Trojan Boat Forum

i want to design my new helm look, i have electronics already, but since i dont travel much can you guys toss around ideas for reason and what you think is best, whats the reason for radar systems? is weather worth it? rudder sensors? etc....i dont want to spend 8-10 grand and i think alot of it is over kill, but some is a must, what do you guys think?

then tell us what you already have Jeff, then we'll spend your money for you...

Read up on Chapmans first....then you'll know a bit more about reasons for radar. Radar is useless if you don't understand or know how to use it properly. You can always learn about it's use later and decide for yourself.

Tell us your plans of your helm lay out. A good compass, vhf, and a basic knowledge of reading a paper chart would also be a good start.

i just have 2 garmin 441s the smaller screen ones cause i didnt like the split read and it was cheaper to buy another and fit better on my little boat. i looked into the fuel flow sensors before, so i bought my buddies network adapter when he changed eletronics over to lowrance. but now i have a bigger boat that i could maybe go far away in if we wanted to. i agree about learning to read paper and i am. I have a decent compass new in the box. a brand new vhf in the box. its just killing me that all this stuff is in the new cell phones now. basics that is. i dont want to spend time and $ hooking up fuel, rudder sensors if they are subject to fail or not accurate. i hate to buy a new big screen setup unless i had to. helm setup i would like to have what someone showed me a couple weeks ago from form ebay, guy had all his switches and breakers on the lower panel. then fabricate a custom dome on the dashboard for elctronic screens, and put gauges where the factory switches are now.

from reading the info on your 441's, I'd go with flow meters. As far as radar goes that all depends on your use and needs, I held off for a couple of yrs on mine (book keeper didn't see the big deal) then on a trip heading up the bay with Paul (has radar) some summer boomers sprang up he took us between the cells and kept us from getting soaked and out of the lighting, But that changed the book keepers mind ..

And how that you have it its a must ! I won't go with out it.

jefflaw35 wrote:i want to design my new helm look, i have electronics already, but since i dont travel much can you guys toss around ideas for reason and what you think is best, whats the reason for radar systems? is weather worth it? rudder sensors? etc....i dont want to spend 8-10 grand and i think alot of it is over kill, but some is a must, what do you guys think?

Been watching your progress and have formulated this view, based on your enthusiasm to do more and more.....

I think you should spend as little as possible on it because it is only a 25' boat and once you start using it two footitis will "bite you".
You want to have some $$ left so you can upgrade and no matter how much you put into that 25 footer buyers only put so much into small boats.
Who wants a Cadillac in a Smart car body:?:

So let's have this thing in the water running by May 15th.....

Then we will help you deal with trading up to a larger flybridge model

Jeff. your compass will be an improtant part of your helm set up. You need to know the do's and don't of compass installation. Is your compass a reverse reading or direct reading? will it be mounted directly in front of the helmsman? Parallel to the fore and aft centerline of your vessel? Away from electronics, speakers, wiring or any other influance that will cause excessive deviation? Will it need to be compensated when everything is in place?

jimbo36 wrote:Jeff. your compass will be an improtant part of your helm set up.

Compass... he don't need no stinkin' compass... he got two chartplotters.

ill have to look at the box when i get home, had it a while now, was only 80-90$ nothing fancy, dont know if i need both garmins, may leave one on the bayliner for when i want to use it. split screen that small is just annoying, ive got some reading up to do about compasses i suppose

yOU , seen to have lots of times on ur hands a boating safftey course woold be a good idea , you can lean about the basic like use of a compas and rule of the road .it helped me


im many states its d law to take one . hows about yours ?

yea we are taking it here soon, beleave it or not i work 60+ hours a week

I really like having a rudder indicator. I got the mechanical kind from Faria, I think it was about $100ish. Works great and pretty simple installation.


Bob

Jeff, just be sure that hen can lay eggs, before you plan on scrambling some for breakfast...

+1 on most said here.
There are MANY good reasons for dual GPS units. I had 2 in my last boat, 2 smaller Garmins. Great for fishing with one screen dedicated to sounder only, and redundancy should one unit fail. I had one wired directly to the battery. And I Always carry a small hand-held garmin with fresh batteries. Doesn't mean you shouldn't do the proper boating and navigation courses. They are a Must!!
Redeye has a good point also..... Your going to have a very nice boat when your done!! It will be your mistress!! But will a 25 footer really be enough for your family in the future?? Footitis is real, I've suffered from it for 20yrs
Having said that.... if you plan to keep the boat for 10 yrs, radar is Awesome for many reasons. Some of my best fishing was done in Fog as thick as pea soup, never would have done it without it!! And I can fish into the evening hours and travel back in the dark confidently with radar.
The only reason I don't have radar now is no place to mount it.
As far as rudder angle indicator.... you can get Auto-Pilot like I have, comes with it built in!!!

Ron