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Ask Slashdot: What Tech For a Sailing Ship?
Razgorov Prikazka writes "There is a lot of technology involved in sailing these days. EPIRB, FHV-DSC, GPS, NAVTEX, Inmarsat, fishfinders/depth sounders, different kinds of radar (with MARPA or ATA) — you name it and there are dozens of manufacturers out there willing to provide, all of them with a range of different products. Right now I am planning a 'round-the-world-trip,'' and my ship (an 18-meter Skerry Cruiser sailing yacht) is in its early construction phase, so I need to shop for some hi-tech gear and, basically, I got lost in all the possibilities. What kind of hardware would you recommend as necessary for a trip of this kind? What would you have installed in your ship in order to have a safe trip?"
Satellite internet, so you can read /. in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
sudo make me a sandwich
A compass and a sextant. Seriously, learn the basics first.
Get an EPIRB. If the ship collides with a floating container and sinks quickly you will have no time to manually send a distress signal before abandoning ship. A free-floating EPIRB will automatically engage in case of sinking and with its encoded distress signal you will get aid within hours. For communications on the oceans I recommend getting a good shortwave radio with a decent grounding and antenna that can communicate further than any VHF-based system. Source: I helped build and design a Swedish 131' sailing yacht.
Quantum hacker.
If it was good enough for Christopher Columbus it's good enough for you!
"The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" - Thatcher.
Quoth the Seraffyn, "go now and go small" - Lin and Larry Pardey
18m (52') is hugely way too enormous for less than five people. I would seriously consider a 42' boat at the high end. At some point you're going to be tasked with reefing the main by yourself in 30kts of wind and trusting that your systems are working correctly. I've reefed the main with four other people on a 46' boat in 25 kts of wind and even with a fancy expensive duch reefing system, it's still not a walk in the park.
That said, Garmin (of course) makes a wide variety of systems, as do quite a few others. I'm curious to see if anyone with real experience chimes in here, but while you can get by navigating along the coast with an iPad or Android phone (we do this in our boat), that's not a system you want to rely on for years on end in a marine environment.
moox. for a new generation.
You are planning to sail around the world in your fancy new boat, but you don't know enough about sailing to pick out the right gear? How about you start by posting a rescue bond with the coast guard.
While I'm sure there are some here that are into sailing, this question should really be placed at a sailing forum instead. There are plenty of those - I'd suggest that you become a member there, and ask the question there instead. It also seems to me that a round-the-world trip may be a bit ambitious if you don't even know about the gear (or have tested the boat) yet. Something more limited may be suitable initially.
Since the sailor is familiar with Slashdot, I think he's probably all set for the electronic tech ... I'd concentrate on supplying power to all the gadgets he's likely to bring along - solar, wind gen, towable water gen, battery banks for storage ... And he should also consider some of the new tech for sails and rigging -- many of the synthetics can be worked with by the owner (no need for swaging, etc.).
Besides buying all these gadgets, I'd learn celestial navigation as a backup when all your electronics are getting fried by lightning.
What would you have installed in your ship in order to have a safe trip?
Nothing. The zombies can't get you on the open ocean.
Look where all this talking got us, baby.
As a cheap way to do email: http://www.sailmail.com/
Why would .. what?! Your building a ship to sail around the world and your asking people, "So exactly, how do *you* sail around the world?"
Sorry, it's just a really weird post.
You need the advice of a very limited number of highly experienced sailors, not a random mob of geeks and nerds.
Sig. Sig. Sputnik
I didn't realize Romney posted on Slashdot. Must be planning his next vacation.
[John]
Shit better not happen!
"Handling Small Boats in Heavy Weather" by Frank Robb.
Also, get British charts, they are better than American charts.
http://www.kvh.com/MarineSat/
http://www.kingcontrols.com/sea_king/
then I would stay home and pilot everything via my iPad.
That way when the ship capsized, I would be fine and still be able to send out my backup ship.
You DO have a backup ship right?
I like microcars
You clearly have more money than sense. You want to sail around the world but you've never sailed enough to know what equipment you need for navigation? Simple answer: hire somebody else to make that decision for you. While you're at it, put somebody else in charge of sailing the boat. Hell, I'll do it if you can match my current salary. You provide women and champagne at every port, and I'll even let you hold the tiller when the weather's calm.
see http://www.springerlink.com/content/j2h6414430571v56/
I agree, the AIS really makes a difference, especially if you are planning to be around areas busy with ships at night. It is going to be pretty pointless in the middle of the Atlantic, but still worth the effort when you are approaching coast.
Additionally, make sure you get an EPIRB, there is pretty much nothing like that for signalling your position in case of distress, and it makes you sleep better.
For the rest, go with your taste...
....mounted right on the bow in plain site. Good luck off the coast of Somalia, the Indian Ocean and pretty much all of the waters around Indonesia and the Philippines.,
Faraday cage.
Razgorov,
I'm a sailor myself, having done a lot of time on the Atlantic up near New England, and having had my share of surprises out there. And I can tell you this: Slashdot is not where you should get your advice. I'm seeing things like "Satellite internet, so you can read /. in the middle of the Pacific Ocean," listed under "Easy." Really? REALLY? You're asking about gear which will help you do one of a few things: 1, find your way so that you reach land on the other side instead of going off into the wild blue yonder, 2, keep your boat operating so that you can continue to direct your own fate, and 3, not sink and/or die. And you're getting answers like that.
There are communities of sailors who have actually done long-distance sailing. Speak with them. The question is not about the tech, it's about the problems you're likely to encounter, and what to expect. The choices you make will literally affect your chances of survival; you really want to have one-on-one discussions with people to get a sense of what you need to know, to make your own decisions. Circumnavigation is no joke, even in an 18-meter yacht. You're going to have disasters. Speak to some people who have actually had to deal with those disasters, not a population that is full of people who think this is some kind of cool game.
For your security, this post has been encrypted with ROT-13, twice.
http://www.winlink.org/WINMOR and a HF radio ( and a license if you dont already have one ).
"To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
A sextant, a clock, a compass, a nautical almanac and paper charts more advanced technology than that will fail you when you need it most.
