Thoughts on electronics upgrades

[Steve S]

I currently have Raymarine electronics in my 400DB and I am considering updating the system. My chartplotter is an E140W that is off to the left side on the helm console. Hard to see in certain lighting conditions and hard to access while moving in any bumpy seas.

What are the thoughts about either replacing the E140W with Axiom (12"?) but figuring out a way to "tip" the unit to face the center helm? Or leaving the E140W in place and adding an Axiom on a mount in front of the helm station. Or on the lower right under the switch panel is the old Autopilot head and remote speaker on a wooden plate - possibly relocating those items and replacing them with the Axiom?

I would use Seatalk NG to connect them. The autopilot, radio and Tridata are old SeaTalk units, but it works with the E140W (SeatalkNG) via a SeaTalkNG converter. Not sure if a route on the Axiom would then be followed if networked with SeaTalkNG?

Goal would be to get a system where I could upload maps and Navionics info integrated into the system.

Just trying to gather configuration ideas.... thoughts?

 

[Skybolt]

I think you would have gotten more views if you posted this under Electronics, but anyway -

If your going to stick with RM then the Axiom should basically be plug and play, except for the size. You may need to make an adapter.

As for the "tilting", make a temp out of 1/2" plywood and then when satisfied, make it out of opaque acrylic or something you can finish like mahogany. I have also seen it done in fiberglass then painted or gel coated.

@Riptide III could probably help out with idea's, he has done some amazing fabrication with his boat.

 

[Steve S]

I think you would have gotten more views if you posted this under Electronics, but anyway -

If your going to stick with RM then the Axiom should basically be plug and play, except for the size. You may need to make an adapter.

As for the "tilting", make a temp out of 1/2" plywood and then when satisfied, make it out of opaque acrylic or something you can finish like mahogany. I have also seen it done in fiberglass then painted or gel coated.

@Riptide III could probably help out with idea's, he has done some amazing fabrication with his boat.

I thought about placing it "Electronics" but I am more interested in the physical layout ideas than the actual electronics...

 

[Skybolt]

For starters you could make a trapezoidal rectangle box. play around with the dimensions but say 1" off of the existing side closest to the helm and 5" off the furthest away. Then just connect the dots to the size of the plotter. That would be very basic, but would work.

Download the mounting template and cut out the actual size of the plotter and tape to a cardboard face. Then make cardboard sides and play around with that to get the basic measurements and continue on with the cardboard until close. Then switch to plywood until satisfied. Then re-make in the final material, mahogany, acrylic, fiberglass etc.

I can't think of anything easier to do then that. And by easier, I don't mean it will be easy, just not as complicated as some of the tings I have seen done.

 

[Ericinmich]

I think you would have gotten more views if you posted this under Electronics, but anyway -

If your going to stick with RM then the Axiom should basically be plug and play, except for the size. You may need to make an adapter.

As for the "tilting", make a temp out of 1/2" plywood and then when satisfied, make it out of opaque acrylic or something you can finish like mahogany. I have also seen it done in fiberglass then painted or gel coated.

@Riptide III could probably help out with idea's, he has done some amazing fabrication with his boat.

Wil the Axiom be plug and play with the radar of that vintage boat? Or with the current display has it already been updated to digital radar?

I'm not an expert in this area, but have an OG raymarine setup in my 2007 and am starting down the path to upgrade it all...

 

[Skybolt]

Wil the Axiom be plug and play with the radar of that vintage boat? Or with the current display has it already been updated to digital radar?

I'm not an expert in this area, but have an OG raymarine setup in my 2007 and am starting down the path to upgrade it all...

No the analog radar needs to be upgraded with the MFD. But I believe the OP knows that as his question is about changing the mounting. And also has SeaTalkNG up and running on a converter. So only the MFD and Radar head unit needs to be upgraded. The other devices will work with NMEA 0183 which the converter supports.

 

[Steve S]

No the the analog radar needs to be upgraded with the MFD. But I believe the OP knows that as his question is about changing the mounting. And also has SeaTalkNG up and running on a converter. So only the MFD and Radar head unit needs to be upgraded. The other devices will work with NMEA 0183 which the converter supports.

I need to double check when I go back to the boat, but I believe the current radar is an HD Open Array 72 mile unit. It connects directly to the E140W via SeatalkHS, not Seatalk1 or SeatalkNG.

 

[Skybolt]

I need to double check when I go back to the boat, but I believe the current radar is an HD Open Array 72 mile unit. It connects directly to the E140W via SeatalkHS, not Seatalk1 or SeatalkNG.

If it goes through the SeatalkHS then it is digital.

Things like a radar/sonar imagery can't go through NMEA2000, only things like nave data, engine data and depth, but not sonar, sonar can't go through NMEA2000 either. Sonar and Radar imagery have too much data for that type of network and need the ethernet support to do so.