Bringing a boat into 2016

[KirbyTech]

I have a boat from 1977 it is not huge but big enough for the lakes I go on. I have already decided I am updating the stereo from an 8 track, some of you much older ones might know what they are. I am also planning to do white leds to light up the inside of the boat. I am wondering what other tech things I can put in the boat that would make sense other than gps have one of them on the way as well. 

[Otomaru]

Blackjack and hookers. Your imagination and budget is the limit.

[Enderman]

a subwoofer

[KirbyTech]

Just now, Enderman said:

a subwoofer

That goes in with speakers.

[ALwin]

2016 huh?  Well drones are popular, why not add some very large propellers so that it's a boat... and a flying drone.  It can travel on water, and on air.

[thekeemo]

Does it have a AM/FM radio?

[KirbyTech]

Just now, ALwin said:

2016 huh?  Well drones are popular, why not add some very large propellers so that it's a boat... and a flying drone.

haha aren't you funny...

[KirbyTech]

Just now, thekeemo said:

Does it have a AM/FM radio?

Did you read the OP? I mentioned updating the stereo, so since almost all marine stereos have radios built in, yeah it will have one. 

[thekeemo]

Just now, KirbyTech said:

Did you read the OP? I mentioned updating the stereo, so since almost all marine stereos have radios built in, yeah it will have one. 

stereo =/= radio..

I assumed you had it but I wasnt 100% sure

[ALwin]

3 minutes ago, KirbyTech said:

haha aren't you funny...

Well what does the boat look like now?  If you want to add a sound system why not just get a portable one so that you can take it home and won't get stolen if left on the boat.

 

If I had a boat, I'd probably use it for diving so depending on how big it is I might add an air compressor for refilling my tanks, a rack for mounting tanks and perhaps an underwater scooter.

[KirbyTech]

3 minutes ago, thekeemo said:

stereo =/= radio..

I assumed you had it but I wasnt 100% sure

Yeah it =/= it but yeah they come as a combo with an easy plug and play connection on them for the most part.

[bob345]

A depth gauge might be nice to have.

[KirbyTech]

11 hours ago, bob345 said:

A depth gauge might be nice to have.

That is not a bad one, I think I might see if I can get one of them into my gps.

[ALwin]

11 hours ago, bob345 said:

A depth gauge might be nice to have.

 

23 minutes ago, KirbyTech said:

That is not a bad one, I think I might see if I can get one of them into my gps.

And how do you intend to use a depth gauge?  The boat is on the surface of the water, to use a depth gauge you'd have to submerge it.  If you want to measure how deep the bottom is, wouldn't a sonar be better?

[KirbyTech]

Just now, ALwin said:

 

And how do you intend to use a depth gauge?  The boat is on the surface of the water, to use a depth gauge you'd have to submerge it.  If you want to measure how deep the bottom is, wouldn't a sonar be better?

I don't think you understand how they work. You put a transducer on the transom and wire it into the gauge. Or there is thru-hull ones but those are normally more expensive.   

[ALwin]

1 minute ago, KirbyTech said:

I don't think you understand how they work. You put a transducer on the transom and wire it into the gauge. Or there is thru-hull ones but those are normally more expensive.   

I have a depth gauge, it's part of my scuba diving kit. I'm looking up how ones mounted to the bottom of a boat works.  The depth gauges I know measure depth based on water pressure and density.  The ones I know used by boats use sonar to see how depth the bottom is.

[KirbyTech]

Just now, ALwin said:

I have a depth gauge, it's part of my scuba diving kit. I'm looking up how ones mounted to the bottom of a boat works.  The depth gauges I know measure depth based on water pressure and density.  The ones I know used by boats use sonar to see how depth the bottom is.

Yeah the diving ones are different. The boats for boats work how I said above. So no they don't use water pressure instead sonar yes. That does not change what they are called though. They are still a depth gauge.  I own a scuba diving one for my kit and yes it is no where close to the same thing as ones for boats. But has the same end result.

