Navigation Systems

Being a bit of a romantic, I do wish I knew how to use a sextant… However, it must be said that the thought of acquiring, carrying and updating all the attendant almanacs, tables etc. does not really appeal!

So I’ve ended up with a GPS chartplotter as the core of the navigation system. I have, at last count, three back-ups (if I count my Nokia Navigator mobile phone…), including a floating, waterproof handheld with spare batteries inside a metal tin (insurance against lightning strikes…), inside the grab bag… I also carry paper charts, although it has to be said, they don’t get much use.

In addition to the NavMan 8084 chartplotter/sounder, the other components of the nav system are:

• Raymarine ST4000+ wheel pilot
• Raymarine ST60+ tri-data repeater
• Raymarine ST60+ wind instrument
• EasyAIS SR162G dual channel AIS receiver with integral GPS
• Brookhouse multiplexer with SeaTalk and AIS options and USB output (what a fantastic piece of equipment!)
• NavMan DSC-capable VHF with barometer and air temperature sensors
• NavMan Repeat 3100 instrument at the nav station

The chartplotter is mounted at the helm in a Navpod and the Autopilot and instruments are mounted on the forward cockpit bulkhead either side of the companionway.

I have the option to connect a laptop to the multiplexer’s USB port at the chart table, and run Digiboat’s Software-on-Board using a C-Map multi-media reader with the C-Map SD-card cartridge also used in the chartplotter. In practice the laptop gets little use as it draws 5 amps, more than all the other components together! It’s great for passage planning though, and handy to check resources on GoogleEarth or update this blog…