Progress????
Everything is at our finger tips these days. I am currently in the Canadian North -46C today...C is for Cold. In the middle of nowhere and can communicate on this forum...not bad. 10 years ago it was a nightmare.
My boat has a few electronic gadgets but I have many that make up the package. This stuff was all added a piece at a time when the funds became available.
Garmin Chartplotter...wonderful unit with maps from Florida to Labrador in it.
Back-up GPS is Garmin 60csx...charts loaded in it too. Then my final GPS, for when we go on an island etc is an older garmin e-trex with no charts added but has a screen to see your path etc. Binnacle compass and paper charts as well.
Radar- Raytheon 40XX ...good solid unit, older and I have to run the engine to keep the batteries up when in use....good when I get caught in fog and it has really good range.
Wind speed indicator....a small handheld unit.
Epirb- 121.5...currently being phased out but still used for homing.
Personal Epirb 406 / 121.5 ...relays distress directly to SARSAT. (ACR2797.4)
Basic Marine Radio. Satellite radio for music. 1000W inverter to plug things into.
New for this year...a Blackberry with a great air-time package and can't wait to see how it works out. Can plug into the laptop and send emails, check emails, check facebook, send pics etc. I have tried it here in the North and it works perfect as long as you have cell coverage. Along the coast where I sail there will be few places where I cannot keep in touch.
So, there really are a few items aboard a boat to keep her in communication in one form or another....now a gadget that could do it all...not that far down the road I think!!
__________________
Mo
"Odyssey"
1976 C&C 30 MKI
The pessimist complains about the wind.
The optimist expects it to change.
The realist adjusts the sails.
...Sir William Arthur Ward.
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