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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution, NonCommercial, NoDerivs 2.5 License.

You should also contact SEA, Inc. they bought Datamarine (or some part of it, I'm not clear on the details) and have their instruments listed on their website at:

http://www.sea-dmi.com/datmar/index.htm

My B&G Hornet and Hecto will celebrate their 23 anniversary this February and have worked flawlessly. I added a NavAid which is a NMEA repeater and a RaceRepeater which computes true wind data. They don't do NMEA 183, but there is a firm in the UK which will supply a black blx to translate the Hornet and Hecto B&G language into NMEA 183.

I believe the AWI and the Transducers are compatible with more recent models.

I have replace 2 or 3 LCDs in their lifetime, but based on my experience I consider these to be among the most robust and well designed instruments out there. Expensive at the time, but amazing service!

I hoarded some speed log impellers and sent one to a sailor on the left coast who said they are not being manufactured. Mechanical things fail.

We bought a 1994 46 Nordhavn a year ago that has a mix of Raytheon, B&G, and Simrad equipment. The Raytheon depth sounder cuts in and out, the B&G wind speed/direction doesn’t work, and I don’t think the Simrad AP300 autopilot could hit Alaska from 5 miles off shore and it’s lcd screens are almost all blacked out. Everyone I talked to about repairing the units said that the manufactures don’t support items that old, 12 years is too old for parts or support!, and it’s more cost effective to replace. So that’s what we’re doing with Furuno NavNet 2 systems. I want a proven, established technology and I don’t yet see the true value added of going to NMEA 2000.

I agree with Frank - manufacturers seem quite uninterested in even talking about the old stuff. My Amazon 44 came with a sick Robertson AP100 autopilot, and I have twice written to Simrad via their web form to see if service is available (or even a recommendation about what NEW product to buy!). No reply. I do like their products after having played with them at boat shows, but this doesn't inspire confidence in getting help down the road. And it's not just them... at this point, I'm choosing new products based more on support reputation than feature set.

Ben -- don't forget Moor Electronics of Buffalo, NY . My 1979 C&C Landfall 38 has the original Moor/EMS digital depth and analog speed instruments (of the old round type). Both units still work great, and Moor still supports the units, as well as selling new units with the same form factor. Great people over the phone, too.

Ben. How much of this market does Tacktick get?

I think if my instruments were on it's last legs in a sailboat from 18 to 28 feet (e.g. too small for a chartplotter or radar), TackTick would be a natural choice. Might even do the same in a larger sailboat and I was foregoing a radar and my focus was racing or daysailing only.

Instruments required? On a sailboat for me that would be depth, compass, watch and (two) handheld GPS's. Wind instrument would be a plus, but not necessary.

In addition to being wireless and solar powered, I might buy their instruments with an eye towards a concurrent or future purchase of a TackTick Racemaster.

Ben-
I'm still using a Datamarine International Offshore log and sounder and various remotes and they are serviceable by DMI Marine as you mentioned. Another dinosaur is my Wood Freeman autopilot, still going strong and still supported by Michael Freeman, son of Dr. Robert Freeman who invented and built it.
I've had so much trouble with my Raytheon/Raymarine video sounders and their Airmar transducers I'm reluctant to replace anything that works well and is still supported. Raymarine's flat rate repair schedule for out of waranty units is closer to robery than customer support and service.

I have original Data Marine instruments - Wind direction and speed, depth, and knotmeter on my 26 year old Wauquiez Hood 38. DMI has repaired the depthsounder a couple of times, and the masthead wind indicatior once. The depthsounder was somewhat of a success, but I have never gotten the sensitivity to work right after the first repair, even with a new Airmar transducer (typical conversation, "No dear, it is not getting shallow, we are in 600 feet of water!"). It does work fairly well in under 100 feet of water, which is when we need it. The wind indicator repair was less of a success. I am going to replace the instruments with new this winter, and look forward to your article. Tacktick is not an option, a friend of mine had one fail after a couple of years, and Tacktick gave him no help.

BTW, I have a Moor analog wind speed indicator on my aluminum cat powerboat. It works well at anchor, but at 30 knots it shows 50.

