Yachting and Boating World forums: backup plotters

Hi David and Marsupial..
hee hee, all good points.. but .. there is always a but lol..

No lightening strike would take out ALL systems - because, as you say - the backups are not connected to any bus system.
Even the backup 3500c plotter is in a box ! - not even fitted - tested, yes - then stowed. out of the way of water. along with an independent sd card).
Perhaps a neutron bomb - or a high level muti megaton blast would wipe the lot out via EMP.. but I would have a tad more to worry about in that case.

Fire, that took out all systems would sink me too.. - so unless the liferaft and grab bag burnt as well, then the etrex, spare batteries and epirb would still be ok.

It actually is about risk management nothing more.. I had the pleasure of becoming a 'Prince2 practitioner whilst in NHS management of IT, this is superb Risk management qualification. and that, again, is what its all about.

The fire or the powder or the water may well take out all your paper charts too... hmmm.

I will again, sorry, repeat that redundant systems are not thrown in, they are designed, with all the above acceptable eventualities in mind - AND the ability to fix the main items - supply and charging in this case - and then drop back to backups.

I DO have graph paper and pencils, and my Davies Mk25 and table and Bluets book... but more for nostalgia and show lol..
Also, books, pilot charts, pilot guides etc.. the pilot charts alone are fine along with a pencil.

It also depends on the type of person you are - methodical approach etc

Cost, well thats a killer for many - the biggest expense is the E120 - but that was from the USA - a grand uk delivered..
I repair marine electronics and buy and sell them - my RM 300 - great gps unit - cost me nada, seriously - just a repair needed after it had been reversed polaxed - the 3500c I had before the E120 so kept it (I had two of them lol, but sold one as the redundancy was not ample - due to the same nav cartridge !)

All the wiring and charging systems I fit myself - with redundancy in mind !.. and I DO have lightening protection - but that is NOT relied on...

Most fires on boats (not inc petrol) are caused by wiring problems - mainly lack of adequate fuses and chafe. EVERY time a wire changes size, it should be fused. it is here.. I did it.
I have auto extinguishers in the under deck bay, access holes for manual injection. and apx (Cant be bothered to count them) 10 B&Q abc extinguishers - in lazerette, cockpit lockers, under cockpit area cabins -etc etc

and YES, I CAN navigate by 'traditional' methods.

I think now, we should have thread about emergency medical treatment on board - offshore - NOT just first aid - which is precisely that - FIRST aid - in a more serious occurrence - what 'backup' have you got ?.. by the time you call up for help AND it arrives - the patient may well be dead or WILL die later -

Again, it is having the equipment, the knowledge to use it, the confidence to use it and redundancy - for example skipper n wife - very common - accident to skipper - what does wife do ?. often all eggs in one basket .
People who DO travel offshore - even inshore to be fair - in boats - should be as self sufficient as is humanly possible. Calling for assistance should literally be the absolute last resort. too often it isnt.. anyways I digress. and, I like electronics, and toys.

Actually the BIGGEST problem with paper charts is not fire, flood, wind blowing them away, out of date corrections, rot, mould or disintegration.. it is called Molly. not Murphy.
She will happily eat any paper chart.. and as she's part of the boat - the paper has to go.. Little bugger she is.

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