What type of electronics

Well Guys

What type of gear should i get for me new boat i am thinking along the lines of

VHF
EPERB
Chart Plotter
Fish Finder


Danny

Danny,

VHF: Even if you don’t have a course done get a DSC vhf. Make sure that it is full DSC and not “DSC ready”

EPIRB: Probably overkill but a good safety device nonetheless.

Plotter: A must for the serious angler. Some thing like a Garmin 172C is perfect.

Sounder: A must again. Colour is better. Dual freq is ideal. Garmin FF250C is a good unit.

I assume that you have the other essentials: Compass (with light), Coastal Flare Pack, car style first aid kit, extinguisher etc.

Enjoy,
Jim.

Don't know how big your boat is, but a radar is a very useful piece of kit.
Can give distance and bearing from other boats, navigation buoys etc even in mist or fog or after dark. At least you need a radar reflector.

As well as the chartplotter you will need electronic charts for the areas you will operate in. Probably come with PC package for navigation planning, download etc.

Thanks guys for the info the size of the boat is 18" so no real space for radar but i will get a reflector , i have my VHF license plus coastal navigation, advanced power boat instructor, sea survival and many more courses ( i was a Senior helmsman on an inshore Lifeboat for 15 years)

Jim have you got any good web sites or dealers for the GPS nd Finder.

Thanks again lads

Danny

re the reflector watch which one you buy as there was a test done on them and the long tube type popular among small boats came out poorly.

well actually they stated it didn't work :(

can't remember where i saw it but most did very badly because of the lack of height.


re electronics.... its really really hard to see past lowrance.
be wary of combined units, if one part goes on the blink you have lost both.

i'm afraid asking what people like just usually ends in confusion as people always recommend what they have if it works ok.

i tend to look at the commercial fleet and see what they have and round my way it was furuno and lowrance. they don't tend to buy poorly! :wink:

Hi Danny,

I don't think I would like a radar on an 18' boat , a radar dome or scanner is a very nasty thing to have placed anywhere near your head. It radiates a few kilowatts of microwave energy. To put this into prospective it is the equivalent of 4-6 microwave ovens or 1000 - 1500 mobile phones and your head will be almost next to it :shock:

Even on a boat the size of mine I would only ever use it if I really have to and it is mounted well above head level.

Buy a good old cheeeeeeeeeep alloy diamond shaped radar reflector and place it on a pole that you can stand in something like a rod holder as high as possible they are far more efficient than most of the transparent tube types.

On an 18' boat you don't want to break the bank. A Garmin GPSMAP 172C or 178C with optional sounder accessories and a Cobra DSC fixed VHF and antenna and if you can afford a few more quid a cheap VHF hand-held.

If you really want to splash out instead of an E.P.I.R.B on a small boat buy a P.L.B.


Jim