Helm Heaven

How To Manage Your Helm Electronics For The Best Results

- Stuart Reichardt

Don’t let the electronics on your boat bring a sudden halt to your outing. Do you know what to do in the event of an electronic problem on your boat? Here are some of our top tips to help you get started with figuring out what the problem is with your electronic system and whether you need to bring in professional advice.

KEEP A LOG

Keeping a log on your boat makes good sense. Make notes regarding any repairs and inconsistencies that occur. Whether it’s the replacement of a wiring loom, a fishfinder that is giving anomalous readings, or an autopilot that is taking you in every other direction, if you can pinpoint, through the notes in your log the conditions and circumstances when the problem began, it can often lead to the sorting out of the problem.

CAMERA PHONE FRIEND

The smartphones of today are perfect for documenting the electronic problems that occur at the helm, particularly intermittent problems. Taking a photo when the intermittent problem occurs will allow you to show this to the technician who will then be able to make a more informed diagnosis of the problem. Another use for the smartphone camera is to take a photo of the back of a difficult-to-get-to unit to get its serial number and this can then be relayed to the technician. Another advantage of taking a smartphone picture behind the unit is to see if all the connectors are properly in place, without removing the entire unit and tearing apart the helm.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE