[Rhodes22-list] Toys for Rhodes

[Mary Lou Troy]

Agree with everything Roger says (of course ;-) )  We've kept it simple - a 
fishfinder for depth - very handy for navigation and choosing spots to 
anchor. We use our old handheld Garmin GPS for speed, ETA and general 
navigation as a backup to the paper chart. hven't felt the need for 
anything else.

Mary Lou
1991 R22  Fretless
Swan Creek, MD / Ft. Washington, PA


At 06:19 PM 5/14/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>Doug,
>
>OK, realizing I'm probably going to provoke an argument, here goes...
>
>1st of all, complete disclosure.  Dynamic Equilibrium's electronic
>navigation aids consist of an Autohelm ST-50 tridata instrument and a
>Magellan GPS 2000 handheld GPS unit.  The ST-50 tridata combines a
>knotmeter, log, depth sounder, and water temperature sensor into one
>package.  The ST-50 is no longer in production.  The replacement Autohelm
>unit is called the ST-60 tridata & it has essentially the same functions.
>My ST-50 tridata has been in service since 1993 and my GPS 2000 since 1996.
>The ST-50 has been totally bulletproof.  The GPS 2000 got dunked by a wave
>in the cockpit once in 1998.  Despite the waterproof rating, water got
>inside the GPS 2000's case & it failed within 10 minutes of the dunking.
>Magellan repaired the unit under warranty & it has lived inside of ZIPLOC
>plastic bags ever since than.  By today's standards, the GPS 2000 is
>obsolete.  It's slow, with sufficient memory for only 100 waypoints.
>However, it does show one's present position, average speed, plus distance,
>bearing, and ETA to the next waypoint.  Dynamic Equilibrium also has a
>Danforth bulkhead mount ship's compass/inclinometer and an Autohelm ST1000+
>Tillerpilot.
>
>So what do you envision doing with your Rhodes 22?  If all you plan to do is
>daysail within sight of land; then, you don't need any instruments.  If you
>envision being out of sight of land, sailing to unfamilier ports of call,
>&/or possibly being caught out in fog or at night; then, the above
>complement of functions plus a good set of compass bearing binoculars &
>minus the autopilot are, in my opinion, about the minimum requirement.  You
>need to be able to plot compass, GPS, and dead reckoning (DR), fixes on a
>chart.  A log (total distance) is more useful for plotting a DR fix than a
>knotmeter because it is difficult to maintain a consistent speed while
>sailing.  Unfortunately, the low cost knotmeters like the SR Mariner models
>you cited do not include a log.  You will find the knotmeter will be
>marginally useful for helping you learn how to optimize your sail trimming
>skills, but not for much else.
>
>The depth sounder is very useful for following a certain bottom contour in
>fog or at night in order to stay a certain distance offshore.  It will also
>provide early warning when you are approaching landfall - often many miles
>before you can see land.  A depth sounder with an anchor alarm is a useful
>feature if you plan on spending any time on the hook.  An anchor alarm will
>sound to wake you up if the depth below the keel changes from more than a
>+/- threshold from a setpoint water depth, presumably because the anchor is
>dragging.  This function is also useful for tacking up a narrow channel.  In
>this case, the alarm will sound to warn you that it's time to come about.
>
>The water temperature sensor has turned out to be more useful than I would
>have imagined when I 1st got my ST-50 tridata instrument.  Of course it's
>primary function is as a swimming comfort indicator.  But, it's also very
>useful for locating warm currents such as river outflows even miles
>offshore.  It's also quite useful for fishing.
>
>The 1st instrument you should buy is a good ship's compass & a set of
>compass bearing binoculars.  The 2nd instrument is a handheld GPS unit.
>After that, there are lots of options.  The fishfinders provide a nice
>complement of depth, water temperature, and fish sensing functions.
>
>You will be disappointed with the SR Mariner KT-5 knotmeter.  Either get an
>instrument with both a knotmeter & a log or don't bother.
>
>By the way, do you actually know how to plot a fix on a chart using various
>methods and do you understand the rule of the road and other boating safety
>concepts?  If not, then you should spend your money on a basic
>navigation/boating safety course before doing anything else.  The US Power
>Squadron offers a pretty good course.  You should do this before you put the
>boat in the water!
>
>Roger Pihlaja
>S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bob Weber" <ruba1811 at hotmail.com>
>To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 3:47 PM
>Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Toys for Rhodes
>
>
> > Doug, I am not sure how accruate you need to be with depth and speed.  A
> > less accurate solution that works for me is a fishfinder for depth and
> > handheld GPS for knot.  Only the fish finder requires power from the boat.
> > The knot meter on the gps is over ground not over water (if you are
>subject
> > ot currents).  I find the gps display to be jumpy and not much more
>usefull
> > than giving me a general idea of speed.  Hope it helps.  Bob Weber
> >
> >
> > >From: "Doug Mistler" <mistler at mindspring.com>
> > >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > >To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > >Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Toys for Rhodes
> > >Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 15:29:38 -0400
> > >
> > >Being a purist, Stan pleads ignorance on the subject of instruments for
>the
> > >Rhodes and suggests that I query the list.
> > >
> > >I need a depthfinder and knotmeter.  Some of the digital combo units are
> > >rather "pricey" and others seem to be out of stock. I now am considering
> > >separate depthfinder and knotmeter units in proven (read old-fashioned)
> > >technology.
> > >
> > >I am inclined toward the SR Mariner Self-powered Knotmeter (KT-5), and
> > >Digital Depth Meter (DDM-1), in the Defender Marine 2004 catalog, page
>295.
> > >As they are in stock, Stan will not have an excuse to delay getting my
> > >"almost new" Rhodes to me.
> > >
> > >Do any  "Rhodies" have experience with these items or can you recommend
> > >others?
> > >
> > >Thanks and fair winds!
> > >--Doug
> > >
> > >
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>
>
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