Recently we did a major electronics refit on a Hinckley 42. Over the years, the boat had updated the electronics, however this year the owner decided to take things up to the next level. With the advice and guidance of our Electronics shop foreman John Gass, a new system was designed.

 

The biggest part of the refit was the upgrade of the two 6.5” Northstar chart plotters located at the helm. We also installed two 12” Northstar 8000i multifunction units at the nav station. Not only are these units much larger but they are much easier to use allowing for safer operations while at sea. The Northstar units feature high-definition radar as part of the multifunction capability, replacing the original stand-alone radar system.  Also replaced were the autopilot, 2 VHF radios and the audio system which was upgraded from an antiquated tape deck and CD changer to a CD head unit with an iPod jack and satellite radio.  All of this work required the efforts of just about every department here at Wayfarer.   Our Fiberglass shop filled the holes left from the old gear. Our Carpentry shop aided in the rebuilding of the nav-station down below, and our Fabrication shop built a new housing for the helm display (seen in the before and after photos above).

 

So what is one to do with all of these used electronics? Everything that came out of the boat was in perfect working order and far from obsolete; most boat owners would have loved to have the gear we removed. I made a phone call to Tim Leach, the Waterfront director at Maine Maritime Academy, where I spent 4 years of my life and received my degree in Marina Management. Captain Leach said that the Academy was very interested in receiving these electronics. I contacted the owner’s representative who quickly agreed with the idea. Wednesday I took a drive to Castine to drop off everything including the life raft which came off the boat as well. The gear is destined to go onto the new 70’ training boat the Academy is acquiring in the near future and will be used for a years to come to train the newest students in the finer points of navigation and boat handling. It was great fun to be able to arrange this on behalf of the boat’s owner. For more information about donating any of your old gear (from electronics gear to boats) please contact me and I’ll put you in touch with the proper people.

 

Regards,

Ben