It depends on what type of yachting you do?

If you stay out overnight on weekends, or longer, then you will need a more comprehensive system than if you just day sail.

A two battery system is where I would start. Instead of having an engine battery and a deep cycle house battery, think along the lines of Two all purpose batteries, each battery can then be charges at the same time if you isolating switch was set to "Both"

Basic Instruments, a simple head unit that gives Speed and Depth in the one screen. Wind instruments are handy, but expensive. You can get hand held wind speed calculators.

There are a number of cheap Chartplotters with GPS included on the market. Once again it depends on your type of sailing.

We use a Garmin 72CX hand held GPS with Garmin Blue Chart Pacific charts linked thru a small laptop as a back up unit. This set up would be ideal for someone who already had a laptop.

The biggest problem with "electronics" is where does the budget stop?

Our particular yacht has all the electronics hooked into each other, Auto pilot directed by the GPS Chartplotter, Radar overlay, Auto pilot van be set to sail at a certain wind angle from the wind instruments, etc.

All this gear eats up batteries, so you then need solar panels, wind generator, etc.

Start small and think carefully before parting with your well earned cash. If you haven't needed it before, chances are you still don't need it.

Dusty

My set up is exactly where you should be heading. System is very simple.

One calcium battery from super cheap auto.

10 W solar panel plus $20 cut off switch from ebay.

Internal lights, LED bar strip /24leds-25cm long/ they so bright you can read the book,
for cabin put 2 of, just bought 20 strips cost $2.45 no postage /ebay.

Than fun starts hand full of switches from electronic or car shop.
Rated 10A min. more better. One bat switch 25-50A / you have pull start I guess/
Solid metal switches /must be /, boat is in rough place/
Each switch should have fuse rated 5-10A

Now, how many switches, seen the boats witch 10 even 20.
Use common sense, - Nav. Light, Steaming Light, Cabin 2 sections, Radio, Nav. Instr.
Power point, etc
I have a few extra 240 inverter with power point, deck light, compass light, fresh water pump, salt water pump, Stereo, etc.

It is better to have extra section protected with fuse, if something, happens in rough weather than flick the switch or fuse blows, the rest is functional.

I have Garmin chart plotter, tiller pilot, depth sounder, never run out bat. power.
/ even a week on the water /.
But it true I save power, at night on anchor switch off depth sounder, use only
GPS drag anchor settings.

Warning-never use cupper wires always must be "tinted".,
That's how easy it is!!!!!!!!

BlueMoon said...



That totals $675, but includes gear you may already have.

... and like a true sailor you're well on your way to a BOAT buck ...

G'day,
If your only going to be visiting marina's one night a month or so, I would just get an extension cord $20, & a cheap car battery charger & just hook up to your battery, which is fine if you are on the boat for the night to monitor it, imho you will only get problems with car battery chargers if you forget to disconnect them for a day or so, they could cook your battery??, thats what I understand....

If the boat lives connected to shore power, you will need a better thought out system which I know nothing about.
cheers

Charriot said...

I don't think you need it, but sometimes top up BAT.is OK. For long term shore power connection, you need smarter car charger. After full charge switch itself to trickle change.

++1