We've Got True Grit

Courage, determination, fortitude, guts, resolve, spunk, tenacity.  These are all synonyms for "backbone".  I've just learned of a new one.

Part of the work we're doing this winter involves laying in a NMEA 2000 networking cable ("backbone") and new instruments.  The "backbone" requires a bit of an explanation.  A while back the National Marine Electronics Association decided it would be in their best interest if they standardized communications between electronic components that are used on boats.  Good idea!  With everything using the same one's and zero's we can mix and match our electronics, using a Furuno chart plotter with a Raymarine radar.  For the consumer this was a really great thing as far as having a wider selection of gear goes but it was also great in that it simplified installation in a huge way.  Instead of having to run multiple wires for each piece of gear you can now run everything to a backbone cable that provides power and two way communication.  Some instruments will still need a separate power line but stuff like instruments can have one simple connection.  Not only that but our multi function display can interface with everything and control the radar, sonar and auto pilot from the same display.  It can also show information about other systems on the boat such as the engine, genset and battery bank providing information about oil pressure, temperature, rpm's, engine hours and power use.  And more.

Because of the backbone concept I decided to replace our Raymarine ST60 instruments (wind, speed and depth) which are probably original equipment from 2001.  The new instruments will all be Raymarine too.  Wind will be covered by the i60.  Functionally it's very similar to the ST60 but it will be able to communicate with the other instruments over the backbone.  A P70 will interface with the autopilot and share information with the multi function display.  We're also adding an i70 which is actually a small multi function display and can be programmed to display up to ten different functions.  We'll be using it for depth and speed but also to show rudder angle, genset and engine info as well as a number of other things.  This little display is so useful we decided to put a second one down below at the nav station which'll provide access to all the information on the system.  Right now if we want to know how hard the wind is blowing we have to go up into the cockpit to find out.  The basic controls, on/off, for the genset will be at the nav station but the gauges will be mounted in the cockpit.  With the i70 we'll be able to monitor the genset voltage, current, hours of operation, oil pressure, temperature and more from down below also.  A good example of these instruments talking back and forth to each other is their ability to change from day mode to night mode.  For night mode they have a red display that won't kill your night vision.  When you set up one of these instruments to display night mode they all instantly change over.

Another thing we're adding is an auto pilot.  This has a number of components including a linear drive which drives the rudder, a rudder position indicator which indicates the rudder angle, a digital compass and a course computer.  There's also the P70 controller up in the cockpit.  With the auto pilot we'll be able to set a course and it'll hold the boat to that compass setting.  We'll be able to go off and take care of other things while the boats sails itself.  Of course we'll hafta monitor it on a regular basis and keep an eye out for obstacles but it'll relieve us from the strain of having to man the helm constantly.  We'll have the freedom to fish, fly kites, take pictures, whatever, while the boat sails on.  Now that's pretty cool!  And another example of talking back and forth.....the rudder position indicator can send info to the i70 which will display the angle of the rudder.  This can be very helpful, especially when backing, which requires thinking in double-reverse-negative.  Or maybe that's just me and explains why I always run into things.

We're also adding an automatic identification system (AIS) , described like this:  "operating in the VHF maritime band, the AIS system enables the wireless exchange of navigation status between vessels and shore-side traffic monitoring centers. Commercial ships, ocean-going vessels and recreational boats equipped with AIS transceivers broadcast AIS messages that include the vessel's name, course, speed and current navigation status".  Nice!  It takes a lot of the guesswork out of navigating around other vessels and makes our boat more visible to others.  Bobbing around on the ocean waves we may not be seen visually or even show up on a radar screen but with AIS our location and name will be displayed and they'll know we're there.  If they're awake.

One other thing we're putting on this winter is sonar. It's actually a very nice fish finder that will give us a good indication of bottom features as well as fish locations, water temperature and depth.  We originally wanted a forward looking sonar but found that this is wayyyyyy out of our league price-wise.  I think this'll help to keep us out of trouble though.

Using the NMEA 2000 backbone will give us something else.  Our VHF radio has a feature called DSC which stands for "digital selective calling".  This is a semi-automatic way of placing calls on the radio.  You have to register with the FCC and be assigned an MMSI # which is specific to your boat.  This registration gives emergency contact information plus information about the boat and it's owner.  The VHF radio is connected to GPS using the NMEA backbone and in an emergency you can hit one button on the radio and it'll broadcast your information and location.  The Coast Guard monitors DSC as well as groups around the world.  With the GPS information you stand a much better chance of rescue than if you were just broadcasting a MAYDAY call.  In addition this DSC can be set up for personal use too.  You can do individual and group calls using MMSI #'s that have been pre-programmed into the radio.  If you're traveling with a group of boats (as we will be when we go to Bermuda) then you can keep in touch with each other using each of the boats MMSI #'s.

The new electronics available these days have really changed the boating world.  It used to be that if you wanted to go out in a boat you really had to know what you were doing.  You had to know how to read a chart, plot a course using celestial navigation, communicate with other boats using visual and audible signals, understand weather and more,   Now just about any idiot can go out on the water and drive a boat.  And they do.  There's a lot of these skills that I don't have yet but I'm learning.  I really like the huge amount of information you get with the new electronics.  What I don't like is the amount of learning required to use this stuff.  It's gonna take months to figure all this out.