Nav Station & Helm

You only need to know Myron for a short time to recognize that he helps out a lot of folks around the marina. Problem solving, it is in his nature. That problem solving social network keeps him informed of good deals on used equipment. As a result, we now have a dual chart plotter function and NEMA 2000 network. We have an AIS (Automatic Identification System) VHF radio and Garmin 546 GPS chart plotter at the nav station that is networked with the RAM (Remote Access Mike) and Garmin GPA Map 441S at the helm. Our Raytheon radar is stand alone because it is not of a vintage conducive to networking.

The radio/RAM mikes are also connected to our hailer on the main mast, which gets exercised when the weekend water warriors are disruptive to the marina. But I digress…

From Nav Station & Helm

A little about AIS and RAM – Commercial ships are required to transmit information about their vessel, such as name, heading, speed and destination. Our AIS equipped radio receives that information. It does not broadcast anything about us. When we cruised before, foggy days or night encounters with cargo ships could be unnerving to visually or audibly ascertain heading of these behemoths. AIS takes all the stress out of that interaction by showing us distance apart and whether or not we are on a collision course. There is an audible alarm should we be on a collision course. The AIS also gives us a ship name to hail on the radio as well as the ability to call the ship digitally, which is recorded on their system. The RAM at the helm has a digital readout in the mike itself and the ability to controls the radio channels, volume, and even the hailer from the helm.

A little about the Garmins – They are both GPS chart plotters. We can chart a course and see our progress against that course. The course and progress can be viewed at both stations. In addition, some of the fish finder data on the Garmin at the helm (depth and water temp) is shared with the Garmin at the nav station. Data on bottom contour is only displayed at the helm.

From Nav Station & Helm

It appears we will not add wind. Many cruisers mention that they do not use their wind instruments. It is an expensive addition and another difficult run of line up the inside of the mast. We will likely pass it up. Rather, we can use tell-tails and do visual comparisons to the Beaufort scales and leave it at that, unless we get a hand held wind instrument. Always subject to change if Myron helps someone out and we get wind instruments out of it!

In addition to the nav station network, we have outfitted with a Kenwood TS480 HAM radio, a Super Tuner, and just recently, a Pactor for email transmission over the HAM. Myron ran a sloper antenna from the main mast to the deck and he has been able to make contacts as far as Montana from right here in the marina. Myron has already hooked us back into the Maritime Mobile HAM net.

Yes, it is hi-tech. Not to worry, we still have old school: A Ritchie helm compass, a sextant, a watch, paper charts and a pencil.

From Nav Station & Helm

From Nav Station & Helm