| We have a state-of-the-art integrated satellite navigation system that includes a Garmin 48 hand-held DGPS, directly connected to my Dell Inspiron 8600 laptop, running Win-XP Home Edition SP2. The DGPS inputs the boat's exact position to Nobeltec Visual Navigation Suite Version 6.5.620 application software with digitized vector displayed navigation charts. See chart below. |
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The VNS software automatically displays the boat's exact position on the correct navigational chart on my computer's LCD screen (see the green boat shape in the center of the blue rings), and automatically scrolls the chart in the direction the boat is moving. You can also see the "green" boat object on a green "course line" that I previously drew on the chart, getting us safely to where we want to go. I just steer the boat along the green line! The on screen "Console Display" (not shown) displays the boat's current Latitude & Longitude, Course Heading and Speed, Name of my next Waypoint and Direction and Distance to it, Estimated Time of Arrival, and depths along the way. |
| The most outstanding feature of the Nobeltec system in my mind are the crystal clear multi-color
'chart displays'. Nobeltec's digitized vector charts are the clearest and easiest to read, as compared
to all other types/brands I've seen. Nobeltec digitally scans official government (US and Canada)
nautical charts, and displays them on my computer screen in the vector mode, rather than as bit-map
'paper-chart' representations. The vector charts allows me to 'zoom-in' and 'zoom-out' over the charts
and always provide me with clear sharp images, without them falling apart and blurring, like bit-mapped
'paper charts' do at various resolutions.
The VNS software also provides on screen displays of localized tide and current predictions, localized weather conditions, 3-D Bath charts of the bottom which can be superimposed over the current chart. Nobeltec also offers a digital radar system with digital displays, but it's very pricey! A word of CAUTION... Nobletec's support is horrible, and their software and digital charts are very pricey! I've purchased two geographic 'zones' of digital charts from Nobeltec: one zone covers the Pacific Northwest from Olympia WA to 49º North Latitude (the US/Canada border), and the second zone covers from 49º North Latitude to 51º North Latitude, which is above the northern tip of Vancouver Island BC, Canada. We also carry current marine paper charts onboard, as a back-up. |
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We have a Furuno 1623 a 16 Nautical Mile radar. It can zoom down to 1/8 NM for tight navigation in harbors and inlets, out to 16 NM, in steps. I designed the radar's mounting bracket on-top-of the radar bridge. A friend skilled in metallurgy and fabrication, built the mounting bracket for me, and I had powder-coated to protect it from the marine environment. The bracket also includes the Coast Guard required forward-looking masthead navigation light, and pole-mounted anchor light. |
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The 6" diagonal Silver Bright LCD four-level monochrome display helps me to see
close-in objects as well as distant objects. It easily differentiates between stronger
and weaker echoes, helping to alert me to any danger.
The system provides automatic tuning and sensitivity adjustments, and user-selectable aids, EBL, VRM, sea clutter, rain clutter, and guard zone.. |
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A mounting bracket for the display is shipped with the unit, but I elected to cut a hole in the upper-helm to hold the display. I think it looks better flush mounted. |
| For TELEPHONE SERVICE, we use at&t wireless service at our dock, and while out cruising in US waters. While in BC Canada, we 'roam' on Rogers Canada, available most anywhere we go in BC. |
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many more now |
For INTERNET SERVICE, we use BroadbandXpress, a wireless broadband Internet provider serving marinas, resorts and hot spots, from Olympia WA, to Port McNeil, BC Canada. We use the Internet to (1) check for and send our email, and (2) check NOAA and EC weather conditions and marine forecasts for where we are and where we are going. We can do that from our laptop PC at any of BroadbandXpress' many marina locations. All we have to do is 'cruise into' the signal area and logon. The logon interface is the same no matter where we are, and we don't have to stop and tie-up to use it, it's wireless and it's fast! |
| Ship-to-Shore and Ship-to-Ship Communications, we have a licensed
ICOM VHF radio in the Main salon, which has all the US and International marine VHF channels, including
the marine WX weather channels.
On the Flybridge, we use a Humminbird 2W VHF handheld radio that we can talk to the Coast Guard and other boats with, as well as nearby marinas, like when when requesting docking assignments. Because it is portable, we can take and use it anywhere, like for an emergency Search & Rescue radio in our lifeboat/dingy, if need be. On-shore, we use a pair of handheld multi-channel CB transceivers to stay in-touch with each other, instead of more expensive cellphone 'roaming' airtime. Onboard, we have a telephone system that services the interior cabins, but when docking and undocking, we've found it much more civilized to use our CB transceivers in handsfree mode to communicate, rather than trying to yell back and forth at each other at those critical times. |
