Jeff's Recommendations for a Basic Navigation Package for your Boat 

Thanks - super helpful. I really appreciate the "assume I know nothing" level videos, because usually that's my level.

As a sailor through 40 years and professional navigator in 30, I would say that most boaters put on way too much gear. In my boat I have a speed/depth sensor, compass (and those 2 are the most essential), wind instruments, a VHF radio + AIS tranceiver (for safety since I do a lot singlehanded sailing), papercharts for oceancrossings, electronic charts on my cellphone for inshore and a handheld GPS to do a fix now and then when at oceanpassages.

Offshore I LOVE this site and am really happy I found it. I have learned a ton, after watching more than 40 episodes. But IMO this answer is off in a way that is safety critical. Offshore to me is at or more than 48-72 hours passage time to inshore (inshore being lakes ,bays ,and sounds) at average daily KnM per day distance, at average passage making time for your particular vessel. Given that, My $ electronics objectives priority list vs your list: 1. Location. GPS. The farther u go offshore the more dead reckoning is prone to error. 2. Storms. You need macro level Weather for large storm avoidance (contra VHF for local emergency and collision avoidance). A Few ways of doing this… 3. Squalls. Radar For local squalls. You need to see extreme wind producing localized weather systems offshore BEFORE they hit you, with enough time to reef, etc. 4. Collision. AIS for avoiding large ships running your really small boat over. Most folks would rank AIS higher , but not me since I do NOT believe AIS replaces a standing visual watch, which IMO is a must even mid Pacific. 5. Fire prevention/detection electronics. Dependent on your riskiest sources 6. Communication. SSB or satellite. For rescue, medical evacuation, medical advice and instruction.

well presented, I have all the above on my boat, because I can. They all add to my peace of mind while offshore.

Really good video. Great points.

Thanks, Jeff, it's tough to prioritize, but I think you did a good job nailing down the list. You touched on the weather, but having Predict Wind or similar capability would improve selecting a suitable weather window for at least a couple of days, just to not start the journey by going into trouble. Cheers.

As always outstanding and thought provoking presentation. TY. Maby some day throw in a SHTF kit. I basic nav / coms kit if there is a massive electrical failure onboard such as lightning or electrical fire. Even a hand held kit with solar that can go in a bailout bag.

Hi Jeff, great question and list. My comment is budget driven, but I think I would get an MFD before AIS. Or, on a true budget and minimalist approach, get an AIS enabled VHF (by default these have GPS built in) and depth sounder or tri-data and one display. That’s two devices and your basic needs are covered.

Thanks Jeff!

Thanks Jeff always great as usual. I'd like to make a contribution and also a question. Contribution: talking about redundancy, for people doing offshore far from shore and bluewater crossing or circumnavigation to have an extra VHF antenna in case of dismasting, your VHF being on top of the mast you loose the ability to communicate "long" distance considering a portable VHF would have a limited distance range (3 to 5 miles) compare to 15-20 miles (25W transmit power). At least you won't range as far as being on top of the mast but better than portable. This being also on redundancy would consider the depth sounder, VHF, and GPS to be also on redundant/dedicated battery power supply ? Separate from house bank kibd a full redundant system including power ? Thanks

Jeff, good info. I would add to that if you are operating in the winter months at all, to me a Radar is non negotiable. I have had too many times where I have wound up souped in while under way and would have been completely blind without it.

Perhaps it was mentioned before me. but, for backup I have two old hand held GPS that I have on the boat for back up. They still work great and I keep a good supply of AA batteries. I also have a handheld VHS radio that I keep charged up just in case..... This was a good video and I could not agree more with you on the items that are must have and nice to have.

Gotta add my 2 cents...... I bought a chartplotter/depthsounder/fishfinder. Got the 7 inch screen because it was cheaper and the 9 inch were not available because of shipping issues. Huge mistake. Spend the money get the 9 Inch or larger. So much easier to read during rough conditions. Lesson learned.

Jeff - love your work- one seriously big failure here - is the most fundamental instrument on a vessel - that is a compass. - electronics are borderline aides to navigation - a compass - entirely independent of all electronics ( except for lighting) is the fundamental to a basic navigation package.

How about a KISS system of mark 1 eyeballs, chart and compass?

When on open ocean all you need is compas, sextant (near shiping lines: VHF, AIS). Near shore good to have GPS, deph finder, good marine map, binoculars, navigation lights (coffee maker?)