Shawn Moore http://www.teuse.net
You never know when you need to relax with a movie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Calm_(film)
Garmin modular unit GPSMap 4012(minimum) with modules for depth, autopilot, and if you're running at night radar is a huge peace of mind. Make the GPS, VHF and possibly the depth sounder redundant by also getting a handheld GPS and VHF and a small secondary depth sounder.
Doing it without a satellite phone makes it a white knuckled adventure all the way. Simply having a sat phone on board changes your entire mental perspective and the thrill/fear of being completely and utterly alone and cut off from the world and any possibility of help falls away. You still have fun, but it becomes almost no big deal compared to the sense of terror you get when it's only you and the elements.
Any other tech is entirely up to you. It depends on the type of person you are and the sort of adventure you wish to have.
Carry spares. Spare pumps, spare power sources, spare parts and WAY more water than you think you need.
Enjoy.
Uh oh. I'm getting that itch again...
Buy Garmin stuff! Plotters, sonars, radars; they all network together nicely. If you're serious about this, you're looking at probably $20k worth of electronics for navigation, weather, safety, and communications.
Several well concealed, yet accessible firearms. Pistols as well as some kind of AR. The ocean's a big place and there ain't any 911.
That said, be sure you read up on the firearms rules for every place you might find yourself. If they don't want you to be able to protect yourself, you don't want to go there.
When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
You want to ask a bunch of people who live in their mother's basement what you need to sail around the world? Good luck with that.
Have you sailed across the open ocean yet? I'm concerned since that boat looks like a racing cruiser. She looks fast, but she also looks like she'd roll on you in a second unless you were paying lots of attention. You're not going to try to sail solo, are you?
Boat forums would be better to post on, and there are many of them. You'd also be able to find some sailors with experience to tell you about gear and the best boats to attempt an around the world cruise.
There are more than enough books out there to inform you about the harsh realities of open water sailing. There's also a few that would make someone foolishly optimistic about first time around the world sailing. Be careful about those books. Floating containers and pirates are more than enough to keep me away from such an endeavor.
Ignore the harsh tone of some of these posts, but don't forget the ocean is one harsh place and not forgiving. Good luck and safe voyage.
Mounted machine guns will make it pretty hard for you to dock in most ports, and probably get you in a lot of trouble.
Assuming you're an American, it's easy to buy AR-15 rifles in any gun shop. Find a good place to hide one in your boat (where port inspectors won't be able to find it).
Of course, it should go without saying that you should absolutely avoid the Gulf of Aden in your voyage. But there's other parts of the world where pirates are a problem too.
I just did what you are planning (except the circumnavigation) and I was in IT prior to that.
I did it on a Hylas 46 with my wife. Down to Trini and back to FL.
Never mind Sextant and compass as stated above here's what we needed and relied upon.
3G (with DGPS HW) iPad and Navionics /iNavX charts installed (pre-downloaded).
A couple mac/linux laptops with OpenCPN and Bu535 GPS dongles as backup - we never used the ships navigation as much as handheld.
A high gain Wifi (a/b/g/n) anntena with at least 1W xmit - wifi is crucial in port or even nearshore to pickup wx reporting and comms.
A roccna or Manson Supreme anchor - trust the data not the barflies.
AIS is more helpful that radar- both are good to have but AIS is really helpful and makes night watches simple.
As for safety, G-pirb, pay Chris parker and listen to him every morning in the Atlanic on SSB or if you can afford KVH/inmarsat then download his reporting, and a canister raft with a grab bag.
Safest possible way to travel is with acquaintances on other boats together making the same passage and stay in touch with SSB, satphone or VHF for short hops.
Spectra watermaker, danfoss/frigoboat refers and solar!!!!! (yes there is space on a monhull either on bimini or in the lifelines between stantions- no they dont ruin the boat's asthetics since they are only 1" high and horizontally mounted they disappear in profile.
We tossed the genset and lived at anchor indefinitely with solar only covering powertools, laptops, refers, gps anchor alarm 24x7.
50 caliber machine gun. A 12.7mm machine gun would also do the job.
Liferaft.
EPIRB, properly registered and with a new battery.
Marine handheld in the ditch bag.
Get an FCC marine VHF license. Required for international voyages. You need an FCC issued MMSI number for your VHF. The free kind of MMSI is not listed in the international search and rescue database.
DSC-VHF. Be sure to set up the MMSI number in the VHF. Be sure to connect a GPS to the radio, so that if you hit the red button, it actually works. That red button won't do a thin unless it has an MMSI programmed in and won't do much unless you also have a GPS connected to the radio so that it can send its location when you hit the red distress button.
I think you'd be nuts to head out without the items listed above. Totally nuts. I'd think long and hard about including the items below, in my kit.
Satellite phone.
AIS transponder. Ideally - that way you can see and be seen by the enormous cargo vessels who take 1 mile to stop and which CANNOT turn on a dime.
AIS receive, minimum. Standard-Horizon's Matrix AIS+ GX2150 radio combines DSC-VHF radio with integrated AIS receive only. Just add GPS & proper MMSI number and you are good to go. You do have backup VHF antennas, right?
Marine GPS chartplotter, with appropriate charts.
Paper charts and the knowledge to use them.
If you know what you are doing, or are willing to invest the (non-trivial) time to get up to speed, marine SSB radio and pactor modem to do email by HF radio.
Radar
If you are going to put a laptop or tablet aboard, keep in mind that saltwater is a hostile environment. Don't assume that your basic consumer grade laptop will hold up aboard a sailboat.
Gotta say, if you are asking this question on Slashdot, I don't think you are ready to cast off the docklines.
There are much better places to be asking this question. Places were folks who do lots of long distance sailing are hanging out. Online groups composed of serious, experienced cruisers. If you don't know about those resources, you have a whole lot of work ahead of you before you start buying stuff and definitely a whole lot of work ahead of you before you cast off and set sail.
