Upgrading instruments

Ben Meakins sets about upgrading the instruments on Polly, his Impala 28, utilising NMEA 2000 ‘plug-and-play’ connectivity for an easy installation and high-tech features

useful functionality and the ability to link in a cockpit chart plotter, but we could sell the old instruments as a working set and recoup some of the cost.

We wanted to move the instruments from the cockpit bulkhead to the hatch garage, which would make them more visible, and allow us to put a small 5in plotter in their place. All the major manufacturers have modern, bright displays with low power consumption, but based on previous experience, we chose to install some kit from B&G. The shopping list comprised:

■ 2 x Triton displays

These bright, highly visible displays can show any data on the network, and will be mainly used for depth, speed and wind – but can be customised to display navigation data as well. ■ 1 x DST800 triducer

This single transducer would replace our separate speed and depth transducers.

■ 1 x 508 wind sensor

This wind sensor would need a wire running down the mast to replace the old, wireless system. ■ 1 x B&G Vulcan 5 plotter

This tiny plotter will give us digital charts in the cockpit, and will also act as another instrument display for extra data.

■ 1 x B&G ZG100 GPS/ heading sensor

This GPS sensor (not strictly necessary as the plotter has an internal GPS) is also a compass heading sensor, which we wanted for wind shift information when racing and cruising in tidal waters. But before installing the kit, we had some glassing and repair work to do...