Electronics Survey & Refit:
Wear and tear on marine electronics occurs as they age and are exposed to humidity and seawater. Yacht owners need to constantly survey and inspect the electronic equipment for upgrades and refits.
- AIS
- Radar Magnetron
- EMI & RFI
- Satellite Compass (Multipath Issues)
- Fluxgate Rate Compass
- VHF
- Wet Compass
- Gyroscope Compass
- Radio
- Stereo Audio
- NMEA 0183 and 2000
- Electronics Upgrade
- LED Lighting
- Electronics Installations
- Electronics Troubleshooting
Sailboat
Panels Refit
Panel wires and cables need to be surveyed and inspected to ensure compliance with sheathing and protection.
Electronics Testing
All circuitry and fuses need to be tested to ensure their ratings are still valid and functional.
Radio Testing
According to the FCC, yacht owners must test their radios regularly to ensure they function as expected when leaving shore.
Cable Change
Chafed and old cables need to be replaced with new ones to improve electronic performance in humidity and saltwater conditions.
Powerboat
Radar Testing
Radar tuning, EBL alignment, and main bang suppression should be tested regularly to ensure accuracy.
Battery Banks
Make sure the batteries are charged correctly. All batteries should have the correct electrolyte level. The battery management system should be functioning properly.
Satellite Compass
It needs to be fine-tuned and optimized with the latest software to ensure heading information is accurate for navigation and free of multi-path issues.
Electrical Testing
Electrical systems are an integral part of the electronic systems, especially the reserved, independent power sources for radios and radars to make emergency calls.
Recommended Electronic Parts
A radar magnetron is a transceiver for the radar. Over time, it will age and eventually die. Extra radar magnetrons onboard are often needed to ensure a smooth boating experience. After installation, radar fine-tuning and testing are required for it to work properly with AIS and a chart plotter.
It is important that yacht owners purchase NMEA-certified and compliant electronics; otherwise, the components won’t work well with NMEA 2000 network. It might not process NMEA sentences correctly or even show up on the network.
If yacht owners don’t want to deal with electromagnetic interference, a satellite compass will be very useful; however, they need to be aware of multi-path issues. Proper installation is required for it to get the correct heading and magnetic north.
F.A.Q.
Frequent Questions
How long does a typical magnetron last?
Depending on the type and brand of the radar magnetron. It can last from 2000 to 8000 hours of transmissions and receiving.
How important is it to use NMEA-certified parts?
It is very important that yacht owners always purchase NMEA-certified parts so they function properly with the NMEA network. Other non-certified parts might work, but won’t be able to process NMEA sentences.
How long does it take to survey and refit a boat's electronic system?
It depends on the yacht owners’ needs and budget. I can take a few hours to a few weeks for both ordering parts and labor time.
How often should yacht owners test their radios?
According to the FCC, yacht owners should test their radios before each trip to ensure that they can make distress calls.