Paul Lutus sailed around the world over the course of four years. He posted a free book online so you can read about his adventures:
http://arachnoid.com/sailbook/index.html
He was tempted to rename his sailboat "Entropy" because things kept breaking, so I recommend you carry tools and essential spares (whatever those might be for your ship).
Also, you should be armed, and you should be trained in the use of your weapons. Paul Lutus had a close encounter with a pirate; after he made it clear he was armed, the pirate decided to go somewhere else. As is often the case with firearms, it wasn't necessary to kill anyone or even shoot the firearm, but having it present made all the difference. This incident is described in day 5 in this page:
http://arachnoid.com/sailbook/Chapter_6_--_Darwin_to_Sri_Lanka.html
He says on the above page that he was often below-decks, reading, and he was very lucky he was on deck and saw the pirate coming. He wondered what would have happened if the pirate had actually gotten on board his sailboat before he knew anything was up... nothing good, surely. Is there any sort of proximity alert system you can get for your ship, that would alert if anyone approached?
Paul Lutus is a computer geek as well (he wrote GraForth and some other stuff; see his web site) so you might try contacting him for advice on tech gear. I have no idea whether he is likely to reply or not.
steveha
lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
Stow the traditional sail and hoist the wingsail.
Just be sure all the equipment is rated for use at sea.
If you haven't learn to navigate by stars, and have a how to laminated and chained down.
The ocean is a maw that is just waiting for you to make a mistake.
Good Luck, good speed, and happy sailing.
.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
CIWS Gatling Machine Gun FTW.
Great for a "friendly" welcome for unexpected guests.
Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
Karma: Chameleon
it's not a schooner, it's a sailboat!
insensitive clod overlords obligatory xkcd car analogy russian reversals whoosh pedant fanbois ftfy in 3...2...1..PROFIT
so, 50 people having trouble on the whole ocean with pirates s enough to keep you away? Do you even go outside? Take a bath? eat?
Floating containers? that mean booty!
No,l laziness keeps you away..or cowardice.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
My parents tool around the Bahamas every year in a Little Harbor 39'.
They've got at least three different GPS units; one built into the radar so you can match up coastal features with your charts, one built into the map desk, and at least two hand-held units (ala' Garmin Trek). Make sure the units you're looking at have digital sea charts available, as most of the hand-held units don't (or didn't last I checked) come with sea charts built in. The handhelds also have non-slip, brightly colored (yellow/orange) rubber protectors, bought separately.
You'll want to get into HAM radio, maybe even get a license. Definitely get one for home to try out, even if you buy a different unit for the boat.
Get eneloop batteries and a good charger or two. Also get a solar charger that you can roll out or pack away easily that will charge two AA's fairly quickly.
A wind turbine may be a good idea if you're planning to have a lot of tech gear, and almost certainly if you want a fridge with a freezer. However, most of them are noisy and getting a broken line caught in one while in bad weather will only make things worse. Also, if you have the wind to your back (generally speaking, sailing west) they won't generate as much (as if the boat were stationary) since you're traveling with the wind. If you're traveling east, you'll need more fuel to push it through the air (at a much less efficient rate than just running a more powerful generator off your engine).
An app like Night Sky that will super-impose constellation and astronomy info over a live camera image might be of use. (disc: that's the only app like that I've used and not much - not an endorsement, but it is a cool app)
If you're not already, become a: carpenter, plumber, electrician, mechanic, and eagle-scout level knot tying master. Practice doing separate skills with each limb while balancing on a see-saw.
Get used to making really detailed sailing plans and estimating how long it will take and how much gas and fresh water you'll need to get from point A to point B. Then flush those plans down the toilet. Repeat ad nauseam.
Lastly: have fun, it's great! :)
I;m not a sailor but I've been on a few boats.
- Plenty of extra batteries for anything that uses them. Sealed in waterproof something. If you carry two spares for your GPS, keep them separated, lest they both get ruined in one event.
- Of course, a handheld VHF radio or two, for backup and covnenience. Spare batteries of course.
- And handheld GPS, similarly waterproofed, preferably using alkaline batteries. Spares for everything, right? Lots of waterproofed pouches for stuff also, of course.
- Sat phone. Spare batteries. Spare charger. When the EPIRB goes off, maybe you remember to grab this also, though grabbing a jacket and popping the survival raft are more important. You will have an apprpriate liferaft on board, right?
- Solar power system of some sort. It will be most handy for charing all those batteries, and trickling the main battery so the engine will start. If you never use the engine, you are my hero. Don't be.
- You won't have that much time to read/write email, so don't worry too much about speed of your data service. Being able to email ahead for spares and such is most important, and quick 'I'm ok' messages to family don't need much. If you're blogging, well, your crew will understand I;m sure.
Now to get to what you asked, that is, how to choose suppliers;
- When you select your electronics, such as radar (which I think is a weather device in this application), GPS,radios, etc, check out their global service capabilities. Fedex doesn't deliver to the Gulf of Tonkin, but it may deliver to Saigon. Whatever you buy, forget the warranty and just be able to get service anywhere. And replacement . Just that much easier than having to change out antennas and cabling if your head unit goes tits up.
- There are certain brands that dominate the fishing market. These are probably your best bet, since fishermen will be everywhere you will be docking for repairs and parts. Your chandlery shoudl be able to advise you of this, and if not, look for some help from a major port, like San Diego or Miami, or Newport. They have plenry of people who go transoceanic, and will know what can get fixed in South Africa, Vietnam, Singapore, etc.
Much more important than all this is survival gear, supplies, the stuff you are already thinking of. Spare compasses, that sextant, being able to take a marginally good fix, prepaid cell phones for all the world's regions you will visit, generic advice. This you already know. Good luck, and figure on your trip taking at least 70% longer than you expect, unless you're already expecting to loaf around the world, in which case I envy you greatly! Good luck around the Horn!
deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
I don't care about the tech needs of some rich asshole pimping his yacht. I live in a country (the US) with a 15% official poverty rate, a real poverty rate much higher, and a huge class divide, growing daily with people like this guy.
Thanks for the timely story, Slashdot editors.
