Navigation electronics

Boat › Navigation electronics

The chartplotter, or multifunction display (MFD), at the helm is the heart of a boat's navigation electronics. The GPS antenna, radar, sonar, autopilot and compasses all feed it over an NMEA 2000 network, and it shows everything on one screen. This is the system Raymarine designed for my boat Renko: select a part of it, or a topic from the list.

Chartplotter (multifunction display)

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A multifunction display brings chartplotter, sonar and engine data onto one screen. I install a Raymarine Axiom Pro, joining the side-scan transducer cables, wiring power through a fuse and running the first-time setup.

NMEA 2000 and SeaTalk NG networking

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NMEA 2000 lets your GPS, depth, wind, engine data and autopilot share one network. I build a Raymarine SeaTalk NG backbone, test it with a multimeter and use LEN ratings to decide where to feed power.

External GPS antenna

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A chartplotter's built-in GPS can be less reliable and accurate, especially inside a steel or aluminium wheelhouse. I fit an external Raymarine GA150 antenna with a clear view of the sky to get a better position.

Radar

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Installing a Raymarine Quantum 2 Doppler radar and aligning it to the boat's heading, and making a small boat show up on other vessels' radar.

Sonar and transducers

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Installing sonar transducers, from Raymarine RV-320s through the hull to a Wi-Fish on the transom, and searching with side-scan sonar.

Autopilot

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Fitting a Raymarine hydraulic autopilot to existing hydraulic steering, so a pump can move the steering ram. I add check valves, T-pieces and new high-pressure hoses, then set the system up at the dock.

VHF radio

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A marine VHF radio works far better at sea when it's installed properly. I choose where to mount it, check the 12 volt supply copes with up to 6 amps when transmitting, and tune the antenna.

Sea charts for coastal navigation

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Electronics can fail, so it's worth being able to navigate with a paper chart. I show how to read depths and bridge heights, plot courses with a parallel ruler, and convert between magnetic and true bearings.