Marine Electronics

As little as thirty years ago, marine electronics was in its infancy, at least as far as pleasure
boating was concerned. Chart Plotters and GPS were unheard of, radar was uncommon and an
expensive luxury and logs were mainly mechanical. Most boats electronics kit probably consisted
of an echo sounder and maybe a radio direction finder or Decca.

What a difference a few years makes! The electronics revolution has provided boat owners with a
confusing assortment of sophisticated equipment which unquestionably improves the performance of
their boats and increases the safety and convenience of life on board. The difficulty is to
choose the right products for the particular job and to make sure that they are correctly
installed and compatible. There is no room for carelessness or short cuts in the world of modern
marine electronics. They depend on very sensitive radio receivers and data handling circuits and
have to amplify and process weak signals, while being able to cope with radio and electrical
interference. The materials must be able to stand up to fatigue and especially corrosion when
exposed to water and sunlight. 

The Equipment

Batteries

These are a crucial element in a vessel's electrical system, but the huge array of different
types, terminology and cost make it easy to make an expensive mistake by choosing the wrong one.
A battery designed for one particular use may not be suitable for another. A battery used for
starting a diesel engine must discharge very high currents in short bursts, while a battery used
for lighting or running a fridge will be discharged more slowly but for a longer period. Getting
it right requires not only common sense, but knowledge; and it is worth investing in good advice
from an expert.

GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) 

Though initially for the benefit of commercial shipping, nowadays the majority of recreational
sailors have a DSC/VHF radio for communication and for summoning help if in difficulty. 

GPS and Chart Plotters 

Electronic position fixing takes much of the time and effort out of finding out where you are,
and has now become widely used in the world of recreational boating. In my opinion though, it
should never completely take the place of paper charts. Remember that whilst the GPS may be
accurate, the chart may have been taken from terrestrial data, leading to inaccuracies between
GPS and chart. 

Radar 

Radar equipment is becoming steadily more affordable and easier to operate. Whereas a few years
ago it would usually only be found on larger boats, the advent of the cheaper LCD systems and
compact antennas has brought radar within the budget of most recreational small boat owners.
There is a vast difference though between a budget set and a top-of-the-range model. Choose one
which really suits your needs. 

AIS (Automatic Identification System) 

Now used extensively on commercial vessels over 300 tonnes and on most passenger carrying
vessels, many recreational boaters have started using AIS thanks to low cost Class B transponders
and 'receive only' systems. AIS has probably made the largest improvement in marine navigation
safety since GPS became affordable over 25 years ago. 

Computers 

These are being used more and more on board. They can be used as a tool for navigation, weather
forecasting, communication and entertainment, but think what you want to mainly use it for and
research the best ones for the job. They do tend to be a bit more costly if you want waterproof
computers or waterproof cases. There is also the option of using Ipads, as they take up less
room. You can buy cheap Apps for them, but they might not link up so well with the rest of your
equipment and could be more vulnerable to water/ knocks etc. 

EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon) and PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) 

There has been a huge growth in the use of these, with 40,000 emergency distress beacons
currently registered in the UK. This has been due; to a large extent, to reduction in cost and
technical innovation. 

Network Instruments 

Individually the instruments on your boat are able to provide you with a huge amount of useful
data, but linked together they can exchange information between themselves and their capacity
becomes much greater. For example, your chart plotter can be integrated with other electronic
equipment so that not only do you see your position, but also the position of other vessels
(transmitting on AIS), an overlay of radar information and overlays of tidal, wind and weather
data. 

These are just some of the marine electronics which will help you to enjoy safer and more
comfortable voyages. There are many useful websites which will keep you up to date with the
latest gizmos. Remember the field of marine electronics is growing rapidly, so do keep up with
the trends, unless of course, you are a traditionalist and like to work things out for yourself
(nothing wrong with that). Whatever your preference is, enjoy your boating.


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If you would like to know more about Marine Electronics
(http://www.theyachtmarket.com/services/marine-electronics/ ) please visit The Yacht Market. On
this site you will find all you need to know about boats and boat services.

Posted by Stow Away Marine

Loving Nature: Load Up Your Bags For A Thrilling Beach Camping Vacation

When you start getting ready for a holiday getaway from a long, continuous period of work or
school, you normally imagine yourself tossing swimsuits, containers of sun block, shades, and
flip flops into your empty travel bag in anticipation of a calming moment at the beach. Perhaps
you can also picture yourself pulling your warmest tops and thickest coats from the closet for a
much cooler trip to the mountains and ski resorts. Vacations are usually devoted to having as
much rest, recreation, and relaxation as you possibly can, and beaches and winter resorts are one
of the most preferred places for such purposes.