Some credentials: My folks own and operate a boatyard. We built a 64'8" (20m) Alden staysail schooner in the early 2000's called the Lion's Whelp. This boat was to be used by the family as an blue water cruiser. Many trips to the carib via Bermuda and along the Maine coast, but nothing across the Atlantic yet. Also used as a design tour-de-force displaying our company's know how. We won the Concours D'Elegance at the Antigua Classic yacht Regatta our first year there, a 2nd place the next year. The boat hasn't been back in subsequent years.
Full build history plus many, many photographs and discussion can be found on the yard website: http://portlandyacht.com/lionswhelp
Some of the systems we have onboard include: Reverse osmosis watermaker, EPIRB, GPS, IBM Blade server, AC, diesel heater, diesel generator, deep cycle batteries, LCD movie projector, Stereo/DVD/CD/MP3/iPod, main engine direct powered 3000 gallon per minute bilge pump, RADAR "pinger" (makes us look bigger to cargo ships), Sauna (yes, a sauna), full wind instruments, satellite modem, satellite weather station, universal shore power inverters (europe,japan is 50hz, etc), autopilot, VHF, shortwave radio, cell service repeater, wifi, etc, etc, etc.
If you read through our site you will note that we deliberately overbuilt the boat because the owner is the builder is the captain and any disaster onboard would kill his family. Stays and shrouds are each strong enough to hold up the entire 42 ton boat. Anything that could save lives was installed on the boat. As a consequence, the boat was 3000 pounds over the original design weight. Doesn't really matter because it's a cruiser not a racer. Righting arm would still right the boat at 178 degrees (almost upside down), while most modern fin keel boats won't right at 120 degrees.
After years of being onboard we've realized that there needs to been a dedicated systems expert onboard at all times if you expect to have every piece of the systems up and running at all times.
Not sure where you're building your Skerry, but we'd be happy to discuss your needs and right-sizing your equipment needs without overloading your day-to-day maintenance. (or today's budget) If you're in Portland Maine you could come by the yard and see the boat now for a full tour and more discussion.
207-774-1067 - Owner Phin is on site and wife Joanna is in the office answering phones.
One more reason to keep an eye on your money.
> Right now I am planning a 'round-the-world-trip and my ship (an 18 meter Skerry Cruiser sailing yacht) ... What kind of hardware would you recommend as necessary for a trip of this kind?
#1 Balls of solid brass.
First of all -- good for you subby -- sailing a circumnavigation or even just an ocean crossing in an achievement that will mark you for life as a true adventurer. Pay no attention to the commenters with their snarky bits of wisdom, they're the sort who rarely leave their desk chairs.
As far as gear -- you need a lot less than you think. On your boat you have very little stowage so you'll want to make every cubic foot count.
Disclaimer -- I did a Pacific Circle route in 2002 on a 50-foot Gulfstar Ketch which is a decent-sized cruising boat so I had plenty of space for gear and stores.
The number one thing you will want, are spare parts for your engine and all major mechanical equipment. Parts can be had in various parts of the world, but getting them can keep you dead in the water for weeks if not longer. You should have spare filters, hoses, clamps, diesel injectors, alternator, battery cable, etc, etc as well as the tools and knowledge needed to replace them.
Number two -- a safe that is structurally integrated into some part of the boat, preferably out of sight. When underway, all your cash, valuables, and documents go here. Ideally, all those things go into your abandon ship bag and then into your safe.
Weapons. No. You do not bring guns on board. Contrary to the advice of the Internet Tough Guys, you cannot enter almost any country's waters with guns on board. If you do you can declare and surrender or you can take your chances with not declaring and risk fines and prison and loss of vessel. There are dangerous parts of the world and if you're going to get robbed, it will be by desperate people who will consider you having a gun as permission to shoot first. Better to lose your things than your life.
Electronics. They will break, usually when you need them most so backups are key. The basic cruising set requires two radios (VHF and SSB/HAM), reliable radar, sailing instruments (corrected compass, speed/depth/wind instruments) and a GPS/plotter is nice. If you are going offshore, a weatherfax is nice to have but if you have an SSB modem then you can receive weather data on your computer. AIS is great to have as it will help keep you out of the path of commercial shipping and many yachts but may not be worth it if you are heading to Mexico.
If you have any questions and would like proper answers - I'd be happy to chat with you via email.
mtpleasantbc(at)gmail
Cowardice? No, not likely. And the boats I've built would contradict a claim of laziness.
But in the words of Saint Callahan, "A man's got to know his limitations."
Forget worrying about electronics, you have chosen a boat that that is not suited to a circumnavigation.
(Obligatory /. car analogy: I just bought a Toyota Prius. I am planning in driving the Pan American Highway from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. How many pairs of socks should I bring?)
A skerry cruiser has very fine ends and low freeboard. Long and narrow it works well for its intended purpose: fast daysailing between islands of the Baltic sea archipelagos. However, they are miserable, if not downright dangerous offshore. The low freeboard will make for a very wet boat. The fine bow and stern lack sufficient reserve buoyancy (lack volume) for big seas. Instead of lifting to a steep wave and riding over the crest, you will pow through taking lots of green water over the bow going upwind, and take boarding seas over the stern and into the cockpit when running downwind in big seas.
I suggest reading "Heavy Weather Sailing" by K. Adlard Coles. A must read for offshore sailors. It's not a lake out there.
Disclaimer: I have not sailed around the world. However I have made several ocean crossings and sailed several tens of thousands of mile offshore and in all kinds of weather.
I suggest you make the licenses for radio and radar first.
During the courses you likely have a good chance to ask such questions and get serious answers.
Or did you really beliefe you can just switch on your radar and thats it?
Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
Definitely a motor. No good sailboat ever got anywhere within a reasonable attention span without a motor. Ever.
E
EPIRB for sure, but also AIS. The big ships don't even have someone looking out the window, and rely on AIS alerts to avoid bumping into other big ships. Active AIS not only tells you whe the ships are, but more importantly makes *you* show up on their displays. Probably also add some forward-looking sonar because in many parts of the world, you can't rely on your GPS plotter to match what's actually there.
