Panbo

The Marine Technology Hub

Panbo News and Reviews

AC34, on board the committee boat 5

What's on board...

AC34, on board the committee boat

AC34_committee_boat_Regardless_cPanbo.jpg

Almost two months later and I’m still excited about what I saw of America’s Cup 34 in San Diego. If I had a megayacht I might well dispatch it to Naples or Venice for the spring World Series events, and I’ll certainly be tuning in to AC’s YouTube channel. But I’m convinced that understanding the incredible technology behind the scenes helps you appreciate how pure the racing is, and I’ve got several more entries to write on the subject, as well as an April Yachting feature in the works. Today we’re going to peek at what goes on aboard the AC 34 committee boat, a sturdy power cat named Regardless…

DMK box hand’s-on #1, developers needed! 21

Wireless & Apps / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

DMK box hand’s-on #1, developers needed!

DMK_instrument_app_w_N2K_data_cPanbo.jpg

Even if it only happened in my basement lab, it really is wonderful to see a boat’s sensor data arrive wirelessly into an iPad app, where it could be used and displayed in so many ways. The instrument screen shown above was developed by the same DMK Yacht Instruments folks who build the WiFi box that got the data there (first discussed here in December). The wind, depth, and speed numbers went into the DMK bridge in NMEA 2000 format, but they could been in NMEA 0183 or SeaTalk, or a mix of all three. In fact, I’ve tried all three source formats with some success so far, but I’m frustrated because the DMK app — meant mainly for configuring the box, I think — can only interpret the values shown, and no other app I know of yet takes full advantage of what the box can do. Lets hope some developers start paying attention to what’s possible here!

Compass Marine: Installing a battery monitor & much, much more 15

Electrical & Engines

Compass Marine: Installing a battery monitor & much, much more

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I’ve long been meaning to give a hearty shout out to a slightly odd site called Compass Marine. What’s odd is that the author — RC Collins, an ABYC certified marine electrical technician and sailor — is using an online database designed for photographers to create excellent how-to articles on subjects like Installing a Battery Monitor. But once you get used to the captioned illustration format, I think you’ll be amazed. As suggested in the screen shot above, RC built a demo 12v power system so he could photo illustrate the Victron BMV-602S installation to near perfection, and he even annotates some of his photos to further make his points. This amount of work is not trivial. Collins could use a copy editor (me too!), but he really knows his stuff and he goes to extraordinary lengths to explain what he knows…

Most popular Panbo 2011 entries, themes for 2012? 12

Wireless & Apps

Most popular Panbo 2011 entries, themes for 2012?

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Looking back at Panbo statistics for 2011, the iPad was undeniably a major topic. The February entry “iPad cases for the boat, & some interesting apps” was the most read of the year, by far, and the next up was the “The damn iPad: iNavX, X-Traverse, Navimatics & AC” entry written back in May, 2010 (when I was lusting for one). In addition, March’s “Accessory GPS for iPads…” came in at #5, and May’s “iPad GRIB viewers…” at 12. So should Panbo become iPanbo? Well, certainly a major goal here is to report on and discuss important trends in marine electronics, but understanding statistics like these involves a lot of nuance…

Interlux Pacifica Plus, the seven month test 10

Good Gear (non electronic)

Interlux Pacifica Plus, the seven month test

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Antifouling bottom paint is a tricky subject, especially now that we’re rightfully paying more attention to the health of the waters it works in and the health of the people who apply it. So I was happy to experiment with copper-free Interlux Pacifica Plus this season, and the results were better than this photo looks. In fact, I may well use it again next year, but I would like to understand more about what chemistry actually constitutes a safe and effective bottom paint…

SmartPlug shore power system, has its time come? 43

Electrical & Engines

SmartPlug shore power system, has its time come?

SmartPlug_install_on_Gizmo.jpg

I’ve got shore power running to Gizmo right now, as I’m trying to get the batteries in tip top shape for the frigid months to come, and I feel a lot better about that situation because I recently installed the SmartPlug system above. Maybe I’m paranoid but I’ve heard of so many boat fires which started at the shore power inlet that I’m always reluctant to leave one active when I’m not around. But that 30 amp SmartPlug inlet is carefully designed to avoid heat-inducing resistance and it also contains a trip thermostat which cuts power at 200º F (just before wire insulation begins to soften). Plus the inlet is very easy to install, and when you first use the orange plug itself, you too will likely wonder why we’ve been messing with twist locks all these years. With its obvious orientation and lock levers, a glance at its straight blades is not necessary. The blue “I’ve got power” LED is a useful touch too. But can SmartPlug change the traditional hardware world of shore power?…