Ben, our 25 year old Tartan 37 has all the original Datamarine instruments except that the old loran course plotter was replaced last year with a new one that works with GPS.The original knotmeter,depth sounder,"wind machine", and Log/Control panels have had minor repairs done by me like new paddle wheels for the knotmeter, replacing spade terminals etc especially on the wind indicator.The knotmeter does pick up sea weed, but that isn't critical since the GPS readings can be picked up on the radar in fog. I suspect that the wind speed reading is somewhat lower than normal, and I've had minor problems with the depth sounder alarm, but on a trip from Rockland to Criehaven last year it was reading up to 2oo feet where the pot boys were placed but wouldn't read where in nearby areas there were none, and it was probably where the craters exist in Penobscot harbor. My sailing partner that day was inpressed by this.

Who remembers Swoffer knotmeters? We have one on our Bristol Channel Cutter. Its a bear to keep clean but it generates its own power and has a big Meter. I just switched thru-hulls with plastic sleeve that Airmar sells with their model 650 knot meter. So if I do want to get with the 21st C I have the option. In the interim Swoffer still works!

Hi, I have an old data Marine Depth finder that just doesnt always work right so i'm wanting to replace it. I'm going to be using a depth/fishfinder with a thru hull fitting. My question is this, what do i do with the old transducer? Leave it there and just cut the wires, or should i try to remove it ( if there's a way )or drill another hold and mount another one near it?
I'd appreciate all the assistance i can get here.
It's going on a 1989 searay 38 aft with tunnels.
Again,
Thanks
harry

Harry, If the new transducer is larger than the old one (likely), or the same size, I'd sure replace it. If it's actually smaller, maybe there's a rational for leaving it, but I'd check on transducer choices. Unless, that is, that the performance problem is related to where the transducer was put in the first place. Doubtful, but suggest asking owners of similar boats, as well as DMI and Datamarine companies linked to above.

Hi - Like the Blog topic! We have vintage (25 yr. old)Swoffer instruments onboard and have served us extremely well - unfortunately the weak point is the potentiometers in both masthead and readout instrument. Bob Swoffer cannot source them anymore - any idea on who/where one might find some discarded/used parts etc...
Any help would be much appreciated - we love the instruments!

I want to find a vintage 70-80 Moor sailing instrument that no longer works. I want the aluminum housing they came in. Anyone help?

Datamarine Instruments and DMI Marine each have roots in the old SEA-Datamarine company, and I’ve had experience with both, including buying new instruments and having repairs done on older instruments

In 2006 I bought a new NMEA-enabled wind indicator from Datamarine, which they said was the last one they had in stock. It’s plug-compatible with the older non-NMEA units, and uses the same MHU. Like most contemporary wind indicators, it will display true wind as well as apparent, if you feed it water speed. Additionally, I have one of their NMEA-enabled depth indicators, which can display heading from my Raymarine autopilot as well as depth. It appears Datamarine simply acquired the inventory from the predecessor company, and has pretty much exhausted the new products at this point, although when I ask, they’ll say “we’re out right now, but should have some in about two months”.

DMI, on the other hand, actually has made new Phoenix knotmeters and depthsounders for several years, which are similar to the most-recent Datamarine equivalents, but have more bells and whistles – including neat internal NMEA 183 combiners, and two NMEA outputs, one of which transmits only the instrument’s own signal, and one which transmits all signals present in the instrument. I currently have one of their knotmeters on my sailboat, and love it. Fits right in the old Datamarine hole, but gives lots of data I didn’t previously have, like VMG.

DMI has been saying for two years that it will introduce a wind instrument that worked with a smart NMEA MHU, but that hasn’t happened yet. Last month, however, they announced two new configurable NMEA displays with 4.5” square form factors. The Cameleon SEA-M is a wind/speed/depth indicator for $475, and the Camleon SEA-R is a nav repeater, also $475.

Up to now, DMI has had an interesting niche business focused on owners of boats who had previously installed 5” round Datamarine instruments. There’s a lot more competition in the crowded market for 4.5” square instruments, however, and I can only wish them well.

http://www.datamarineinstruments.com/
http://www.dmimarine.com/

Hi gentlemen:

I am a boater and I was exclusive importer of Datamarine products in Brasil during 90s and still have some brand new instruments, like Corinthian, Lx 201, etc and want to clear my inventory

If there people interested on them, please drop me a line.