In my view the depth sounder is the most important piece of electronic technology so make sure it works and you have spare parts. If you have a sonar it will provide some redundancy since they both provide depth information.
Not only does the depth sounder tell you how deep the water under yer ship is when combined with chart and tide table it can be used to help figure out where you are by comparing depth contours.
Sonars/fish finders.. are awesome toys especially the new chirp mode gear...yet hardly required. Every time you drill a hole in the bottom of your boat for some new gadget you are increasing your risk.
GPS with fancy chart plotter..of course...don't buy a chart plotter that looks like a tablet.. It can have a touch screen but it must have real knobs and buttons....touch is useless at sea with the waves knocking you around all the time. If it were me I would pick up one of those new e series raymarine thingis. Look for a GPS unit with RAIM.
It is important not to depend on shit that can break or shit that won't work without power. You still need to get paper charts and should have basics of dr, danger bearings, running fix..etc. Having a good hand compass is important.
Obviously a DSC capable VHF..is a must. I recommend getting one with integrated GPS..they are cheap today and by having an integrated GPS just like the fish finder vs depth sounder you have more redundancy in location..if your chart plotter or gps unit dies you can get your location from the radios GPS. Or get a separate GPS and wire it to the DSC and nema bus for chart plotter.
If it were me I would also get a portable vhf radio and ipod with gps/ navionics/notebook/tablet with charts loaded store them in a metal toolbox, oven or protected ditch bag. Not only for backup incase of electronics failure but incase you get hit by lightning.
For safety get several passive radar reflectors to hang high from your mast. One or two is not enough. Especially if you have a grb boat..they are quite transparent to radar.. They sell fancy active enhancers but these things require/consume power and are unecessary.
Radar is in my view a must have. Radars have a TON of different uses ..the swiss army knife of marine electronics. Take some care when positioning the radar antenna so that the beam path is not in the way of other antennas...lots of peeps make this mistake.
When you can't see 5 feet in front of you the radar will show you what is out there.
It can be used to detect birds (AKA fish) or uncomming weather/swells giving you more time to reef. When going thru hazardous channels rings can be used to help position your boat away from any charted hazards by measuring against land contours.
In terms of weather if you are not poor I would go for a sirius weather subscription and buy a chart plotter that supports it..it is not world wide coverage so check against where you plan on going to make sure it still works where you are going.
With sirius..you get tunes, weather/grib data will overlayed directly on your plotter.. it is cool to have but it involves subscription costs.
A navtex receiver is nice to have. In most locations in the world you can get basic weather information to have an idea what is going on via the radio/shortwave.
Weather fax and navtex can also be had on the cheap simply by plugging the line out from your radio into a notebook using software and the computers sound card to decode signals... If you don't like screwing around with technology it might be better to buy a separate dedicated navtex unit that will just work and consume less power than a notebook...what is the fun in that?
AIS looks like radar but works by boats broadcasting their GPS location over VHF so others know who is out there. The problem is not all boats or floating obstructions have working AIS transceivers so you can never depend on it.
Most modern chart plotters integrate with AIS and overlay location of other ships and their info
Since you got all this info about guns posting on /., maybe you should try asking the tech question on a gun site?
Let me know if you need an IT guy with sailing experience to help set it all up and go along and maintain it. (It would be cheaper to bring me along vs. fly me in)
I've been coastal sailing for years, and I've tricked out quite a bit of electronics (nerdgasm) even though my boat is only a 30'.
There are quite a bit of high end touchscreen nav panels out there. I use a garmin integrated system that gives me satellite weather info, radar, sonar, GPS, etc. all in one panel.
From using it I can say that its a good idea to have two panels, one inside and one in the helm, because when you're anchored and down below and you have no idea what's going on outside, it's nice to be able to look and see incoming weather, wind, nearby boats, or just plot a course without having to go outside into either the freezing rain or 100% humidity, 100 degree heat, buck naked at 3am to see what's up when.
Now GPS is great, but they are basically just charts, and you can rely on just a hand held if you have a lesser budget (you ARE getting all your paper charts right?) but if you want something more useful, get radar. GPS looks neat and you can track plots and such, but in an unfamiliar anchorage or in the middle of the ocean, it doesn't help in the slightest, especially when the chart was last updated in 1978. Radar, however, gives you real time info, and shows you everyone around you at an anchorage, can have alarms set for things getting inside a circle range of concern, can ping on every 15 minutes and warn you of problems, shows you were the markers are when it's pitch black and foggy and you can't see a damn thing and GPS swears marker 23 is there, but you don't see it anywhere, etc. Really can't push radar as requirement enough.
That having been said, most of what you really need is low tech. Not counting rescue level equipment (EPIRB and Sat phone), having extra plugs for broken throughholes, long poles to pull seaweed out of your engine water intake (everything in the world gets sucked in there), snakes to clear out your head when your tank back flows on you, hand pumps for when your bilge pump gets clogged full of the wifes tampons and your floor has a foot of water, etc.
But for all the tech stuff, you need power. And more power than necessary. You need to do a power budget of every watt, and every watt hour, and be very generous. There's nothing like seeing your battery bank decreasing (with your voltmeter you bought right?) and realizing you didn't really need the DVD player running all night that some jackass left on. At least two battery banks, and the correct starting vs. deep cycle batteries. Don't use "hybrid" types that can be used both ways, not a good idea.
Multiple ways to charge said power banks. Solar, more than you need (as the sails, seagulls, and everything else drop your power generation to zero). Have a wind system (great wattage can be brought in when it's breezy but the sun is behind clouds) and a back up towed generator just in case.
Compute your watts and watt hours and know exactly how long you can leave your radar and GPS running while on pure sail power. Can you get through an entire night without your batteries dropped to almost nothing? Is it mathematically proven?
Personally I don't use refrigerators or freezers, they use WAY to much power and they're really not worth it to me, mainly because they're a constant drain on the system, and I don't like any continuous drain as you only need to screw up once and drain your batteries in an unfamiliar dock that forgets to turn your power cable on or flips it off in the middle of the night by accident.
