[Rhodes22-list] R22 Instrumentation

[Bill Effros]

Dave,

I mounted 2 Plastismo Iris Lighted Compass Mounts on my stern rails last 
summer and was very happy with them.  So happy, in fact that I'm going 
to get another compass and stop moving it back and forth.  The compass 
is a hand held that can be read in any direction, and slides in and out 
of a custom mount that costs too much, but works perfectly.  The steel 
in the rails does not bother the compass.  The compass was far more 
accurate than my Ritchie bulkhead, and a cinch to read from the 
captain's seats.

I will be bringing a laptop on board with an integral late model WiFi 
built in.  I'm sure this will be the way to go on boats--it's just that 
all the pieces aren't together yet.  I bought a Delorme Street Map along 
with a GPS that plugs into a laptop, both for under $100.  It works 
perfectly, and has a speech recognition system built in.  I got a 
complete set of computerized charts, a program to run them, and a 
chartbook for $50 from Maptech.  They have more features than I can use 
right now. 
There must be some way to use, my Delorme GPS on the Maptech Chart, but 
I don't know how, yet.  In the beginning I will put my waypoints on the 
Street Maps, using GPS coordinates, along with notes to myself that the 
system will read out to me as I approach.  That's right, using a Street 
Map for the water.  I think it will work.  We'll see.  Costs me nothing 
to try.

I have a 17" screen on my laptop, and should be able to see it from as 
far away as I can possibly ever get on my boat.  I am a notorious "dry 
boat" person, and am not particularly concerned about weather.  I put 
away everything in dry boxes after each sail.  Nothing walks away.  I 
move my laptop on board every time I go out.  It will also run my music 
system...and I could play DVDs on it...

I think depth finders are silly on our boats.  Pack a lead line.  It's 
cheaper, and reads correctly even when you are heeled.  (Or use a small 
folding anchor folded--no chain.)  You should know from your charts 
where you are, and what your approximate depth is.  Before a depth meter 
can see a rock, you've hit it.

But, I digress,

Bill Effros

DCLewis1 at aol.com wrote:
> Dave, Rick, Michael, Will,  Ed, Mary Lou,  Russ, everyone who  responded,  
> thank you for responding to my request for info regarding  instrumentation.
>  
> One theme that appears to run through many of the responses is that reading  
> instruments, esp the compass, from the back of the cockpit can be a problem - 
> as  in, get a large compass.  A second theme is that some put much more $ into 
>  nav aids than others - local sailing requirements vary.  
>  
> Regarding compasses, putting a somewhat smaller Richie compass on a bracket  
> closer to the stern seems like an interesting option, it’s close so it should 
> be  easily readable.  But unless you’re looking down on it will there be a  
> problem reading it?  That is, if you’re sailing north and the compass is  
> aligned with the keel of the vessel the compass card will point to north, but if  
> the compass is at eye level and you’re reading the compass from the side in the  
> cockpit, you’ll see east or west, assuming you’re offset 90o.  Am I right  
> about this, or is there a way to substantially offset the compass card?   Are 
> you basically going to have to get on top of that compass to read it?
>  
> If the compass card can’t be offset then a large bulkhead mount might be  the 
> only way to go, or mount it on a slat.  But it’s a long way from the  back of 
> the cockpit to the aft cabin wall and monitoring a compass heading might  be 
> a problem.  Perhaps the easiest cure is a tiller extension - get a large  
> compass and get closer to it.
>  
> Regarding a wireless depth finder: In poking around I discovered Humminbird  
> makes a PiranhaMax 30 that’s wireless.  I have no idea how well it works,  it 
> looks to me like a PDA display.  The ads don’t say it gives velocity,  
> distance traveled, etc, so it may not have all the desirable bells &  whistles, but 
> it might give depth.  
>  
> It's still not clear to me how you protect the electronic products  from the 
> weather and secure them, over the long term.  I understand they  are 
> waterproofed and weather proofed, but they are above all electronic, so over  the long 
> term I'd like to keep any display out of the weather to the  maximum extent 
> possible.  Also, I'd like to be able to secure it at  the end of the day.  I 
> understand how that's done with the Lowrance, but  not the Tridata or Humminbird 
> products.  It's a concern.
>  
> Regarding GPS, it seems like a mixed bag.  It seems a chart  plotter is a 
> goal, but it’s expensive and might walk away.  Also, if it’s  at the front of 
> the cockpit visibility likely will be a problem, if your  sailing a close course 
> unless a tiller extension will let you get closer to  it.  As with the depth 
> finder,  I’m not sure how you’d protect some of  the products, like the 
> Humminbird, from weather over the long term. I’m not sure  a handheld, or even a 
> laptop GPS system wouldn’t be enough to help you find  your way home in the fog, 
> several responders use handhelds successfully.  I  may wait on this and go 
> with a hand held or laptop for the near  term. 
>  
> Thanks again for everyone's input.
>  
> Dave
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