Boat Talk

Garmin versus Raymarine in the Med.

2012-08-14T10:09:11Z

I am about to replace my aged systems with new Garmin or Raymarine.
Will be cruising the med , starting with Greece and Croatia.
was wondering if any body had comments about the availability of support and expertise in general through the med.

Quick Survey on XM Weather/Boat

2012-03-24T01:07:34Z

Hello All,

I am a student at The Univeristy of Alabama in Huntsville and I have teamed up with Baron services to find out more information on XM Weather service users (marine) .

If you use this product please take 3 minutes and answer a few questions below. Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated and needed.

If you have any questions or additional comments please email me at mbr0003@uah.edu. If you would like, you can also copy and paste the survey into a word document or email and send it to me.

Thank you for the help,
Miranda

The Marketing Management class at UAHuntsville is developing a strategic marketing plan for Baron Services. Please help us identify our market segment by answering the following questions. Thanks for your time.

1. Do you know about XM Weather ___ Yes or ___ No

2. Do you use XM Weather ___ Yes or ___ No

3. How often do you use XM Weather?
Never Frequently
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4. What level of subscription do you have for XM Weather?
___Aviator LT ___Aviator ___Aviator Pro ___Fisherman ___Sailor ___Master Marine ___Responder

5. How often do you use XM Weather during the week
__ Once or more per week __ Once or more per day

6. Which of the following items do you most often use to access XM Weather? (Check all that apply)
__ Garmin __iPad __Smartphone __Laptop

7. What parts of XM Weather do you use the most?
___Wind Sheer Detection ___High Resolution Radar ___Severe Weather Storm Tracking Other__________________________________

8. Do you use XM Weather for any of the following activities (Check all that apply)
____ Aviation ____ Storm Tracking ______ Fishing

9. How often do you participate in the following activities? Often Never
Flying an aircraft 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Storm Chasing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fishing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

10. Do you use any weather data service(s) other than Xm Weather? If you marked yes, please see question 11. ___ Yes or No___

11. Please specifically identify which weather data service(s) you use other than XM Weather. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The product being evaluated in this project is XM Weather provided by Baron Services. The following questions are geared towards
identify potential improvements with XM Weather and receiving consumer input.
12. How important is each of the following in determining your using XM Weather?
Least Most Important Important

Accuracy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Timeliness 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

13. Are you satisfied with XM Weather? ___Yes or ___No

14. Please identify where you feel XM Weather can improve? _________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

11. What age group do you belong to?
___ 20-29
___ 30-39
___ 40-49
___ 50-59
___ 60-69
___ Over 70

12. What is your gender? ___Male ___Female

Thank you for your participation.

GPS interference; the LightSquared Issue

2012-03-23T14:52:22Z

I CRY FOUL. The FCC's ballot box is being stuffed.
I have reviewed several hundred comments submitted to the FCC and find that the bulk of favorable comments. those asking LightSquared be permitted to continue, are bogus. While their email addresses are not available to trace,(a very simple process)several key indicators are apparent. Grammar errors are not those commonly encountered in letters from the public to government officials. Common names are being used, without middle initials. Intentional misspellings are frequent and repeated. First names are misspelled; Jaun for Juan, Marry, Jroge for Jorge.
We must act. Write, and re-write the FCC, and demand that emails be scrutinized.

chart plotter features

2012-01-29T22:26:38Z

I'm look for a mfd that allows me to customize the depth contour colors.

My understanding is the raymarine products and simrad products are limited. By the navonicics charts that they use.

Having the depth contours at 2 feet above my draft helps my wife get more comfortable with navigation.

Thank you

Fan Belt Alarm

2012-01-24T13:52:09Z

I have a Perkins diesel with an alarm/buzzer that goes off if it gets too hot or the oil pressure is too low. Along with this buzzer is a red light that comes on if these problems occur. I installed an alternator warning light to come on if my alternator fails or if the alternator belt fails. This alternator belt also turns the fresh water cooling pump on the engine. What I would like to have is for this buzzer to also go off if the fan belt breaks. In the bright sun the alternator fail light is hard to see and if only takes a short time for the engine to overheat when the belt does break. If I had this buzzer I would know as soon as the belt breaks instead of when the over temperature sensor turns the buzzer on. This oil press/water temp buzzer goes off when it receives a ground from either engine sensors so ideally I'd like to build a circuit, or buy a unit, that would also put out a ground to this buzzer if the alternator fails (belt breaks). Any ideas of designs? JC

Seldon Mast forestay fitting failures

2011-12-07T09:59:23Z

Seldon is trying to replace the forestay fitting on many of the following boat models that were built between 2004 and 2008 :

