Helm Ergonomics, control AND sharing
Once again the Maine Boats and Harbors show was a great chance to rejoice over how healthy boatbuilding is in my state, and to see some interesting electronics setups. This is a high end Sequin 52 built by Lyman Morse. I really like how the helmsman gets fingertip control over most everything, but the crew can also see what’s going on and easily help with the navigation. Left to right on the pedestal (bigger picture here) are a Maxwell windlass control, a remote for the Raymarine ST290 graphic instrument displays over the companionway (which can show most anything), plotter/radar on center, and finally thruster and autopilot controls. The big HSB networked display (now superceded by the E series) under the dodger means someone can, say, mind the radar in fog, selecting MARPA targets and otherwise assisting the driver. And there’s another 10” down at the nav station, so someone else could be, say, working on a route. All three could be using the electronics independently, except for sharing a single radar range, and everyone on board can know where they are on the chart, boat and wind speed, etc. Fairweather (good pictures there) even has an ST290 display mounted in the overhead above the owner’s berth, the modern version of a telltale compass. Looks like A+ ergonomics to me.