[ALwin]

Just now, KirbyTech said:

Yeah the diving ones are different. The boats for boats work how I said above. So no they don't use water pressure instead sonar yes. That does not change what they are called though. They are still a depth gauge.  I own a scuba diving one for my kit and yes it is no where close to the same thing as ones for boats. But has the same end result.

Ok cool, I got it now.

[auswar1st]

you should add a fishing sonar.

 

[Roawoao]

Get a PLB beacon if your going to remote areas without cell service. Make sure it is one that will float obviously for boating applications. Assuming you don't have one already. 

[johnny5c]

Definitely need a ROV,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/757471-REG/VideoRay_ROV_SYS_SCT_X3_N_Scout_X3_Economy_ROV.html

 

But on a serious note, a cheap underwater camera and a strong retrieval magnet can be a lot of fun and even profitable.  My fish finder has a video input and when the fish aren't biting it's fun to do a little treasure hunting, we've found everything from hundreds of fishing lures to boat motors and even a Ford model A.

 

camera,

http://www.amazon.com/Vanxse%C2%AE-Underwater-Camera-700tvl-Finder/dp/B00QT1YR26/ref=pd_sim_sbs_421_10?ie=UTF8&dpID=41MJpCdv8rL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1H9DZGRAN7GEEPK64XYR

magnet,

http://www.amazon.com/Strong-Retrieval-Recovery-Magnet-Prospecting/dp/B00I6JLB2I/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1455992161&sr=8-10&keywords=retrieval+magnet

[ApolloX75]

As someone who designs and installs electrical systems on boats for a living I have one request: please use proper marine wiring techniques. If you're experienced already, good on ya and you can ignore what I say.

 

No marrets, those belong in houses and even then they're junk. Use proper insulated crimp connectors,  heatshrink is even better. 

 

And since your boat is from '77 go through it and check your connections for corrosion. And try to use proper stranded cable, I've seen too many boats with solid core house cable run through them lately. Also check for a proper bonding system. I'm not sure if your hull is metal or not; this changes the requirements a bit, but it can improve the lifespan of your electronics and connections.

 

And if you want a reliable GPS system don't rely on an all in one display to be accurate. The best systems utilize a remote mounted antenna, which gives a much clearer and accurate location lock. Doesn't matter if it's Garmin, Furuno or whatever, for the average boater they're all good.

[KirbyTech]

Just now, ApolloX75 said:

As someone who designs and installs electrical systems on boats for a living I have one request: please use proper marine wiring techniques. If you're experienced already, good on ya and you can ignore what I say.

 

No marrets, those belong in houses and even then they're junk. Use proper insulated crimp connectors,  heatshrink is even better. 

 

And since your boat is from '77 go through it and check your connections for corrosion. And try to use proper stranded cable, I've seen too many boats with solid core house cable run through them lately. Also check for a proper bonding system. I'm not sure if your hull is metal or not; this changes the requirements a bit, but it can improve the lifespan of your electronics and connections.

 

And if you want a reliable GPS system don't rely on an all in one display to be accurate. The best systems utilize a remote mounted antenna, which gives a much clearer and accurate location lock. Doesn't matter if it's Garmin, Furuno or whatever, for the average boater they're all good.

Thanks for the advice, this is not my first time redoing a boat. Last time was a complete gut and rebuild from hull up. Plan is to fully redo the electrical in this boat since even though I can not find corrosion the wiring is not as neat as I would like. Hull on this boat is fiberglass but all connections that I can will be running along white oak sheets to make things easier and cleaner for the future. 

 

Not sure what you mean by bonding system, mind explaining a bit? And how to will improve the lifespan of the electronics?

 

 

Have a GPS here now already it is a all in one unit I have used before and is accurate to what appear to be about .5 meters which while not perfect is good enough for me as I only really need it for finding my way back in a storm. I have used the unit before on another boat and it did wonderful. 

[Scheer]

1 hour ago, ApolloX75 said:

No marrets, those belong in houses and even then they're junk.

Today I learned what the real name for a twist connector is. Ty sir