Thanks a lot

Miguel G Neto
mgneto@ig.com.br

I have an old Kenyon Marine Knotmeter. Where can I find replacement for the sending unit?

Thanks, Osvaldo.

My 1981 Tartan 37 sailboat still has 25+ year old Kenyon Depth, Knots and Wind instruments. Depth and knot meters continue to work flawlessly, without ever having been serviced at least since I bought the boat in 1992. Unfortunately, the AWI needs some service, but possibly only new wiring, since the masthead connectors are all bent and corroded. Does anyone know of a relieable service center for Kenyon??

Just found your site, Yes, I have datamarine instruments on my 1980 C&C 36 and yes I had DMI service them a few yrs ago. Since rebuilding the wind instrument it now kinda buzzes but the guy at DMI said it was normal, it has different levels of noise and sometimes while sailing it is noisy, I kinda like the noise of wind.

I am glad they are around so I can have a source for new pin wheels for the knot meter. Now the depth is being a not so accurate instrument and in the San Juans that can be a handicap, thou I mostly rely on charts and coastal navigator.

I have probably spent about 25% on these instruments oppossed to buying new wireless instruments and I might just do that some day in the near future.

I have a kenyon KS-200 Knotmeter and the paddle wheel is missing does anybody know where I can get one?

Does anyone out there have circuit diagrams for the Datamarine LX360Q wind instrument. The unit I have is flakey.

I just replaced the DMI instruments with ST60. I had installed a Raymarine chartplotter and the ST60 instruments are visible in a window on the chart.
I had installed the mast head transducer when I bought the boat a few yrs ago, but was waiting to haul the boat to change out the speed transducer. I decided to adapt the DMI transducer to the ST display to negate having to haul it out to replace.... After several attemps to adapt, the patient lives. The circuit attaches to the spade terminals on the back of the ST60 and has a BNC connector for the DMI transducer cable.

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/santana525/cal92/DMI.html

If you still need schematics, drop me an email at tom.calef@gmail.com.

I have all the old stock from datamarine, and all of their schematics. If you need any parts or information let me know!!

-Tom

I AM ABOUT TO BUY A NOS KENYON 35 MPH VITAGE SPEEDO (70'S) W/O SENDER..THINK IT WAS PADDLE...CAN YOU GET ME ONE??

Sometimes when I show up at a boat, I feel like the "Grim Reaper" replete with a black hood, and sickle. I stare at the nautical museum of antique navigation instruments with blackened LCD diplays, depth flashers, and paper recorders, Yeomans, radar displays with hoods, and SSB's that haven't operated for a decade, or more, and the ilk. I study the hopeful look of anticipation on the owners face, and shake my head. This isn't going to be pretty. All to often, the answer is to tell the owner that the device should get it's affairs in order, and call Hospice. From the installers viewpoint, in most cases, the costs involved, in even locating some place that might be able to fix it, will cost more than replacing it with new. As mentioned above, the life span of serviceability of equipment is all to short. In an odd way, the much older equipment, has a better chance of being fixed, than the middle aged equipment. The real old stuff didn't have circuit boards full of surface mounted devices (SMD's) assembled by a robot, and if you can identify the problem, finding a new part, and soldering it in can fix it. I call this the "If we had some bread, we could have a ham sandwich, if we had some ham" syndrome. On a SMD board, not so much, replace the board, or write it off. I would love to see a compiled list of companies who can still do these repairs, on some of the old gear. I would like to offer some affordable hope. No I'm sorry, you can't get a new mic holder for a Raymarine 215 VHF, try some Velcro, or buy a new radio. I think this is a good idea Ben, and the comments above show the need. Tnx Bill

Hello,

On this note, I have a brief history of instruments at http://www.iexpedition.org/history.html

It is biased to sailing, but is interesting nonetheless.

Nick

Regarding you 2007 posting, I believe offering to sell your Swoffer knot meter, by any chance if not yet sold, what are you asking for it?

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