Replacing All Electronics
Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 10:27 am
We lost our Autopilot on our Raymarine system (no voltage created at the Drive Motor terminals on the below deck S1G SmartPilot). Due to age and some other issues, we have decided to replace all of the electronics. I would like to keep the Raymarine Wind, Depth, and Speed transducers due to the likelihood that we would have to take the boat out of the water and probably remove the mast to install new transducers and wiring. I've read some of the articles on this forum regarding upgrades, but thought I would poll the community for any newer advice.
From what I understand, the transducers are all wired with original Seatalk-1 cabling. Since they all go to the helm pedestal, I believe I can connect them to a Seatalk-NG converter and backbone above the aft cabin ceiling to connect to new chart plotter, Autopilot, wind, and depth displays. That network could then be connected to the NEMA 2000 connector on our Std. Horizon VHF/DSC/AIS radio. I'm not sure if we will need an external GPS antenna, but obviously the present one has Seatalk-1 cabling. I believe the antenna is presently connected to the S1G SmartPilot located in the prop shaft tunnel under the aft birth. The AIS on the Std. Horizaon radio is receive only, and I might add an AIS transmitter while I am re-wiring everything.
Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.
From what I understand, the transducers are all wired with original Seatalk-1 cabling. Since they all go to the helm pedestal, I believe I can connect them to a Seatalk-NG converter and backbone above the aft cabin ceiling to connect to new chart plotter, Autopilot, wind, and depth displays. That network could then be connected to the NEMA 2000 connector on our Std. Horizon VHF/DSC/AIS radio. I'm not sure if we will need an external GPS antenna, but obviously the present one has Seatalk-1 cabling. I believe the antenna is presently connected to the S1G SmartPilot located in the prop shaft tunnel under the aft birth. The AIS on the Std. Horizaon radio is receive only, and I might add an AIS transmitter while I am re-wiring everything.
Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.