There are times, however, when you become inspired to find the beautiful outdoors rather than
accommodations at resorts or elegant hotels. Being around tall trees, bushlands, lakes, and some
curious creatures has a charm of its own-not to say living temporarily away from a tent, building
and sitting around campfires, cooking meals over an open fire, and discovering the wilderness.
When that drive to leave the city and throw yourself in the woods hits, it would be a great time
to round up your family and friends and head out for a beach camping experience.

Camping activities are some of the best holiday attractions. Individuals from all over the world
come to enjoy the different recreation that can be done including swimming, fishing, kayaking,
surfing, walking, or making time to relax on some of the wonderful surrounding beaches.

Apart from the beautiful beaches, some holiday parks are also popular for an abundance of
wildlife. This is one holiday adventure where you are certain to see a kangaroo-or even
five!-during your stay. Other wildlife like kookaburras, parrots, possums, and even bandicoots
are known to visit campsites and dolphins can also be simply seen in the beaches.

The famous National Park is one of the most visited parks and is well known for its biodiversity.
The park has 207 species of birds, 39 native terrestrial mammal species, over 400 flora species,
and a healthy number of kangaroos that would simply make your vacation pictures a lot more
remarkable.

Guests can decide to use self-contained cottages, self-contained cabins, or camping grounds that
are perfect for shorter camping stays. Camping out can give you a traditional caravan park
camping encounter filled with fireplaces, pet admission, and the great outdoors-the makings of a
fun and memorable holiday trip.


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Are you tired of continuous period of work and searching for a place to have fun and relax? Check
out http://durrasnorthpark.com.au/pebbly-beach-camping-ground-alternative/ and explore the wild
and beauty of nature.

Posted by Stow Away Marine

S.O.S – Safety of the Ship

Ahoy! Captain, setting sail? Checked the direction of the wind? Have you restocked your supplies? How’s she doing? Are you sure she’ll be fine on these waters? Positive? You can never be too sure when braving any kind of waters, even in a pond. Many a time it has happened that unsuspecting individuals find themselves neck deep, and no one to hear their distress signal. Although it is for cases like these it is advised to learn how to swim, the loss of a trusted boat, hurts nothing less than the loss of a lover.

It is for prevention of that feeling of loss and also of a sizable investment, that it is all the more necessary to get proper services from authorized dealers with safe, reliable and sturdy gear/equipment. Although good dealers are difficult to come across, here is a quick guide which will make it a lot easier and allow you and your dearest to freely set sail with no worries.          

Quick guide for safely setting sail

·        Surfing the webpage

Checking the vendor’s webpage is a quick and easy way to check their products and service offerings. Don’t be carried away by classy or edited images. In this case of products a simple authentic picture of the product will tell you more about what you’re looking at and is more beneficial than images which are for representation purposes only.

·     
 Get some feedback

In case you are buying a boat or getting some servicing its always a good thing to ask around for some feedback. Checking reviews from a local directory or on the internet is a good option, but when dealing with boats and the like, personally talking to previous customers will give you a clearer picture of your supplier and what you can expect.

·      
 Comparing with peers

The best comes at a price, but that shouldn’t mean you go for the highest bid. Contrasting and comparing various products from a number of suppliers will not only give you a good deal but also provide you with some basic understanding to judge a good supplier. 

·         HIN  

This is a must know for any captain-to-be, H.I.N stands for Hull identification number and can be found on the transom (the stern of the vessel). Federal requirements dictate that every boat (apart from antiques and pirate ships) should have a HIN for safety purposes. The HIN is a twelve digit alphanumeric code consisting of the manufacturer’s details, the hull serial number and date of certification and acts as a good check for legitimacy.

·      
 It’s called due diligence

A corporate term, this means that before buying, exchanging or making any kind of deal the buyer should thoroughly inspect what he’s getting and only upon being fully satisfied should move forward with the deal. If you are not sure then consult someone who will give you a fair opinion, for as they say “better be sure than stuck in deep water”.

With good judgment and research there is a high possibility that you will come ashore at Stow Away Center, where you can trust us to please your boat the way she pleases you.

Posted by StowAwaymarine.net