Electronics Aboard

Stephen Fishman has kept the techno-babble to a minimum while retaining all that is important concerning Electronics Aboard. How a device works may not be necessary to your understanding of its use, but some things are simply interesting to learn. Stephen won't bore you with the details of how a microprocessor works or the theories of resistivity, but taking a moment to learn about sine waves and radio frequencies will be worth your time. Unlike many other electronics books, you will not be intimidated by the information you read in this book. It is written in a concise, easy to understand style.If you are the equivalent of a marine propeller head, run do not walk to the shelf where you found this book and put it back. You won't like it. But if you want plain-talk about truly useful equipment that can enrich your boating experience, you have definitely picked the right book.

Preface
This Book's for You

So you've bought the boat of your dreams and she's everything you hoped she'd be, right? Well, maybe not EVERYthing. There are the Coast Guard minimums – PFDs, fire extinguishers, a bell and such. And, it would be awfully nice to have an anchor to keep from running into something while eating lunch or swimming. A stereo would be pretty cool, especially if it has a killer sound system like the one in your car. Then there are other creature comforts like a bimini or small refrigerator and, if you really want to do it right, air conditioning.

While you're out on the water, you'll want to appear completely in control and totally confident so your passengers can relax and enjoy the ride. Of course, it would also be great if you really DID know what you're doing.

I recommend that you take a boating safety and navigation course, and gather the best help you can find. Surprisingly, some of the best crew is not human.

Your fourth cousin from way out west, who had to sit through eighth grade twice and thinks a red tide is colored laundry detergent, might be a great guy, but... The gorilla at work who thinks every problem can be solved with brute strength might one day get you out of a jam in high seas, but.... There is a plethora of electronics available to help ease your way and provide an elevated level of confidence even if you're new to boating.

Now, don't get me wrong. I like human companionship as much as the next guy, maybe more than most. After all, it's far more satisfying to command a human being than to push buttons on a digital display, especially when the task is something you've done a zillion times.

On the other hand, if you actually LIKE doing stuff yourself and enjoy the independence that can come from boating with a small crew, or none at all, then you're the type of skipper who can benefit the most from the current crop of electronics for boats.

Today's marine electronics are more sophisticated and easier to use than ever. They provide more reliable navigation, longer-range communications and an increased level of safety for everyone on the water. There are also more manufacturers than ever before in the market place, offering more models and options in a constantly expanding range of prices.

No doubt about it, the price is down and the value is up when it comes to marine electronics – way up. But with so many models, how do you choose? What makes one depth sounder better than another? Why does one chart plotter costs $600 and another is four times as much? What's the deal with antennas? Can one manufacturer's autopilot connect to another vendor's GPS? The questions are as endless as the choices.

This book won't tell you which brand of radar you should buy, and it won't justify the expense of a higher priced radio over a cheaper one. What this book will do is help you become is a better-informed consumer and a more knowledgeable skipper the next time you consider adding to your on-board electronics. At a minimum, you'll be able to tell in a moment or two if a salesperson in a marine store knows what's what when it comes to marine electronics.

Okay. You've met the U.S Coast Guard safety minimums and you've even added a few extra PFDs. The bimini is in place over the cockpit so you won't fry your brains in the heat of the summer, the fridge is ready for your favorite drinks and now it's time to consider installing equipment that can make your boating life easier, safer and more enjoyable. So where do you start?

A VHF marine radio? A knot meter and depth sounder? After the basics, you might consider an autopilot. What autopilot would be complete without a GPS to tell it what to do? Why stop there? Why not a chart plotter or, at the very least, electronic charting software for your notebook computer? No portable computer? Well, what are you waiting for?

Going offshore? Don't leave home without a single sideband or a ham radio – or both! A satellite telephone would keep you in touch with your daughter at school while you're in the midst of a passage from St. Martin to Antigua. Whew!

Do you need all this stuff? Nope! Could you use all this stuff? Maybe. If you tried really hard. Would it make you a better skipper? Not a chance. But these gadgets would clutter up your cockpit and aggravate the devil out of you when they didn't work right. They will cost you a bundle and keep your local marine supplier VERY happy.

The most important thing, is that all this stuff would probably diminish the experience for you and everyone else on board. It would be pretty tough not to be preoccupied with buttons, dials, displays, interconnects and calibrations.

Unless you're going offshore alone, you just don't need it all, maybe not even then. You can sure use some of it even if you never leave the protection of the bay. Hopefully, what gear to buy and how to use it is what you'll get out of spending a few dollars for this book and a few hours reading it.