All Activity

Well I’m just starting to look into the lithium option on a fairly new production boat. My first query is whether it’s possible to give a ball park $$ cost of changing out the house batteries for two 200ah lithiums that are EWOF capable. I’m assuming all the components will need changing including existing charger, solar regulators , fuses etc and alternator protection. I read somewhere only 3 brands will meetEWOF requirements…Juice, Victron and ?? . What kind of budget is realistic assuming current installation of AGMs is clean and tidy .

Same. Also, why do they wait until a vessel has sunk? Takes lots more time and $$ then!

Very interesting article, HM didn't mention anything about the fact that our mooring fees went up several years ago by $50 pa to cover wreck recovery. Maybe 20,000 moorings x $50 what, around $1m per annum to deal with the problem? They infered that rate payers were paying for it. P!$$ED me off a bit.

What would you like to know? I work out of GH, and have a few customers here with Lithium conversions. 2 more upcoming... feel free to call me if you wish. Matt Neptune's Gear Ltd 0221539176

Can anyone recommend a good marine electrician to install lithium batteries. I’m in Auckland/ Gulf Harbour. Thanks.

The v60B (simrad version is RS40b) is a good unit, but does not have wifi. It's $1758 Incl GST. Its not supported by a Navman 550, which is why I suggested the NAIS500 and an MFD (Plotter, with wireless). NAIS with Splitter, GPS ant, and 7 inch Vulcan is about $2800. Its a bit less than the V60B and a MFD... Happy to Discuss with anyone interested. Matt 0221539176

I think he is referring to cruising permits and other fees - price is going up up up.

How so ?

We use a B&G V60-B VHF radio with inbuilt AIS transmitter - approx $1800 - you still need a splitter but it's one less device and a very tidy package - replaces your existing VHF unit. Will connect into a NMEA2000 network to transmit AIS data to your chartplotter. Additional bonus of these units is that you can also get a cordless handset for up on deck for about the cost of a hand held VHF (note we still carry a separate handheld VHF for redundancy). I think there is a Simrad version too. Moving away from NMEA0183 to NMEA2000 has been a great upgrade - it saves a lot of messing around

Huge overlapping Genoas and tiny Mainsail, clearly IOR

Are you bringing the chilli sauce up for a northern tour or further south?

Yes, it's certainly not for the faint hearted. but not planning on selling her anytime soon so I guess I'll eventually forget how much it's costing. And yes I've had a look at Titus Canby and they've set the bar very high. I hope the finish on Straight Laced can come close to Titus, but I'm no boatbuilder so will just be happy to see it floating to be honest.

Who needs extras?

marine traffic relies on internet, you would have to keep the starlink running (more power) and it doesn't show up on anyone else's screen

Dont rely on Marine traffic at sea. It can be a long time behind (an hour or more) real time. A ship goes a long way in an hour!

I may well be overthinkig this . I'm leaning towards just using marine traffic and keeping a good lookout!

OK. AIS transponders with screens or wifi are a bit pricey, especially if you want wifi as well. The digital yacht ait5000 doesn't have a screen, but is a transponder with wifi - its $2300 incl gst. Considering you could buy a B&G MFD AND a NAIS500 for about $2500, that might be a better option... that would give wifi via the mfd.. As BP says you don't NEED anything (even a yacht - people have crossed oceans in rowboats!)

Fact is you don't " need" anything. Everything else is optional.

I have the old raymarine st 60 i thinking is, just wind speed and direction and a speed log

shorthanded in a small boat a transponder is better than a radar reflector.... what are your instruments? (Other than the Navman?)

Hey knowledgeable people I'm planning a longish coastal passage on my 9m yacht and looking to get the boat up to cat 2 and starting to think about Ais, what are your suggestions on a simple ais set up? Do I need a reciever or just the transmitter? my current plotter is an old navman 550 so I'm thinking of going for a dedicated tablet with open cpn and will also have starlink so battery usage is an important consideration. What say you?

Speaking of the Barrier I just sailed there...via Youtube on my incredibly unpopular channel. (The real sail was over 2 years ago - I just found the footage while scrolling through my back up files this morning, so made a video) Apologies for Fred Drift. Looks like I will need breast augmentation, laser hair removal, wig, and transition drugs if I ever hope to fund my sailing trip to the Bahamas or anywhere else in the world beyond Cape Reinga the way it is going. BP is right.

Again, anyone who has the desire to go offshore cruising, go now as the window is closing rapidly.

Aimed at the US market, I guess if you're a Floridian the Bahamas are like Gt Barrier is to Aucklanders. I bet the Barrier economy would love a visiting boat fee so lets not give them ideas

Damn. Aaah well. That's my Bahamas plans shelved. I guess it Barrier again instead.