Need Electronis suggestions Gemini 105

[geoleo]

Hello sailors! I just bought a 1996 Gemini 105M. It has an older smaller Garmin MapGPS at helm , older Vhf, older 4000 Raywheelpilot with newer wheel mount, PO installed a Airmar P319-DT-6G 600 transducer which is unconnected as he was going to install a Garmin 4212 but did not. That is current situation. I am based in Clearwater and don't plan long cruises -perhaps to Keys and Panama City -depends on my health goes as I have been around a long time. LOL. So what to do electronically for both ease ,fun, and safety an far from least---COST. .??? I would like RADAR or AIS--- a large screen Chartplotter , but don't care at all about SONAR , one previous boat 7 years had a older used 17"HP laptop with a hockey puck and all us maps on a CD. kept the laptop plugged in all the time without a battery inside lol. Worked well. Also used it thru a Verizon "hotspot". Im allergic to smartphones too and want big screens. Suggestions please and thanks .

[Mr B]

Interested also,

[Pete7]

Cheap option, keep it all and just add AIS using Vesper 6000/8000 or Em Trak B100. Our Garmin GPSMAP 555 shows AIS quite satisfactory and has been our go to chartplotter for a decade.

Slightly more expensive would be to sell the auto pilot bits in the Spring as they still fetch good money but replace now with new Evo100 as there might be some winter bargains about. The new Gyro compasses are a generation ahead and chalk and cheese to the old fluxgate sytems. This would give you a very reliable autopilot for years to come. If you do the sums its actually cheaper to buy a complete package new and sell the bits rather than try and add components.

A bit more cost would be a new VHF and 9" chart plotter (CP), either RM or Garmin and link CP, auto pilot and VHF together with the AIS using NMEA 2000 or SeatalkNG if Raymarine, same thing just difference connectors. Keep old Garmin MAP at the chart table as reserve system on different fuses, just in case.

This was our approach with new Evo 100, refurbished Ray 50 VHF and Element 9 CP with Em Trak AIS. Easy to install and works really well together. May add radar in the future.

Pete