Tom,

The primary device I use for navigation is a tablet computer.  I have an iPad.  I’m sure other brands can be made to work, but I have no personal experience.

The tablet needs some chart plotter like software.  I’ve used several different programs over the years.  Currently, I’m mostly using  Aqua Map.  Whatever you pick, it will take some time to learn how to use it.

If your tablet has a GPS receiver, then you’ve got about 90% of everything you could ever hope for in one small package, and you could just declare victory and go home.

I chose to further complicate matters.

My iPad doesn’t have GPS, but my VHS radio does.  The VHS also has AIS, which is nice to have.  The VHS outputs this data on a pair of wires in NMEA 0183 format.  To make this data available to the iPad required a device that will read the NMEA data over the wires, and retransmit it over WIFI.  The specific device I’m using is no longer made, but there are several brands out there you should be able to find with an internet search.

I should mention that the chart plotter software you choose has to have support for reading NMEA data over WIFI.  If you go this route, you’ll want to check for this.

The other instrument I use is a depth/speed/temperature sensor, also with NMEA 0183 output.  I don’t really care about the water temperature, and the speed sensor is unreliable, but I refer to the depth readout frequently, especially when anchoring.

I tried a ‘SailTimer’ wind instrument, but couldn’t get it to work reliably.

Peter Nyberg
Coventry, CT
s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)

> On 2023-12-09, at 19:53:35 EST, Tom Hyatt wrote:
>
> I have a general question for Rhodes owners.
> 
> What sort of navigation equipment (chart plotters, depth instruments, wind 
> instruments, etc) do owners have installed on their boats?  Where do you have 
> them placed? 
> 
> Are there phone apps that are replacing installed electronics?
> 
> What recommendations would you have for someone equipping a Rhodes that 
> currently has no navigation technology (except a VHS Radio - newly installed). 
> 
> Thanks for your help.
> 
> Tom Hyatt
> S/V Eliza Jane, 1978
> Middle River, MD.
>