Electronics for my old boat???? HELP
Emma Starr
My boyfriend and I are the new owner of a 1967 Glastron boat which is in
perfect condition except...no electronics :( I would like to know
what is the best GPS, Fish Finder, etc. for the best price. I don't want
something that is cheap... I know you get what you pay for... but I also
don't want something that is overkill or costs me an arm and leg. I think
I prefer mountable to handheld. The man that sold me the boat also gave
me a Midland CB... is that what I would use on a boat a CB??? I have a
cell phone and plan on getting vessel assist... so can someone tell me
what exactly I need and who has the best mailorder deals. My father who
is quite the seaman is going to show us the ropes so we have that
covered... but he knows where to go by that ol'seaman instinct. HELP!
Thanks... em*
Jim Pook
In article <52naqb$m...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sounds like when I bought my boat a few years back...
I will assume that you are using your boat in salt water.
The two things I would buy first is a good quality VHF Marine radio (and
antenna), and a good graphics type depth/fish finder.
You need both, and I would be concerned about going out in a boat without
either one in good working condition.
VHF Marine is not a CB radio. Most important, it will give you direct
contact with the Coast Guard and other Rescue people, as well as other boats
near you. You can use it to save your life, or get the latest weather and
fishing reports. Be sure to get a good quality antenna. This will make your
radio work at full potential. Avoid poor quality antennas. As for the radio
itself, make sure it has "all channels". Another good feature is two channel
scanning so that you can listen to say ch 16 and one other channel of your
choice.
Avoid button operated radios, get big dials, they are easier to adjust when
you are bouncing in heavy weather. One button to put you on ch 16 is wanted.
Fish/Depth Finders: If you don't fish, you need it to show you how much
water there is under your boat. If you do fish it does the above plus it
shows you fish.
I assume you boat has a compass - if not get a good one!
GPS: Very nice to have! I recently got a Garmin 45 handheld which I think is
great. They are not cheap, but if you can afford it, it is well worth having
AFTER you get the VHF, Depth Sounder, and Compass.
Tell us more about WHERE you run the boat, and what use you make of it, and
I can offer more details on what you need or don't need.
Good luck!
=============================================================================
- Jim Pook - Jim's Fishing Charters - The Fishing Guide Newsletter
#109 - 8460 Jellicoe Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V5S 4S8
Contact me about Salmon & Halibut fishing in SuperNatural British Columbia
E-Mail: jim...@vanbc.wimsey.com - Phone: (604) 433-8817
URL: http://vanbc.wimsey.com/~jimpook/index.html
Many men go fishing all their lives
without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
- Henry David Thoreau
=============================================================================
--
CKLINERT
In article <52naqb$m...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, emma...@aol.com (Emma
Starr) writes:
>My boyfriend and I are the new owner of a 1967 Glastron boat which is in
>perfect condition except...no electronics :( I would like to know
>what is the best GPS,
I have had two Magellan Meridian GPS receivers. The first one
quit after a few years of service, possibly because of physical damage.
The new one has had some intermittent problems, but has been ok
the last few weeks. The only problem is that I wish it had a bigger
display for use in the boat (easier to read).
Fish Finder, etc.
I have a humminbird platinum and I have had problems with the
transducer, and I put in a through hull transducer in the middle of
the hull to get it to work. It still loses lock sometimes in rough seas.
>me a Midland CB... is that what I would use on a boat a CB???
That's a joke, I use two VHF radios, one for channel 16 ( for calling
and distress) and one on channel 18 or 19 ( for monitoring sportfishing
boats). I will also monitor channel 17 now that the commercial
fishermen have started lobster season. It's always nice to be aware
of what's happening around you, and they are chattering on the
radio all the time.
By the way, when you apply for your FCC license, check all the
boxes for HF SSB and RADAR just in case you want to add these
to your installation later.
The biggest problem with my radios has been in-line fuse holders.
These corrode to an open circuit in a few weeks on an exposed helm.
I can't tell you to just eliminate fuses, but there must be some way
to come up with a weather proof fuse.
>cell phone and plan on getting vessel assist..
I belong to Vessel Assist (VAA) and they tell you to use VHF
radio not a cell phone. They say that they can DF (direction find)
you if you are lost by the VHF signal from your boat. I have never
seen this, myself, but there are always plenty of VAA boats around
when I go out.
Another problem I have had is with bait tank pumps. I have just
changed two atwood pumps that have leaked water into the motor
and corroded out. I just installed a rule delux computer controlled
pump, and I will give it a try. Also, I have had problems with bilge
pump switches. The rule float switches have had problems getting
stuck with dirt, either on or off, so now I just put a toggle switch
on my helm, and if I notice the back of the boat full of water, I just
turn on the switch myself.
If you go fishing every weekend, and have enough electrical
stuff on the boat, you will need to be fixing something every
week, or do without something on every trip!
Cliff
CKLINERT
In article <52o588$h...@vanbc.wimsey.com>, jim...@wimsey.com (Jim Pook)
writes:
>
>I assume you boat has a compass - if not get a good one!
>
>
I bought the Azimuth fluxgate electronic compass. I didn't
think of it before since it's the only electrical thing on my boat
that has worked perfectly from the beginning. It has a big
digital display that is easy to see, and compensates itself
automatically with its internal computer. Do you know
how to compensate a compass? ... But that's another
story...
Cliff
Gmfish
The first thing you need to do is take a power squadron safe boating
course. Dont spend any other money untill then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!