Navigation Instruments

The instruments on board will include, speed, depth, water temperature, GPS, wind speed and wind direction. AIS and marine radio are discussed elsewhere (see VHF, SSB, AIS and Satelite Communication. Radar is also discussed elsewhere (see Radar Replacement. The data from all of these instruments will be displayed on a multifunction display (aka chartplotter) on the steering pedestal bars and possibly a second chartplotter at the navigation station and possibly individual small displays in the cockpit. An electric autopilot will be used but that is discussed elsewhere (see Autopilot Selection and Installation.

Steering Pedestal Multifunction Display

The NavPod GP2050-16 Pre-Cut SailPod is pre-cut for the Raymarine Axiom 9 multifunction display (aka chartplotter). This display is compatible with quantum radar, chirp sonar, evolution autopilot, and many instruments. The display provides built in GPS. The NavPod and Axiom 9 have both been ordered and delivered not yet been installed on the steering pedestal bars (see Steering Pedestal Changes).

Navigation Station Display

Many cruisers today have a chartplotter inside the cabin, such as at the navigation station. This allows viewing charts, radar, AIS, wind speed and direction, boat speed without stepping out of the cabin. Another Raymarine Axiom, either a 9" or 12" display, might be purchased for this or a Raymarine Alpha display or OpenCPN might be used on a laptop.

Depth and Speed

A Raymarine DST800 Thru-Hull Smart Sensor has been ordered to replace the two existing transducers. This will replace the depth and speed instruments removed with the throttle and shift lever base. This transducer has been installed in the bow, forward of the keel. It has not yet been wired.

Wind Speed and Direction

The Raymarine wind transducer of choice is the Raymarine RSW Wired Smart Wind Transducer - E70670. These are about $840 at Defender. They can be connected directly to a NMEA-2000 or SeaTalk-NG network. This item has not been ordered.

GPS

Chartplotters have built in GPS. External GPS can be mounted on the top of a mast. These are more sensitive and accurate and draw less power than a chartplotter. Many AIS transceivers (see VHF, SSB, AIS and Satelite Communication) also have GPS and provision to use an external GPS antenna that can be mounted on a masthead. Any external GPS or external GPS antenna would be mounted on the mizzen masthead.

Other Instrument Displays

One or more displays may be mounted where they can be viewed from the cockpit. These will be the 4¼" square form factor. The Raymarine p70s Autopilot controller may be used and one or more Raymarine i70s displays may be used.

A common place to mount these types of instruments is on a pod over the back of the companionway openning. The main sheet traveller is mounted just forward of the companionway. Just aft of the traveller is a pair of small hatches, one on each side. Aft of the hatches is a pair of cabintop winches, one on each side. These hatches provide light and ventillation but make it difficult to lead lines to the winches without crossing the hatches (see Rigging Improvements). These hatches also make it difficult to mount an instrument pod. It might be possible to mount an instrument pod directly over the companionway as far forward as possible without interfering with the traveller. The instrument pod will need to be nearly 6" deep. If mounted too high it may interfere with visibility forward from the helm. Measurements will need to be taken.