Opinions wanted - navigation programs/software and devices-gctid803492

[Dadrock33]

Possibly purchasing a 1998 Avanti 3685 and the only items not covered are the electronics - yep, they're the original. Chartplotter is a 1998 Raytheon RC620 (black & white), radar is a Raytheon Pathfinder SL70 and the autopilot is a Simrad Robertson AP11. I figure I'll have to update the Chartplotter to something more recent but really haven't even looked at either of them out on the water yet . . . that's coming up (she's still on the hard). Thought I'd get some opinions on stuff before "it hits the fan", as it were . . . :woohoo: She has 1998 Merc inboards 454ci, 380HP which I doubt have any electrical plugs on them to connect to Vesselview (or something similar) so that would probably be from scratch - as in start with a NEMA2000 network (which I did on my former 2452 so not a real problem there). The whole system is old enough that it may be an issue in itself. I have as yet to work on the dash and check things out on the backs of the items so there may be NEMA0183 connections there since the autopilot "might" work.

Anyway, before I start . . I'm leaning towards Lowrance or Simrad units because that was what I had on "Home Aweigh" and so I'm familiar with them. I want to get charting software too and those units can (or will) come with some of the more recent programs so I should be ok there. Also, I imagine someone out there is using Floscans on their engines . . . . any opinions? I hear the Cruisemaster 5500 is the way to go in that area but I'm still open to suggestions . . . . ok, that's it . . . . let'er fly!! :woohoo:

[kwb]

Where you will be boating will depend on what the recommendations will be.

I am a fan of not going with the dedicated systems in many cases - ipad and other tablet solutions are good. I have a garmin 741xs I bought for use as a depth sounder but the chartplotter is very good.

Fuel flow - get a basic idea of burn and use that rule of thumb for planning, live monitoring will be one of those things that you just don't really want to know. Put fuel in have fun, rinse and repeat, the CC company will keep track of how much you used.

[TenMile]

The electronics on your boat have likely reached their MTBF figure as they are getting close to 20 years. I wouldn't expect them to last much longer. You might get a couple years and that would be a bonus.

Stuff that old won't have N2K -- maybe early generation 0183.

Similarly, the engines will have all analog senders -- no ECU. You can convert the analog senders to N2K using one of the Noland, Actisense or AlbaCombi units (I have the AlbaCombi on my mechanical diesels).

Some thoughts -- because you've got gas engines, you can use the Lowrance EP65 fuel flow monitors rather than Flowscans -- they are roughly 1/10th the price and they will hook directly into your N2K network. The new Simrads have some detailed fuel consumption logging via a feature called TripIntel that replaces a dedicated fuel logger. Provided you have either a fuel flow monitor or N2k tank sender it can log your consumption and calculate MPG.

[Dadrock33]

"TenMile" post=803533 wrote:
. . . . .Similarly, the engines will have all analog senders -- no ECU. You can convert the analog senders to N2K using one of the Noland, Actisense or AlbaCombi units (I have the AlbaCombi on my mechanical diesels).

Some thoughts -- because you've got gas engines, you can use the Lowrance EP65 fuel flow monitors rather than Flowscans -- they are roughly 1/10th the price and they will hook directly into your N2K network. The new Simrads have some detailed fuel consumption logging via a feature called TripIntel that replaces a dedicated fuel logger. Provided you have either a fuel flow monitor or N2k tank sender it can log your consumption and calculate MPG.

Thanks, Terry . . . appreciate the info on the "analog to digital" units . . . are they pricey? . . . imagine the labor to install is . . :S

I like the way you're thinking . . . I was on the same path but have heard some horror stories about failed gas flow sensors from Lowrance, mostly rumor but still concerns me a bit . . . definitely cheaper . . . I have one that I was going to put into my former boat but she got away before I got ready to install - so I already have one!

[Guest]

Like kwb said what kind of boating are you going to be doing and where?

[GearGuts]

I upgraded the electronics in my 3888 three years ago to the Standard Horizon CPN 1010i up top and the CPN 700 below. They are awesome units with tons of features, internet, bluetooth, wifi, ethernet-radar, nmea 2000 and 0183 connections and lots more. The only thing it doesnt have yet is the fancy sidescan sonar... I am using the garmin gfs10 fuel flow meters and they work great but you dont get all the features they say they have unless their connected to a Garmin unit.

[Dadrock33]

"crazy_russian" post=803659 wrote:
Like kwb said what kind of boating are you going to be doing and where?

Yeah, guess I should've mentioned that . . . . as of right now (heaven knows how long that'll last), we're planning on staying around the Chesapeake Bay while we learn the NTU (new to us) Avanti that were looking at . . . . hopefully, we're planning a trip down to see the boy and family at Virginia Beach sometime within the next couple of years (Navy SCPO).

[dmcb]

Before you do anything I would check the auto pilot. If it works, leave what drives it alone. Upgrade if you want but keep what works alone.

Even if you have 0183 on the new unit, they may not like each other. My auto pilot says it has 0183 but it will not work well with the newer GPS. It works sometimes but not all the time. That means to me it doesn't work at all.

If the radar works I wouldn't worry about an upgrade. You most likely will use it only to avoid other boats or other things close to you. Most any working radar will do that. Just my opinion.

Doug

[TenMile]

The Analog to Digital devices run roughly about $500. As mentioned, I have the AlbaCombi unit and I don't think I'd advise purchasing that unit any longer as I've not had great success it getting it to provide reliable readings. It programs via a Web interface using a browser which is great, however, support does not exist and if I could get my money back I would... I think the Noland or ActiSense units have a better support system around them.

Labour is relatively simple. You mount the unit and run wires off the back of your existing analog gauges. For functions that you can't currently monitor with an existing gauge, you can hook directly to the unit from a sensor that either exists or that you install.