TECHNICAL GET THE LATEST ELECTRONICS ON A BUDGET

Electronics technology is constantly improving, offering ever more impressive capabilities. It is making navigation easier, quicker and more accurate, and useful information easier to access. It’s making recording and displaying historical data possible, supplementing the real-time (now) data we’re used to. It costs, but only if substantial replacement of hardware is necessary.

We decided we wanted the best of both worlds — standard hardware with longevity, and software with the flexibility to take advantage of emerging trends. We are electronics enthusiasts and configuring electronics isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But a little effort can deliver the very latest capabilities, tailored to your boat, for minimal additional cost. For those not inclined to experiment, this article illustrates capabilities coming to future ‘plug and play’ systems.

Our boat is a 1980s 34ft 3/4 tonner which we purchased 10 years ago. She is fitted with a