From the Travely-Family archive · Yacht, Sea and Equipment
Electronic Navigation Systems on the Yacht
An original publication from the former Travely-Family website. This English translation was preserved from the technical-site archive without editorial rewriting.
Electronic navigation systems on Lady Mary: AIS, NMEA converter, Wi-Fi, autopilot.
AIS.
AIS — Automatic Identification System
Equipment: AIS transceiver. Manufacturer: Digital Yacht
This unit is both a receiver and a transmitter for AIS signals. It requires an external antenna for transmitting and receiving. By connecting it through a special device—a splitter—it can transmit and receive via the external antenna of the yacht’s standard VHF radio.
NMEA converter
Collects signals from all sensors (GPS, wind, depth, speed through the water) and sends them to a Wi-Fi router. An iPad, MacBook, and smartphone, in turn, connect to the Wi-Fi router, and all the information is displayed in the navigation software.
Electric autopilot
Autohelm 6000
Comprises:
an electronic control unit, two displays with controls—one in the cockpit and the other in the wheelhouse, an electronic compass, a rudder-position sensor.
And also an electric hydraulic pump. Lady Mary has hydraulic steering, so the autopilot’s hydraulic pump is integrated into this system.
Interior display
It allows the yacht to maintain a set compass course and also serves as a “third helm” if the helms in the wheelhouse and cockpit fail.
Furuno radar
The radar detector is covered here >>
Yacht software. Our choice
Let’s say straight away that the main navigation device on Lady Mary is an iPad mini 2.
For reliability, we have three of them, with virtually identical software.
Our main current navigation app is SeaIQ Open.
There is one catch: In 2014, this was the only marine navigation app that allowed the use of free OpenCPN charts covering the entire world. The charts are quite accurate and freely distributed—in other words, at no cost.
The only drawback is that there are no updates. In December 2015, the developer of the SeaIQ Open navigation app released an update that disabled the use of charts from the OpenCPN project.
Fortunately, the cap has a silly habit: he reads first and signs afterward. So he first read what the software update would entail, and now keeps a zealous eye out to make sure nobody accidentally presses the update button.
The following backup apps are installed:
iNavX with Navionics charts, and Garmin BlueChart Mobile with Garmin’s marine charts of South America and the Pacific Ocean.
Advantages of the Garmin app (Garmin):
integration with the ActiveCaptain system. This system includes virtually every marina and most convenient anchorages, with descriptions of services, approaches, prices, etc.
the most valuable feature is the reviews and comments posted by registered users of the system.
AyeTides XL—tide information
Weather 4D—for viewing GRIB files (weather forecasts)
Squidd Mobile—when there’s internet access, it’s fun for checking the weather
Both MacBooks have OpenCPN installed with the charts described above; the same software and charts can also be installed on Android.
It is convenient to view GRIB files on a MacBook using PredictWind Offshore.
The Android version of OpenCPN has a handy anchor alarm—you can not only set a swinging radius, but also exclude from that circle, by intersecting it with another circle, an area you do NOT want to enter.
In particular, when we were blown aground at night at Coco Banderas after the wind shifted by 180 degrees, an alarm like that, had it been set, would have kept us from ending up in such a difficult situation:).
And what navigation systems do you have on board?
Other articles in the “Tech from the Cap” section:
Watermaker
Satellite Communications for a Circumnavigation
Radar Detector
Windvane Self-Steering
Fresh Water on a Yacht
How to Climb the Mast
Nauticat 40
Wishing everyone trouble-free equipment!
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