Arcona 460
Najad 400
Comet Pheonix 50
Falcon 44
Bavaria 46
Najad 405
Incistor
Van de Stadt 44 Phaff
Dehler 47 Rod
Najad 440
NIC 45
Van de Stadt 44 Pol
Elan Impression 434
Omega 46
Reflex 38 Option 2
Hunter 426
Finngulf 44 19/20
Pronavia 42 Sport
Southerly 42RS
Hunter 49
Hallberg Rassy 40
Salona 45
Van de Stadt 44
Saga 409
Maxi 1300
Sweden Yacht 42
Brouwer 45 Conv
Najad 460
Sweden Yacht 45
Etap 46 DS

Vessel wiring daigrams

2011-11-23T14:22:48Z

I am an ABYC Master Tech. I have been trying to find to inexpensive and easy to use software for creating DC and AC wiring diagrams for the vessels I have been working on. I would like to present something better looking than hand drawn. I would prefer software that is MAC based but do have a PC. Any thoughts/help would be appreciated.

Electrical Leakage Current Interupters

2011-08-18T01:10:55Z

i wou;d like to find a source for an Electrical Leakage Current Interuier to install on my boat. I read that all new boats built since 2010 sre required to have them and it seems like a good idea.

Not able to access THT

2011-08-07T00:23:52Z

I've only been able to access THT (thehulltruth.com) once the last 10 days.

I've tried using different PC's, browsers and ISP's but I can't access the site. Can anyone please tell me if the site is up?

ultrasonic antifouling system used in swimming pool

2011-07-12T06:44:25Z

Does anyone have any info on Ultrasonic Antifouling Sytems used the swimming pool？

Volvo D6 310 Type A Engine MNEA 2000 infromation

2011-02-15T06:43:13Z

I am trying to get information out of some volvo engine to a mnea 2000 network. Because of the age of the engines 2003 volvo say its impossible because they use proprietary can bus code. Has any one managed to solve this?

Many thanks,
Peter

TV Antenna

2011-01-28T23:45:57Z

Folks:

I am looking for a new over-the-air TV antenna (as opposed to satellite). Be big names appear to be Shakespeare (including Seawatch) and glomex.

I am lookign for antenna that can work well with our digital TV (including HD) and also connect to our FM radio.

Any experience/suggestions.

King Putt - The trawler man

My Harbours - Italy

2011-01-26T17:30:55Z

My Harbours is the first complete guide to the Italian touristic harbours for iPhone. The App provides all the technical and commercial information such as: coordinates, depth, VHF Radio, boat length, mooring and the public services and public authorities numbers. Italiano / English http://www.myharbours.com/pagina6.htm

Electrical Schematic Service

2010-08-05T22:26:18Z

Hello Panbo-ers,

I am prepping to upgrade and rewire my sailboat electrical system from the wire runs (ending at the panel) back to the batteries.

I've got the system design and hand drawn out but I would like to get it made into a schematic and at the same time have my design checked.

I could draw out something myself, but I would like a marine electrician to look it over to ensure it's right.

Any suggestions on a place/person to get this done?

Thanks,
Matt
www.svkaleo.com

e-Plex vs. Maretron N2K comparison

2010-05-28T18:17:30Z

I'm presently in the middle of a comprehensive refit on a 1971 46' aluminum ocean racer, including full electrical and electronics. I will really appreciate some informed advice from this forum.

Prior to the recent sale of e-Plex, we made a decision to install this backbone and panels for system monitoring, control of interior lighting and electronics and to enable shorthanded sailing by placing optical rockers for key functions at the cockpit helm. All the componenets are still in a box awaiting install so no trouble changing course if that's the right decision.

The ambiguity over e-Plex's future caused me to look at Maretron. It appears that Maretron N2K can do much of what the e-Plex was intended to achieve with the exception of controlling the lighting and powering up/down electronics. It also seems to have a solid reputation and foundation. This week I'm receiving assurances from BASS that e-Plex is in fact on solid ground.

I've made no decision on electronics and instruments yet, although I'm leaning toward N2K, ultrasonics and the usual cruiser/racer level of instrumentation and electronics. I still have to rewire the entire boat anyway.

So my questions are this:

1. assuming product assurances for e-Plex, is there enough benefit to this system to offset the risk of premature obsolecense?
2. does it make more sense to switch to Maretron N2K and its sensor portfolio and live without the niceties delivered by e-Plex?
3. does it make any sense for these systems to co-exist and if so, how?

Thanks in advance, all!