For all sailors, it is important that the stay in the interior of the ship has the necessary habitability and comfort. For this, it is necessary to have different accessories for boats, diverse nautical material: technology, safety, comfort, leisure, electricity, etc.
The nautical accessories provide an interesting set of elements, made in detail, and with the specific material, for a correct adaptation to the marine environment and navigate in the safest way.
Electronic accessories for boats
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LED lights classic, modern, submersible
White lights, tricolors, anchoring, deck spotlights, crosshead spotlights, halogen spotlights, spotlights with cable, rechargeable, etc.
The mechanism of LED lights is developed with the latest technology, to combine long durability, sufficient lighting power and low power consumption.
Weather stations
Ideal to know the atmospheric conditions, before making the navigation, in the planning of the same, and also during the trajectory.
They are usually installed on the ship and can then be monitored from mobile systems with Android, iPhone, tablets and iPads, etc.
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Solar panels
The advantages of having a solar installation on the boat offer us the autonomy and comfort of having a clean, cheap and silent energy source, very useful for long journeys without the need to worry about the electrical charge.
The solar kits provide enough energy for different devices that we can take on the boat, such as television, music channels, kitchen appliances, laptops, etc.
When installing the solar panels permanently, you can take advantage of the deck of the ship. In the event that it is flat, it is advisable to install these panels that have safety glass and an aluminum frame.
If the roof or surface is slightly curved, solar panels can be used without glass or frame, flexible or semi-flexible.
There is also the option of installing flexible solar panels taking advantage of their eyelets in the corners. In this way, the panel can be converted into a temporary installation and removed from the boat in the months of low sunlight.
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Autopilot
The autopilot is a fundamental device at present, among the electronics for boats, both in the case of sailing or motor boats.
When choosing the autopilot to install, there are two modes. On the one hand, is the one that is placed on the tiller or on the control wheel. On the other hand are the autopilots integrated under the cover, with a hydraulic system for large displacement boats.
The automatic pilots called cane have a lower power, are slower and are not advisable for ocean navigation.
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The probe
When navigation is done in places where there is not much effectiveness of the nautical charts, a digital probe will allow the boat to approach the coast without the risk of colliding with obstacles.
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Communications on board
Some elements such as VHF radio stations, the satellite phone with built-in kit for internet connection and a portable VHF are also very important.
The advantage these portable VHFs can bring is their manageability. In addition, they take up less space, they can even be used on deck. As disadvantages, its scope is lower than the case of fixed VHF, and do not usually have the so-called “digital selective call”, when asking for help.
The scope of the VHF will be determined by a quality antenna and good wiring. It is important that the antenna is located in the highest place of the boat.
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Satellite phone and internet
As of 10 miles, the coverage of phones that use GSM is often lost. The best solution for the connection to continue is to use satellite.
The variables that must be taken into account, in addition to the telephone coverage, are: the model or type of terminal, the rates or call plans, the level of services, etc. The call plan must adapt to the communication needs of each particular case.
The main satellite networks are: the Inmarsat network, with worldwide coverage, except the polar circles, the Iridium network, with worldwide coverage, without exception, the Thuraya network and the Mini-Vsat network, except in its cover the most southern areas, such as the Atlantic, the Indian and the Pacific.
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Plotter and electronic nautical charts
It is the equipment that allows you to show the “current” position of the boat as well as the best routes to follow to reach your destination avoiding obstacles. It provides added visual support through depth readings, contours and navigation aids.
Currently there are several options on the market, some of which combine several equipment such as; Plotter and GPS, or Plotter, GPS and Sonda, are interesting options for those who only look for a team that includes the functions of the different devices in one, with the condition that if any of it suffers a problem the others are affected.
In addition to buying the plotter, you have to think about buying the navigation charts of the area where you are going to sail, although there are also other options to download nautical charts.
As you can imagine, you can find different prices, from the cheapest for about € 400 and up to € 1,000, € 2,000 or more depending on the technical characteristics.
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The radar
Radar can be an important expense for the budget. But its usefulness is decisive to avoid collision hazards, especially in the case of thick mists, night navigation, etc.
In these cases of reduced visibility, the radar will show the profile of the coast and elements that may be in the environment, as is the case of other boats, buoys and other hazards. You can also obtain information through the radar of those areas where there is a risk of heavy storms, rainfall, etc.
Any recreational craft for long journeys should have radar equipment. At present, some models can be found that combine the graphic information of the echo with a combination of GPS and Chart-Plotter images of digital cartography.
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Computer
The computer on board has also evolved in its use, to be a fundamental element for the electronics for boats. It can be integrated into the card table itself, or even have a specific space in the ship’s carpentry.
The portable computers are used even in sailboats of transoceanic regattas.
