Video on your chartplotter, night vision cameras up the mast, and wireless gadgets galore are now a reality on many cruising boats, but the digital networks they use are decades out of date, making them slow and open to hacking. It’s definitely time for a new kind of onboard network.
To date, sailors and equipment manufacturers have been able to link devices using the networking of NMEA 0183 and, more recently, NMEA 2000 (N2K). These options provide a data backbone by which all instruments are able to talk to one another. It means that no matter what make your echo sounder is it will be able to talk to your instrument display or chartplotter, even when it’s created by another manufacturer. However, NMEA 0183 and N2K are both relatively low-bandwidth systems that service a limited number of sensors and displays and can only support limited amounts of data. When N2K superseded 0183 it increased the data limit, but increasingly sophisticated technology onboard is far more bandwidth hungry.
This has not historically been a significant problem as the closed-loop, unconnected world of a boat in the middle of an ocean is extremely limited. But speed, bandwidth and networksecurity demands change dramatically when raw radar and sonar data feeds are being shared with networked wireless devices, alongside live video feeds, wireless cameras and linked online to the internet.
This story is from the Summer 2020 edition of Yachting Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2020 edition of Yachting Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
I WAS THE ONLY SAILOR ON OUR FAMILY CHARTER AND IT HAD TO GO WELL
Crystal waters, cliff tombs and sunken outboards lain Willis wanted to ensure plain sailing for his family’s first charter around Turkey's Lycian Coast
HOW IT WORKS SEAWATER PUMP
The water and oil seals on a water pump shaft will eventually wear with time, leading to pump-shaft corrosion or loss of engine oil.
THOUSANDS OF MILES ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN
Floris and Ivar battled severe weather and cross swell to sail from Australia to South Africa, but there were beautiful islands on the way
The secret of yachts with enduring appeal
Fashions come and go, but J-Boats remain a safe choice for great sailing boats, whether you want to own it for ever or sell it
Tragic sinking of Bayesian; Italian prosecutors investigate
The sinking of the Bayesian superyacht in reportedly only 16 minutes and the tragic loss of seven lives has sent a shudder through the sailing community and beyond.
THE ADVENT OF MARINE AI TECHNOLOGY
Fonathon Savill reports on the revolutionary impact artificial intelligence is about to have on all areas of life at sea
IMPROVING SINGLE-LINE REEFING
Martin Watts explains how to reduce the friction on the reefing lines of newer yachts
The secrets of skippering a successful cruise
Setting off on a cruise is easy, but planning a route that keeps your options open and ensures the enjoyment of all on board is more of an art
CRUISING THE KINGDOM OF THE ISLES
Joanna Martin and her husband Mark sail across the Irish Sea to the legendary sea kingdom and to draw the wonderful wildlife there
MOODY DS48
Can a boat built for long-term, long-distance cruising and offering one-level living still deliver an enjoyable sailing experience? Theo Stocker sets sail across the English Channel to find out