Your boat is an island. You're the only electrician, plumber, garbage man, and doctor there. Get anitbiotics from your doctor that can survive non-cold temperatures if you're going world wide and any other medications you need, because you won't be finding them in the middle of nowhere, and most circumnavigations are leaving you at the whim of the third world.
So I'd recommend radar to show you what's really going on (GPS doesn't show you a cargo ship heading straight at you at 3am), an absolutely bullet prood, and over powered power-plan of your exac
I'm a satanic clam.
They left earlier this summer. You can check his blog here: http://www.sailblogs.com/member/mezzaluna/?show=profile. If you post a comment he's pretty good about getting back to you. As I recall after all was said and done he went with Garmin equipment since it seemed to be the best integrated and support was available around the world.
but if you are sailing around the world, electricity is going to be hard to come by. Sure, you can start your engine and run the generator, but how much fuel can you carry? How much money is that going to cost? You will probably want to go old school. Things I would buy are:
Wind Vane self steering - If you are traveling solo, who is going to steer the boat while you are in the head?
Diesel Heater - It gets cold out at sea, you don't want to be lugging around propane and diesel, just get a heater that burns diesel and worry about one fuel. For that mater, get a diesel stove too!
Solar cells/wind turbine - As a geek, I doubt you will be able to go without all of your toys, so make sure you can have some power without burning precious fuel.
However, your most difficult problem is fresh food. Refrigerators use A LOT of power! Lack of fresh fruits and vegetables can cause diseases like scurvy. You may want to consider gas absorption refrigeration units, or some method of food preservation.
One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
a lil context for the landlubbers out there — having gone sailing just yesterday (qc races, toronto harbour) on an alberg30 — and gone below decks (where the radio and power are kept) — everything that was on a shelf anywhere had been dumped back and forth.. bags, computers, boots and frying pans all being heaved to and fro as we had to tack the boat repeatedly.. the wind was moderate, we managed about 7knots and burried the rails. there was water flying everywhere.. if you had a cell phone or a GPS in your pocket, it would have been drenched — this was on a clearly beautiful day under typical conditions, not even any serious waves to consider.
bottom line — if your tech cant survive being tossed about like a salad with bags, shoes and frying pans while getting periodically doused with a bucket of water.. unless it is secured and installed right, it probably is pretty useless. the main radio is mounted on a bracket underside the main cabin.. and the control surfaces and antenea connectors have been routed through waterproof connectors.. which is a minimum to think it will work.
one must remember to consider these sorts of standard operating conditions when recommending sailing tech.
jp
I know it's unlikely you'll win, but shouldn't you at least wait until the election is over to buy your fancy boat?
Have gnu, will travel.
Buy the necessary equipment. Learn how to do it and learn how to do it well. Enough said. This will be better than any technology. Ensure you have a good barometer and comprehensive paper charts also. You never know what will happen.
Those people suggesting an EPIRB are on track. There are several good books that will give you the basics on the sailing technology you need. I would add a laptop computer with satcom as a backup also.
Finally, a skerry cruiser is a long slender and most importantly low freeboard boat. I know the "best boat arguement" for sailing around the world is touchy, but this might not be the best boat for offshore sailing in heavy seas. Have you done a careful evaluation of the vessel as well as your relative skill level and experience as a sailor and where exactly you plan on sailing to? I'm assuming yes as you are having it built but I just wanted to check. I for example in the Pacific Northwest would *not* take this type of boat into the North Pacific or out of our sheltered waters.
Good luck!
Silicon waterproofing spray.
DC currents and salt water vapour are an incredibly corrosive combination. There are several companies that provide water proofing application that will apply a thin layer of silicon over electronic components. I'd recommend this for all your electronics.
From the sound of it, you have the paper based back ups covered (chart, sextant etc) which is good.
Firearms (do they count as gadgets?) are tricky - international laws vary wildly, from meh, do what you like to serious jail time for undeclared firearms.
You have two basic tactical options - standoff, large calibre rifle, and CQB, rapid fire pistol rounds. You better be well trained in either or both if you plan on taking fire arms. Shooting long range off a small platform in open waters is not trivial, and tricky to practise on a range - throw a container overboard and practise at sea is the best advice I have here, and you'll have to be careful with the optics. .357 will give you the option to use .38 as well.
CQB (ie, let them board and then ambush) - well, assuming you don't have military training in room clearance, perhaps IPSC and related disciplines would help.
Revolvers have a lot to recommend them - more reliable if you aren't going to constantly maintain it (although glock's have a good reputation in salt water environments, all semi-automatic pistols are more vulnerable to stoppages than a revolver). Something like a
Satellite communications have come a loooong way in the past decade - there are now phased array antennas that are electronically steerable, as opposed to the gimbal mounted mechanical ones (that can be problematic). Prices for remote data access have dropped a fair bit, but I suspect you'll use it more for email/twitter/weather updates than downloading porn gifs... the prices haven't dropped that much!
You can network it to a wifi router for convenience HOWEVER you have to be careful that automatically running software updates etc don't bankrupt you while you aren't looking - you'll want to switch it off when not in use. (that $2 you saved by getting the free version of the phone app may cost you $20 downloading ads via satellite!)
Wifi in ports is a lot more prevalent these days, so that waterproof laptop should be pretty handy when you are in port.
Get a phone that is quad band and usable with sims worldwide, and with a removable battery (sorry, that counts iphone out). Either buy pre-waterproofed ones, or get them waterproofed. If it's a smart phone, it'll tend to burn through battery quicker than a basic phone, but there is an awesome number of apps that are useful both to a sailor (including charts, gps, compass, star charts, travel warnings etc) and to general travellers (language, tourist recommendations, camera etc).
You'll often find that locally bought sims are much cheaper than roaming - this is where dual sim phones are useful - the latest ones can operate the sims simultaneously (you effectively have two phones running at once).
I've seen people tie an on board security system into their phone - very handy in some ports. It's pretty easy to rig up a motion detecting security system to that laptop - if it's got internet access, it can email your phone when it gets an alert.
