electronics levels. You can pick up a GPS at West Marine for around $100. The new GMDSS system now has weather forecasts available through NAVTEX in many areas of the world. The satellite based communications of INMARSAT now has virtually all commercial and many large pleasure vessels fully equipped with satellite communications as part of GMDSS. The alternatives such as IRIDIUM and others can offer other satellite communications. You can still set up email on your sailing yacht using HF/SSB radio or alternatively use satellite based systems to check your emails and surf the internet.

Now You Can Enjoy Your Entertainment on Your Yacht

The changes within the entertainment world are no less significant and you can install a satellite television system on your yacht and watch it on a large flat screen on your saloon bulkhead. You can also tune into your favorite tunes on satellite radio with Sirius. The days of cassette tapes and even CD’s are vanishing quickly with MP3 players, small and compact and able to store all your music, without worrying about water and disc damage. DVD players are also the best option for video entertainment however soon it will also be downloaded files as well.

Use Your Sailboat-Instruments to Make Your Sailing Even Safer

Yacht and sailboat instrumentation has also advanced and thanks to advances in computing power you can now have networked instruments, including you radar, fish-finder and chart plotting all running on the same high quality displays.

There are also wireless, solar powered instrument systems that do away with the need for wiring. Depth sounders have also advanced with forward looking sonar systems that can even allow you to detect a floating shipping container, or see what is ahead in that coral reef. All of these great new technologies and systems as well as other useful yachting technical information are explained on this website as well as in my books.

The Secret to keeping Your Sailboat-Instruments Operating

From my own professional experience the single greatest cause of marine-electronics problems is improperly installed equipment. These days most marine electronics and sailboat-instruments are plug-and-play, however the proper routing and installation of the related cables is critical to performance. Interference and performance problems are far too common and this is caused by poor installation. Another common problem is that marine electronics are not properly suited for the intended application. One typical example is the selection and installation of the autopilot. Making the correct choices is critical to safe and reliable yachting.

Modern marine-electronics and sailboat-instruments are generally very reliable, and reasonably economical to install. The one biggest risk and danger is putting all your reliance on them, and not having the knowledge or understanding to perform basic troubleshooting, know how to use the equipment properly, and perhaps more importantly have the basic skills if the systems fail. These great new devices are aids to navigational only, so always use them in conjunction with basic and properly corrected and updated navigation charts, along with some basic good seamanship skills and of course a properly maintained and seaworthy vessel. It is always good practice to keep a plot on your navigation chart. Always perform some checks on your navigation receiver fixes by taking some compass bearings when on coastal passages (it’s easy and your crew and passengers will also feel comfortable observing your skills in action!).

What Everyone Ought to Know About Sailboat-instruments and Communications

No revolutionary technology change comes about without other changes. The single largest outcome for long range offshore sailing communications is that HF/SSB shore stations have virtually ceased to operate in all principal western countries, and Morse has vanished completely. The largest revolution in maritime safety and communications since those brought about by the sinking of the Titanic has been the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). This system whilst primarily for all commercial vessels over 300 tons, is fully implemented and has far reaching ramifications to all yacht and sailboat owners.

Many of the GMDSS systems are relatively expensive and smaller systems are now becoming more readily available. Some typical examples are that of (Digital Selective Calling) DSC VHF radios. This allows the offshore sailing and cruising yacht to get plugged into the international standard distress system. Cell phone networks have expanded dramatically and literally put shore based VHF stations out of business, however they are not a substitute for proper maritime communications equipment when in distress.