I am moving the instrument pane from way down on the cockpit footwell to the starboard coaming near the help (where existing cubby hole is).
Here is my preliminary panel layout.
I would like opinions on what would be nice to have in the panel and what really shouldn't be there.
Also, the start and blow plug buttons (and hour meter) are near the cockpit sole on stbd side. Has anyone moved them up to the starboard coaming and are you happy with that move?
Thanks
http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/scherzoja/media/Instrument%20Panel/newPanel_zpswtfv2eng.gif.html
n general I like the location better than the existing one, much better access and visibility. One thing you might consider is that the boat I took lessons on was a Beneteau with a similar location for the panel, and people kept accidentally leaning back against the ignition key while sitting in the cockpit, and it kept getting broken off. You might think protecting it somehow, perhaps recessing it back some or maybe a plexiglass cover. Also think about water and the 12v outlet. They make some that are pretty well protected and have a rubber plug when not in use. On the windlass switch, do you want just one on/off switch, or do you want to be able to operate it from the cockpit, so up/down buttons?
Thanks for the insight on the key-in-the-back issue. I plan to have it recessed with clear lid and, with any luck, flush with the coaming surface. The windlass switch is and up/down switch.
When I get around to upgrading the instrumentation on my boat I'd like to follow the lead of companies like Honeywell Avionics and Rockwell Collins and go with the glass cockpit retrofit. If you've been in Cessna Citation lately you know what I'm talking about.
Raymarine, Loran, Garmin and a dozen after market companies can supply all the parts you will need for your Marine glass cockpit retrofit. Primarily you will need a generic analog to NMEA Engine Gateway module ($300 - $500) and a mullti function display. I will stick with Raymarine on the display as its the most marketable upgrade if you ever decide to sell. And its compatible with all the other Raymarine pods and dedicated displays on your backbone. Although there are some pretty slick open source color touchscreens pre-coded for Marine use. So the GUIs are in there.
With everything networked on the sea-talk NMEA backbone you now have complete integration of all NAV, Engine Sensors (including fuel consumption if you buy that sensor), Autopilot, Chart plotter, radar, AIS, etc. on a single display. And you can add a second display down below at any time. If you get a NMEA to Wi-Fi bridge you can integrate Windows, Apple or Android tablets with aftermarket apps. What I like about the multifunction display software is it allows you set alarm limits on your engine and NAV parameters. So you don't have to stare at the display all day.
I have a legacy Westerbeke analog display located on the port side lower cockpit, left of the mizzen mast. It's out of the way so I will leave it there. My glow plug and start pushbuttons and neutral light are located on the Edson Pedestal. The starter solenoid and glow plug are both controlled by relays at the motor so these remote pushbutton are small gauge wire and low current circuits. No current flows in the N.O. position anyway so they do not disturb the compass.
Pete
I wanted to follow through with some information regarding the current state of the industry regarding the "Glass Bridge" retrofit. Turns out it is a trend that's not going away. Digitizing engine data into standard NMEA2000 sentences is well established and standardized among the manufacturers of multifunction displays and marine engines. There is not an MFD on the market today that does not have a configurable menu for engine parameters.
Modern diesel engines provide digitized engine data from the ECU via the CAN bus interface. The format is known as J1939. A CAN bus to NMEA2000 interface is required to get this information to NMEA2000 Seatalk where it can be displayed on a multifunction display. Older diesel engines will require an analog to digital interface known as the Engine Gateway to create the NMEA sentences.
The Actisense EMU-1 is such a device. It is configurable via windows laptop for up 6 gauges, 4 alarm inputs and a Tachometer plus 2 Aux analog inputs.
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l505/banjoband/EMU-1.png)
There are several MFDs that will work well. IF you are reworking your old analog instrument panel you may be interested in replacing some of the dumb old analog meters with a digital gauge. The LMF400 from Lowrance is such a device. One gauge can display up to 4 analog parameters at one time and is configurable.
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l505/banjoband/LMF400.png)
The Raymarine i70 Multifunction display can display anything that's on your Seatalk bus except charts and RADAR but it can be configured to display engine data. I can see putting 2 of these on my boat since its a one size fits all display. You will still need a dedicated Autopilot display because it lacks the input buttons. Its a decent AIS display as well.
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l505/banjoband/i70MFD.png)
The i70MFD can display the following engine data.
Engine
• Boost pressure
• Coolant pressure
• Coolant temperature
• Engine hours
• Engine RPM
• Engine RPM history
• Fuel flow rate
• Fuel flow rate total
• Oil pressure
• Oil temperature
• Trim position
• Load
• Engine tilt
• Alternator potential
• Transmission oil pressure
• Transmission oil temperature
• Transmission
• Engine overview 1 (allows bespoke
engine dials)
• Engine overview 2 (allows bespoke
engine dials)
Naturally not all this stuff can be made available from the EMU-1 Gateway but if the NMEA2000 sentence is there it can be displayed.
Lastly here is the engine data menu from a Raymarine e7 series chart plotter showing how it can be configured.
(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l505/banjoband/e7.png)
Here's another article with more info
http://www.panbo.com/archives/2013/10/actisense_emu-1_analog_engine_gauges_to_nmea_2000_happiness.html
A lot to think about. Pete
Damn, my head just exploded! That's an eye-opener. Now, I have even more to think about. I guess I'll hold off on replacing the analog gauges for now while i think about this stuff. Pete, thanks again for the info. Didn't even know this stuff exists.