Checkout my new blog "smartboats"

[goboatingnow]

Checkout my new blog Smartboats

Hi, all Ive started a new blog where Im covering topics like NMEA 2000, clever unusual boat gadgets and generally extolling the modern "electronic" boat. Unlike blogs focusing on big ticket items like radars, chart plotters, this blog will look at small clever items that full fill a need

Im only getting going, and welcome feedback. In between some quirky review of products, I will be trying to demystify certain technical subjects, put forward my views on current small yacht electronic technology and propose new solutions to old problems. If you'd like me to cover some topics, submit a request via the blog

Tweet too about it if you like it. You'll notice I don't promote my company or its activities, this is just me doing something for all those aspiring boat geeks out there.

Many know I am a full time Electronics Engineer, which many years of product development covering both marine and industrial arenas, especially in communications, network, monitoring and control systems

[atoll]

good stuff.......now about boiling my alarm clock in vinegar,so it tells the time better,so i can get a more accurate noon site fix...............

[colemj]

I would like to see a bit about anchors and Water boats">blue water boats. Those don't seem to get much coverage anywhere.

Mark

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by colemj

I would like to see a bit about anchors and blue water boats. Those don't seem to get much coverage anywhere.

Mark

And guns. Don't forget the guns.

But seriously, thanks Dave. Look forward to reading the blog.

[Ex-Calif]

You need a "What's the best XXX" section. Because we all agree on

The best anchor
The best boat
The best winch handle
The best Peanut Butter

(BTW - I avoid those thread like the plague...)

Nice concept. I would suggest a theme rather than "random" thoughts.

e.g. - NMEA maybe 3 concepts - Minimal boat, medium and maximum. Why would I want NMEA network on a small boat? What would I add first? What are the advantages etc.

What would I do with $1,000, $2,000, $5,000 to get the biggest buck bang?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

You need a "What's the best XXX" section. Because we all agree on

The best anchor
The best boat
The best winch handle
The best Peanut Butter

(BTW - I avoid those thread like the plague...)

Nice concept. I would suggest a theme rather than "random" thoughts.

e.g. - NMEA maybe 3 concepts - Minimal boat, medium and maximum. Why would I want NMEA network on a small boat? What would I add first? What are the advantages etc.

What would I do with $1,000, $2,000, $5,000 to get the biggest buck bang?

Good idea, given my interest in networks, I want to focus on NEMA 2k. Ie what can you add to these networks bedsides the usual GPS/AP/MFD stuff. ( and can you add usual cheap things, )

The randomness is kinda the starting point to see whats interesting. But given the title, Ill end up with networks one way or the other

Dave

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by skipmac

And guns. Don't forget the guns.

But seriously, thanks Dave. Look forward to reading the blog.

Yes Im looking for a Glock with a NMEA 2000 interface. That will definitely feature

dave

[HappyMdRSailor]

I can't believe everybody is ignoring the pink furling main in the room...

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Good idea, given my interest in networks, I want to focus on NEMA 2k. Ie what can you add to these networks bedsides the usual GPS/AP/MFD stuff. ( and can you add usual cheap things, )

The randomness is kinda the starting point to see whats interesting. But given the title, Ill end up with networks one way or the other

Dave

I am not nearly there yet but I am fantasizing about my wish list for the next evolution of comms on my boat. I have been thinking about how networking can help.

The holy grail of equipment for a small boat guy like me is integrated (one box) DSC VHF AIS Class B Transceiver. I cant figure out why someone hasn't got this done yet.

I also want eventually (probably not for this boat)

- SSB
- Sat phone
- EPIRB

So I can get the AIS transceiver in the Vesper 8000 and an NMEA 2000 network capability and a WiFi router. So far so good.

For Satphone I am curious about the Iridium Go! - I get another WiFi network on the boat but this one makes all my smart phone satellite phones! I recognize I can't take this in the ditch bag - that's an issue.

But if I can figure out how to make these pieces happy with each other - I now can "dumb" down the VHF to a relatively cheap DSC VHF.

My instruments are all "dumber" NMEA 0183 (Raymarine ST series) and I don't have wind, but the next piece of the puzzle is the iPad as a plotter bit - The Vesper advertises iPad interface capability.

Now of course the big "risk" here is putting all my comm eggs in a WiFi network solution and we all know how bulletproof WiFi networks are.

So I guess from a "small boat" guy perspective - I'd like to figure out what individual pieces I can piece together that makes sense. I mean I can see a couple grand investment - they are toys in many respects after all - if the communication functionality is there. But I am not a $10-15k guy. I wouldn't know where to put a chartplotter if I had one!

So I am at the beginning of the networking journey, I have more thoughts than research done at this point.

There is a Singapore twist to this. All boats have to report position in Singapore. The first generation system is called "HARTS" - It is a VHF tranponder, just like an airplane - It is interrogated by shore stations and reports position and identification. We pay (I forget the number) something like a $200 a year to subsidize the system in our boat registration.

You can forego that expense if you have AIS position reporting. Now for an $800 box that's 4 years. But the functionality of knowing where all the ships are is an added real benefit.

Anyway - sorry for the brain dump all over your thread - LOL (I think it is partially on topic?)