Marine electronic devices and other aquatic electric tools incorporated on your sailing boat ensure a better stay at sea. Whether you’re planning for a simple boat journey or using it for sea operation procedures, having equipment is necessary for navigating. It also ensures a safer stay and returns from the sea. It’s hard to see seafarers and marine workers (especially in the shipping industry) going out of the harbour without equipment.

These equipment and electrical systems will keep you away from the typical maritime/coastline shipping troubles from losing track direction to running out of fuels. So, one may ask, what must-have electronics do you need for your boat? Do you need to have boat propulsion systems or echo sounders?

Electric Components – Which Component Fits Well

The simplest way to answer the question about determining the most crucial component for your boat is to determine if they can improve your time spent on the sea. For starters, it may sound quite broad at first, which is why you need to figure out what your needs are and what type of tools are there that can accommodate you. Some are used for fishing. Others are used for watersports, short or long-distance cruising or factoring – these are so-called different objectives for needing various components.

The component you might want to use most for long-distance cruising is widely different from those that can be found on fishing or short-distance boating. You don’t necessarily need to use the diesel electric drive on simple recreational boats since diesel electric drive provides power output for electric generators. However, these components fit well for larger vessels that are often used in the industry or commercial lines.

Marine Electronic Components & Systems

Marine electronics and components make navigation much easier apart from providing safe and efficient sea trips. Apart from the mentioned importance, it makes the captaining role much less complicated. Hence, many industries, commercial, and even some recreational boat owners choose to invest in equipment like boat propulsion systems, GPS or Chartplotter or VHF radio. They may seem quite intimidating or confusing to use first, but once you get around and master how they work, they can make your navigation extremely simple. Here are a few examples of marine electronic component systems:

Marine Electrification

Marine electrification systems have provided rapid vessel manoeuvring and a big switch from fossil fuels when towing large vessels. It’s a huge turning point in the marine industry for a better value proposition when installing battery systems effectively and efficiently.

Battery systems have been slowly adapting at large in several industries like automobiles and fleets to reduce carbon emission and curb the growth of shipping pollution. Battery systems remain a relative component in providing efficient power while reducing carbon emission. On the other hand, a hybrid marine propulsion system is a solution component in bridging combustion engines and battery systems. Both work together in restricting particulates and provide better emission controls.

Radar

While radar may sound like complex marine electrification you may see on-board, they are serving a crucial purpose. They offer a significant benefit at night and in fog or rain and are of particular value when close to shore or in busy shipping lanes. The radar’s antenna sends out a stream of RF energy which is reflected off hard objects. When this energy is bounced back it is converted to a signal displayed to the user.

The antenna rotates every few seconds. The display continuously calculates the direction of the antenna so a precise bearing to the target is calculated. The time is measured for the energy to be reflected, so the target distance is also displayed.

Autopilot or self-steering gear

An autopilot relieves the helmsman from steering and ensures the vessel is steering and moving towards the right route. Autopilot systems might be mistaken as simple mechanics compared to radar or more complex ones like marine propulsion systems. However, a helmsman can operate it in more accurate steering to get to a destination quicker while maintaining optimal use of fuels.

You can set the autopilot to a course relative to the wind or steer on a compass course. An electronic wind or fluxgate compass indicator feeds information to a microprocessor. The feeding of information to the microprocessor makes the necessary rudder movements to return the vessel to its required course. The mechanical power is applied to the rudder by either electric, rotary drives or hydraulic pumps.

VHF Radio

While having sophisticated marine electrification systems can provide better power for your navigation, it’s still necessary to have equipment that can be used for safety and even in emergency situations. VHF radios (very high frequency) are among the must-have components onboard for communication, no matter how large or small your vessel is. The equipment is commonly used in both inshore and offshore boating.

VHF radio is integral for safety since you can encounter a risk of losing signal/service, or you may have encountered battery trouble along the way. The radio can be the form of an installed device or handheld radio that enables communication on the nearest coastguard. Very high frequencies are transmitted and received via an onboard antenna.

Fuel Management

There is various marine electrification that is designed to provide automation in managing fuel for maritime vessels. Regardless of the sophistication or simplicity of available electronic or equipment systems, most of these serve the same function of providing awareness to the remaining fuel level. It keeps vessels from venturing too far offshore. It also serves to provide optimal usage so that vessels don’t immediately run out of fuel.

Fuel systems

Fuel injection systems and fuel supply, which deals with the provision of oil (which will be used by the injection system), are the most common classification for fuel systems. These systems can be far more complex than incorporating storage, transfer, offloading, and treatment of fuel oils that are seen on larger vessels. Several vessels also rely on generators, which require a diesel electric drive. Nonetheless, for the most part, it is crucial to keep an eye on fuel level management.

Conclusion

Components and other marine electrification systems may sound complicated but are necessary nonetheless. Just like any other machine, they make navigation processes much simple and safer.

If you are looking for boat propulsion systems and marine electrifications, be sure to visit the E-Pod Propulsion website!