Rechargeable flashlights. Good waterproof ones. If you get LED based ones, get the single, large LED (3watts and higher) rather than the multiple small cheap LEDs. I've found the ones with focussing lenses more useful for both long and short range illumination.
What are you using for power? I presume you have on board batteries, charged by alternator from the main motor... generally also solar and wind turbines are popular, but both are definitely areas where you don't want to skimp on quality, given the corrosive environment.
That's all off the top of my head... :)
If you going to be sailing a big boat like that, you'll want electric winches; you'll only hurt yourself, your sea mates, or their feelings when your yelling at them so loud during a tricky maneuver without it. Also an electric wind vane for your course plotter, then you can sail by the wind (much faster).
Rocket Surgeon.
Seriously? The keyword is 'planning' and it is early in construction. He didn't say he was leaving this week and is headed to his local boat shop. His problem is one that fits this community: plenty of radio nerds, seamen and a good amount of engineers floating around the comments. I for one am interested in what kind of equipment comes up.
A second hull will allow you have a shallow boat and a much nicer ride.
Hmm... I wonder if you could make a hybrid crossbow/spear gun. Then you could us it for protection and fishing too.
I agree - a good kit of non-electrical items and a know-how about how to use them. OK, you may want a chronometer running on batteries, but a compass and a sextant should be in the equipment if you plan to cross an ocean.
Add a hand-held GPS powered by lithium batteries in a waterproof box, preferably coupled to a life raft. And extra batteries. That way you will at least be able to get your position the easy way. Emergency flares and glowsticks are also useful.
If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
All this talk of firearms jumps past another option. Have a way to run away, fast. Add an outboard motor to the ship, for just such emergencies. If pirates come after you, first try to outrun them. If that's not working, then reach for the weaponry.
Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"
http://freetechnics.nl/
Disclaimer: I used to work there.
I have found AIS to the be the tech I'd least like to be without in costal waters, certainly in Northern Europe. The shipping lanes are a serious headache around the English Channel and the North Sea. Being able to see (hopefully) all ships that might be of concern and being able to get their MMSI and give them a call is incredibly handy.
I suppose I'm assuming you have all the standard kit on board (VHF DSC, decent GPS / plotter, (G)EPIRB).
If you're planning round the world, you'll be wanting more interesting radio tech...
Oh, and good batteries and power management is a god send. Without it your power budgets have to have such absurd safety margins you almost always end up needing jerrycans full of diesel everywhere.
Obviously, this being Slashdot, I would have to suggest something like this http://www.inmarsat.com/Services/Maritime/FleetBroadband/SAILOR_250_FleetBroadband.asp
This is the same kind of comment I got when I asked Slashdot about ... my mission to the moon. All I got was a flamewar over "spacecraft" versus "rocket."
As a onetime Officer of the Watch on the bridge of a large warship, I say it matters.
When I saw this headline I was expecting an article on reviving the idea of sailing mechant ships - you know, tankers with computer controlled wingsails, that sort of thing (a bit like the flying cars stories). But what I found was a guy preparing a medium size traditional sailing yacht [OK, sailboat in America] for sea.
If this guy is calling a sailing yacht [sailboat] a "ship", the first thing he needs before technology is to swot up on some basic seafaring terminology. VERY basic - I would have thought even a layman would know the difference. OTOH, if he is calling his yacht a ship out of some kind of inflated pride, then that is also out of place at sea. It is just idiotic.
For example, if he needs to radio and says his "ship" is in trouble, the rescue people are not going to be looking for a yacht.
Sailmail is all right, and certainly better than nothing. For most purposes, Winlink 2000 is better; the ground stations are less crowded and you can connect for longer periods of time, plus most of them support faster PACTOR connections. You do need a HAM licence high enough to use the HF bands (so, General class), and of course a compatible radio and modem (get something capable of PACTOR3, unless they've introduced a newer, better variant). You also can't legally use HAM radio (and thus, can't use Winlink) to discuss business, so if you expect to need that, Sailmail might be better. For most cruisers that's no problem, though.
I'm not going to recommend radio gear - the boat I lived on uses an Icom 706mk2g, which is a great little 100W radio aside from needing an external tuner, but that was some 11 years ago. Antennas bear thinking about though. Random wire actually works fine, so long as you get it high enough, have a good enough antenna tuner, and a good enough ground. Dipoles work better, but only for specific bands; you'll want to think carefully about that. Directional antennas are generally poinless on a sailboat; even if you can mount one, you can't keep it pointed the right way.
Also, consider the radio environment. Any RF sources on the boat, such as alternators (engine, generator, windcharger, etc.) or DC-DC voltage-converters (such as for solar panels or a laptop charger) are going to play havoc with your reception for either voice or data. You can get RF-insulated DC voltage converters suitable for use with a laptop online, though. You'll also need a good set of ferrite chokes; most consumer electronics either have insufficient chokes or none at all. This will result in those electronics going crazy (mouse dancing all over the screen and clicking random things, for example) if you key a powerful HF radio nearby.
There's no place I could be, since I've found Serenity...
DO NOT take your personal security for granted. There are pirates out there, and they are not necessarily on the high seas.
DO think through how you can lock yourself into part of the boat like it is a "safe haven", complete with a system for sending a distress message, and a way of telling pirates that you have actibated the beacon/message. (Think language cards that say a clear message about what you have done.)
DO train in the use of your safety measures; in the light, in the dark, and under water (many ship's chandlers have training versions of EPIRBs, life jackets, etc.)
DO train in righting your boat, cutting away rigging, etc. Get a short section of the toughest rigging wire rope you are using, and train in getting it cut through.
ALWAYS use emergency lines if on the upper deck. NO EXCEPTIONS.
TRAIN in single-handedly "going about" and "back-tracking along your course" (the real course "through the water", not just 180 on the heading.) Everyone who stands watches!
Then... Relax.
Looking at space, radio, science and computing from a 'down-under' amateur enthusiast perspective.
Focussing on electronics...
NookTouch for ebooks maybe not needed. Something simpler dual-roleing would be a netbook (and a spare if using digital charts only - very controversal but saves thousands...), maybe with the PixelQi screen hack and SSD for less power use, plus 12v charger of course. There's a FOSS charting program that's rather nice I forget the name of...
