Boat Electronics (and instruments) upgrades

Currently we have a Raymarine Sea Talk system, we have the following instruments and devices:

At the helm:

Raymarine E120 chart plotter/radar/AIS (set as the slave)

Raymarine autopilot

Above the hatch:

ST60 Water speed

ST60 Wind direction/speed

ST60 Depth

At the Navigation station:

Raymarine E120 Chart plotter/radar/AIS (master)

Brass clock

Brass Barometer

There is a camera in the engine room. It is mounted at the forward end and is looking back at the engine. This camera can only be viewed at the hem, and it is the only camera on the boat.

Issues with this equipment:

  1. The chart plotter occasionally loses its self, the slave can’t see the master and it requires a reboot. (This happens several times a week).
  2. All of the above is about 2005 vintage, which means that the charts are at least 15 years old
  3. The wires are uncoated single strand wires that are starting to show signs of age and corrosion
  4. The water temperature instrument is non functional (it is part of the depth instrument).
  5. The depth instrument is starting to get a bit flakey, giving false readings (thankfully always showing it to be shallower than it is).

What I want in the way of instrumentation and electronics:

  1. Wind speed/direction
  2. Depth/temperature
  3. Speed through the water
  4. Chart plotter/radar/AIS
  5. Forward scanning sonar displayed on the chart plotter (assuming it is better than what is currently available, meaning right now it is only good for about 30 feet in front of boat)
  6. Auto pilot
  7. Cameras that go to either chart plotter and possibly the TV, all set up to be recorded:
    1. Engine room (where the current camera is)
    2. Engine room looking at Alternator Regulator
    3. Bilge (infared looking down)
    4. Looking at the shaft seals
    5. Aft Lazerette looking at the water-maker instruments/controls
    6. Top of the mast looking forward and adjustable to cover at least 180 degrees
    7. Top of the mast looking backwards and adjustable to cover er at least 180 degrees
    8. Mounted on the arch behind the cockpit and looking forward to watch what is happening in the cockpit
  8. Engine instruments that go to the chart plotter(s)
    1. Oil temperature
    2. Oil pressure
    3. Engine RPM
    4. Water temperature (engine coolant)
  9. Generator instruments that go to the chart plotter(s)
    1. Oil temperature
    2. Oil pressure
    3. Engine RPM
    4. Water temperature (engine coolant)
    5. Generator Voltage
    6. Generator frequency
    7. Generator Amps (load)
  10. Battery instruments that go to the chart plotter
    1. Battery voltage
      1. House bank
      2. Engine start battery
      3. Generator start battery
    2. Battery percentage used (house bank only)
    3. Battery amps
      1. House bank
      2. Engine start battery
      3. Generator start battery
  11. Charts that can be updated, preferably open source (like OpenCPN for example)
  12. At the Navigation station
    1. Brass clock (the one that is there is fine)
    2. Brass barometer (one that works)
    3. Brass air temperature/humidity

While it would be great if all of the above were available on WiFi, it is more important that they are reliable.

Raymarine is what I have, but does not have to be what I have going forward. The Raymarine representative in San Diego really ticked me off, so I am not inclined to go with them again. There is also the issue of a  proprietary network that I can’t add anything too. I have heard good things about B&G, and I am open to hearing about other options.

Since we are removing the mast when we do the great loop trip, the conduit in the mast will be repaired/replaced. All wires/cables in the mast need to have easy disconnects at the bottom of the mast.

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