Sunday 21 July 2019

Summer Maintenance in London #3

Hi everyone,
Last week we received a new toy - an Airmar 220WX weather station.  We installed it this weekend.

The 220WX is an impressive instrument  It connects to a NMEA2000 network directly.  It provides the following information:

  • GPS (lat, lon, cog, sog, time etc)
  • Compass heading
  • Wind speed and direction (apparent and true)
  • Wind chill (apparent and true)
  • Attitude (yaw, roll and pitch)
  • Attitude rate (rate of turn, roll and pitch)
  • Air temperature
  • Atmospheric pressure

Wind is measured ultrasonically in the slot in the instrument.  We've gone without wind data to date and estimated it in our log and blogs.  Wind data may allow our autopilot to "steer to wind" - if we can get it's NMEA2000 input working.  The 3D attitude and rate information may assist a future autopilot in difficult conditions.  Atmospheric pressure and air temperature will assist weather forecasting.

Unpacking
We mounted the unit on the goal post.  In future we may elevate it on a post for clearer air flow.

Airmar 220WX Mounted
On the Pushpit
As usual with goal posts the mounting was easy but running the cable less so.  We had left two unused coax cables running through the s/s tubes - one for an old GPS antenna and the other for our old Iridium GO antenna.  Sadly they both had to go.  Happily the 220WX NMEA2000 cable got through the s/s tube to the lazarette.  Its connector had to lose its collar which was too wide to fit.

Zen Again's NMEA2000 network now includes the following:

  • Vesper XB8000 AIS transceiver with WiFi hotspot
  • Garmin VHF300iAIS DSC VHF with AIS receiver
  • Garmin GPSmap451 chartplotter
  • Raymarine SPX5 autopilot (connected but not yet configured)
  • Airmar DST800 log, depth, water temperature
  • Airmar 220WX weather station

With the 220WX on the network we could see it on the chartplotter.

On the NMEA2000 Network
To test accessibility of the 220WX's data within the NMEA2000 network we setup various data on the GPSmap's data page.  This highlighted the main issue we face with the 220WX - most NMEA2000 displays can't show all data.  In particular attitude and attitude rate are not widely supported.  We can display wind, air temperature, atmospheric pressure and GPS data.

GPSmap ChartPlotter Data Display
The final step was to test accessibility of data beyond the NMEA2000 network via WiFi.  This includes what data the WiFi hotspot server transmits and what data the client app can display.  On our WiFi network we have MacBooks, iPads and iPhones.  The iOS devices run the iNavX general navigation app and Airmar's OnSiteWX instrument display app.

Our XB8000 NMEA2000 AIS includes a WiFi hotspot.  Like many such devices it actually translates NMEA2000 data to NMEA0183 prior to transmission.  Many newer parameters (such as attitude and attitude rate) were not standardised in NMEA0183 since they weren't widely available at the time.  This filters data availability.

We really like the iNavX chartplotter app.  It displays Navionics charts and overlays AIS data neatly. However its instrument page is text-only and has a limited parameter list.  At least it can display wind...

iNavX instrument display
OnSiteWX gets closer to our goal with customisable pages and a wide array of parameters.  However it isn't receiving all the 220WX's data...

OnSiteWX customised Location and Weather display
OnSiteWX customised Wind display
OnSiteWX customised Speeds & Courses display
No attitude data...
OnSiteWX attitude display (no data!)
Another nice feature of OnSiteWX is its ability to display trends.  We're yet to try this.

We've been researching WiFi hotspots to find units which transmit all the data on our network.  Most don't but we think we've found one.  If so that will be the topic of our next blog.

220WX
In the mean time we're very pleased with the 220WX.  The number of sensors in such a small package is impressive.  The price is a little scary until one adds up the cost of getting all the data from a set of instruments.  Works for us!

Sunday 14 July 2019

A Visitor from Japan

Hi everyone,
Last week we were very happy to host Mr Gen Michiyama aboard Zen Again.  Gen owns an ST27, the 27' version of our ST34 (aka ST10.4).  He was visiting London on business and found time to spend an evening aboard Zen Again.  Gen found us from our blog.

Gen is a big fan of ST yachts (as we are) and knows both the designer Ken Hayashi and the builder Mr Yamazaki.  Mr Hayashi is involved in Japan's America's Cup bid.  Mr Yamazaki closed Yamazaki Yachts some years ago but still has a keen interest in the boats.  We compared notes on our yachts with Gen.  We showed Gen the many modifications we have made over the years.

Stinger Fans
One interesting fact that emerged in conversation was the origin of the "ST" in the class name.  Apparently it is short for "Stinger".  So we have a Stinger 34 - who knew?!?!

A very nice gift
Gen very kindly presented us with a gift of Japanese whisky.  We'll keep its opening for a special occasion.

It was really nice to chat with another owner of an ST yacht.  Especially so with one who is such an enthusiast and knows both the designer and builder.  Visit again Gen!

Thursday 4 July 2019

Summer Maintenance in London #2

Hi everyone,
We've been busy over the last two weekends completing our head compartment makeover.  Here's how it went...

We applied 3 coats of Epifanes epoxy primer.  This was followed by 3 coats of Epifanes multi-urethane top coat in "arctic white".  We used both brushes and rollers.  The finish isn't perfect but it's clean, bright and appears hard-wearing.

Topcoats complete
We removed the four locker doors and gave them a quick sand and revarnish.  Huge improvement for very little work.
Locker doors & surrounds varnished
With the painting complete it was time to put everything back together.  The masking tape came off then we refitted the Blakes Lavac and new hoses.  New hoses were necessary since the previous near-new hoses had to be cut off.

Of course this work was done on the hottest day of the year so far - 34C.  Inside the head it was high 30s and then I turned on the heat gun to help push on the hoses.  Twas like being back in Fremantle in summer.
Heat gun for hose attachment
Next we could fit the new sink - a nice deep s/s unit.  It is held in place by sealant which needed compression while curing.

New sink sealing under compression
 The locker doors went back next.  They look great!

Locker doors back in
The last locker door went in, followed by fitting the loo roll and loo brush holders.

Last locker door and grating fitted
A new larger electrical junction box was fitted, allowing much easier connection of all thru-deck cables from the mast.  Most of the cables run through lengths of poly pipe which is much neater than the old cable-tied bundle.

New junction box and reorganised wiring
We fitted a new mirror with light above, and a towel rail.  The revarnished teak battens which hold up the head lining look good too.

New mirror with light and towel ring
Around the new sink we have soap and toothbrush holders.  Freshwater is pumped by the foot pump below.  The splashbacks look neat too after tidying up their edges with sealant.

Big improvement!
Our head compartment refurbishment took longer than expected.  The Epifanes paint was excellent.  It took us a little while to figure out how best to use the small rollers without them "shedding" debris.  We're very pleased with the result.