I've done some blue water voyages. I sure would recommend other communication devices beyond a VHF before night vision, or even radar (neither of which I have, but fog sucks w/o radar). A cheap Garmin In-reach allows you to send texts, receive weather and send a distress signal, or for a bit more $ you can get an Iridium Go and do email too, all in the middle of an ocean. I don't have a chart plotter. Waste of money IMO. I run OpenCPN (free) on a dedicated PC below and have several mobile devices which run other plotter apps all for a lot less cost than a marine chart plotter. PLB, EPIRB, etc. Not sure if that's "electronics" but worth mentioning as some type of satellite distress beacon is a must have. Another thing not mentioned, that I found very helpful is some kind of battery monitor (maybe that's electrical system not 'electronics') and a way to keep the battery charged at sea. Solar is a no brainer these days, with associated controller/charger. Gotta feed all those electronics, which may mean not buying as many electronics.. I personally would not go for months without refrigeration either, but you can rough it. I know that's not electronics either, but they all use electrons and impact power budgets :-) Note: I believe that in the USA, if you have radar you are required by law to have it turned on and monitored at all times during a passage. This can significantly impact your power budget and make radar unfeasible without battery and charging upgrades.

Yeah surprised you did not mention PLB. Also, before Thermal Imaging Camera, might consider a forward scanning sonar?

Hi Jeff, thanks for the quality video as always. What would be the best way to send you question that I think could be good topics for the 3-5 mins format you are doing. In the mean time, here is a question I would love your insights on: --- Would you recommend a dual circuit breaker (pos and neg) between the solar panel(s) and the charge controller. I did not see it in your wiring diagram but it seems that it could be useful to both protect the wire but also disconnect the solar panels from the controller for maintenance. Victron manual states: " Provide a means to disconnect all current-carrying conductors of a photo-voltaic power source from all other conductors in a building or other structure." Would the circuit breaker covers this. ---

I hope you are preparing a recap video of top 10 products of 2021 / Worst of 2021 / Best Budget top 10.

I would think top of must have list would be a quality magnetic compass.

I’m setting up a “house” battery system. Which is the one you recommend: (2) 6 volt batteries 240 AH or (1) 12 volt battery 100 AH?

where does a DSC enabled VHF radio land on your list? or a marine HF radio?

Any boat over 12 meters are required to have a VHF, radar and it running, I know I don't like it either but true. Once I was doing a passage from Maine to St tom 3rd day in was in a storm that took all my antenni , and was able to navigate like 1200 miles with just a inreach so I go nowhere without a hand held gps...

...you said it, "cool content."

a compass (that points north)

Jeff, on a 30’ sailboat with a thru-hull transducer, what would you suggest for backup depth, other than a lead-line of course? You showed a stern mount fish finder stern mount in this video, but on a sailboat I think that would be unwise for potential of it being damaged as the stern most object on a sailboat.

What do you think about raspberry pi?

One of the things I am considering for my own sailboat that wasn't mentioned is a forward-scanning sonar as a navaid when gunkholing in shallower waters. It could also serve as a backup to the depth sounder.

What?! No Loran?

I travel from Baltimore to Florida and back every year. I spend a few overnights in the ocean. I like redundancy. I have a built in vhf and a hand held VHF I have paper charts and cruising guides. I have Bobs tracks loaded I have navionics running on a 180 dollar android tablet. I have furuno watchmate, a vesper 8000 AIS and radar overlaying on an iPad pro running TZIBOAT. 2 o'clock I the morning my eyeballs tell me I am all alone in the ocean. My Ipad on the other hand had 23 AIS targets. I know the speed, heading closest point of crossing and their name if I need to call any of the 23 targets. Additionally I had a few targets NOT broadcasting AIS. I have no idea why anyone would run in the ocean at night that didn't have an AIS Transponder. I also have basic guages like an annomometer and depth. These were my bare minimums to feel safe. I have also had to come in an unfamiliar inlet nearly blind from fog using radar and tablets.

Ah Jeff you blew it. He said offshore. Handheld vhf, PLB, Cheap laptop with free open CPN charts.. Phone can be used for backup for navionics for 14 dollars.

1. Autopilot !

Anemometer.

What is so important about a depth sounder. I totally disagree on the necessity of that.

Very rustic background

Instead of a standalone chartplotter.. Carry a spare one or $200.00 tablet? Why? Bc the tablet is a 🎉Multipurpose❤ tool..!

The word is Anemometer, not Winnonometer.

You look greek and you have a greek name are you?

Sorry but radar is not no frills--on a sailboat you almost never use it--beats up the battery banks. Same with windspeed indicator, you can just look up on top of the mast for direction and with the windspeed, you can just feel and look at the sails and water speed to get that. AIS is also not no frills. After watching this video and taking his advice, you just wipped up a typical electrical package for a sailboat. No insights here.

You forgot a compass/heading sensor. Something like a Precision 9 or EV-1. This is pretty high on the list, for sure near the top.