EPIRB. At least 2 GPS ariels well sited.
Flare guns for easier customs hassle.
For social, SSB radio with modem and the only option for the expensive but good SailMail system. I believe it's possible to avoid the irritating (severe need for FOSS here!) propeitrory Paxtor modem without too much speed loss. This is a lot easier than getting a HAM license and packet radio and more people use it. Earth the ariel by using a plate in the bilge - less corrosion and no holes in the hull. Ariel length changer on the main stay insulated so you don't burn yourself on it.
Don't really need satelite phone but useful for emergencies. Depends on the cash. Unfortunately, and I've looked into this a lot, a directional, gyroscopically corrected ariel is >$1000. That's great as it was $20,000 not too long ago but I can't figure out how to get a reasonable rate on the data. All I can find is prepay horrendous rates. Depending on where you go you might be able to get data coverage from the same companies that service remote places on land - anyone got any info? Other than that it's 9600 baud and per minute dialup on a sat phone which is no fun -SSB radio is much better.
GNURadio isn't ready for production use really. Can use a cheap USB SDR for getting weather plots but only a little $ extra for a proper alert.
AIS beacons are popular so you can sleep and hope someone spots you if not on watch.
Wind generator is important to not skimp on. Cheap solar panel as backup just because they're cheap but it depends where you're going. Serviceable batteries.
Bear in mind that electrics and water don't mix. Sailing is so dangerous the sea might as well be a vat of acid. Go over the side and even if tethered you'll never pull yourself back onboard on full steam. Good luck, nothing like it!
A blog I run for the wealth
Buy an E-reader as you will have a lot of spare time to fill while crossing an ocean.
Really? This is likely the WORST place to ask for advice I can think of. I would go to http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showforum=22 and http://www.panbo.com/ to start with. Here is your list, starting with what you absolutely need: 0. The ability to navigate with traditional paper and pencil level tech. Stay home if you can't do this. 1. VHF with DSC 2. GPS fixed mount wired to VHF and whatever else needs the info. 3. Handheld VHF 3. EPIRB and/or PLB - 406 MHz versions with built-in GPS 4. Handheld GPS 5. Depthfinder OPTIONS 5. Laptop with charting programs (OpenCPN and Seaclear to start with) 6. Substitute chart plotter/GPS combo for #2. 7. Substitute chart plotter/fishfinder/GPS for #2 and #6. 8. AIS receiver 9. AIS transceiver instead of #8. 10. RADAR 11. SSB radio 12. Irridium sat phone. 13. NAVTEX (kind of old tech now) 14. SCS pactor modem for SSB - for email and GRIBS (http://www.scs-ptc.com/shop/categories/modems-en) 15. Autopilot 16. HID flashlights, LED flashlights, FLIR scopes, Night-Vision scopes, DVD players, blenders, ipods, , and any other toy you can cram on your boat.
It's generally a good idea to look at see what others have done before setting off. I also live on my boat, though I stay in inland waters. Here is a cross-section of boaters who are technology savvy and have extensive experience traveling in a boat:
http://nomadness.com/
http://sailingsimplicity.com/
http://sanjuansufficiency.com/ Cheers!
My own personal philosophy on this is simplicity and reliability. You have to ask yourself the question: what if a particular device breaks. What happens if lightning strikes my boat and zaps most of my fancy electronics? Will I be able to cope. Will I be able to fix the device? Will I be able to replace it "out there".
That said, being able to communicate via satellite is excellent. Having internet out there is excellent. Having GPS is excellent. Having up to date EPIRBS is excellent. Having chart-plotters and electronic self-steering is excellent. I also think that more standard time proven technology such as sideband radios would be good. However, there are caveats.
Firstly, you have to power all that gear. You can use your diesel engine to charge the batteries, but you are burning fuel, and you are reliant on the mechanics of your diesel engine. I think wind turbines are quite effective much of the time for charging batteries, and I think solar panels would also be a good backup, especially in the doldrums.
Finally, I think you have to consider the level of backup you have for your technology. I would have numerous GPS devices, protected from water and lightning surges. I would also be familiar with how to use a sextant, and how to use sight-reduction tables to establish a line of position. I would have enough paper charts that I wouldn't be stuck without my chart-plotter. I am personally a fan of mechanical self-steering using a wind-vane, but that possibly isn't for everyone. Still, if you lose power and you have electronic self-steering, it is not a good situation. The hydraulic rams used in electronic self-steering systems take a fair bit of energy as well.
My own boat is on the drawing board, sometime in the future. It will be outfitted according to principles of simplicity and reliability. Not being of independent means financially, I will avoid many of the toys that cost money and break out there, because I feel they would tether me too much, instead of allowing me to be free. Most of the things on my boat will be simple and reliable.
This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when first he appears as a protector - Plato (423 to 327 BC)
I crossed the N. Atlantic in 2001 on my 12m sloop that I refitted from a salvage. The most important equipment for me was: GPS/chartplotter/depth sounder (and spares!!!) I did my crossing with a handheld gps, paper charts, and a generic fishfinder that was cheap and worked flawlessly. Auto-pilot with magnetic and wind steering (don't skimp here.) HF Radio ICOM w/ antenna tuner (used mine daily for WX) Radar I put in a good quality car stereo and used the doggie out of it. Cheap and easily replaced. never had to... Recording barometer (essential!!!) Wind generator Inverter/charger sat comms if you can afford it. Also, for a circumnavigation, consider that computer hard drives tend to fail due to gyroscopic stresses on the bearings, so either get a couple of spares or if you have the dosh, then use ssds.
Dear Microlimp: I give you 2 valid product keys for win7 and you reject both of them. Piss off you wankers!!!
A Yellowbrick sat tracker for two-way comms using the worldwide Iridium constellation, a Linradio software defined radio receiver plugged to a discone antenna, and a Toughbook with Navigatrix GNU/Linux. Aside from the required GMDSS, GPS, radar and so on, of course. Credentials: a few years as radio operator on ships going around the workd