A large component to getting consistent results on a sportfishing charter boat is related to the quality of the electronics on board.
We have favoured Simrad fish finders for many years on 'Reel Life' and have also used Furuno with good results. Our current electronics are more than adequate but when I saw the new Evo2 products at this years boat show, the quantum leap in technology was so impressive, I just had to have it.
With some great support from Navico, we decided the only way to go was to rip everything else out and fit a complete integrated Simrad package to the boat.
Our new equipment list starts with the huge NSS16 EVO2 display driven by a BSM3 fishfinder module connected to a B265 narrow beam chirp transducer. We've also added the structure scan transducer for the ultimate coverage.
We have the latest Navionics Platinum Plus charting and will also include the technology to create our own chart data down to 1 foot increments. This will be a real weapon for prospecting new grounds.
The chartplotter is driven with a high gain antenna and will run alongside a Simrad broadband radar unit. We have included the latest Simrad integrated Autohelm components to complete the navigation side of things.
We've also opted to fit the integrated Simrad VHF, sonic hub, uni dock and wi fi modules to give us the ultimate all round package.
The boat 'Reel Life' is a 7m White Pointer design, (regarded by many as the ultimate blue water boat) powered by the latest 250HP Honda. 'Reel Life' is used as a sportfishing charter boat specialising in Kingfish, Hapuka, Marlin etc and based in Northland NZ.
I will endeavour to update this thread as we progress with the installation and commissioning of the equipment and follow with the results and performance as we start using our new gear.
The first step will be to remove all of the existing equipment and decide on the layout for the new gear. We will probably need to modify the dash to fit the 16 inch screen so wiring, switch panels, engine instruments etc will also have to be removed and re fitted. we will also lower the helm unit to give better visibility to the bottom portion of the screen from a seated position. An new gear plate will also have to be fabricated under the starboard berth to fit the various control modules.
Here is our starting point. The existing dash etc.
Well removing the old gear was a bit more involved than just unscrewing and unplugging but we got there in the end. This is what we are left with...now what?
After making a pattern it was transferred on to 3mm marine grade aluminium and cut and fitted with the top left higher to allow for the big screen.
Now we start to mock up the layout. There are so many ways to do this we could mess around for hours. This is the start. The steering will be lowered 60mm and we still have to find locations for the auto helm display and controller plus the vhf, the audio dock and two 6 way switch panels. Its going to be tight.
The new dash fabricated and ready for upholstery.
A bit of glue and fuzzy stuff had the upholstery completed and we couldn't resist fitting the head unit and sounder module and sneaking out for a dusk trial. Fitting the units and wiring them together is ridiculously easy and operating the NSS16 is so intuitive that Ive yet to consult a manual. I grabbed a couple of quick screen shots without any fine tuning, basically power up and go.
Other boats around this area were not catching but I figured it was worth a shot.
You can clearly see the soft bait dropping while I took the pic. Check out the bathymetric detail on the plotter, incredible.
Next minute, about 10 pounds of dinner. Next drop gave the same result and with that we headed back in.
We're now working to finish the install of the other componentry and with initial results like this, I can't wait for the weather to ease and let us get out deep and really play with the new gear.
Titahi, we've talked with Navico about the forward looking transducer but at the moment it looks like more of a hazzard finding tool rather than a fish finding unit. I'm going to keep an eye on the results from other installs and if it does clearly identify fish then we will definitely fit one.
Jonty.m, no we didn't run the Furuno radar.
"A bit of glue and fuzzy stuff had the upholstery completed.... "
Grant, you sure you just don't want some to go under your hat?
I got the material through an upholsterer friend up here, I will ask her where she buys it and let you know. I was surprisingly cheap.
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