If sonar/depth gauges are boats' "ears" then GPS/chart-plotters are their "eyes." Roma has had three sonars in her 38 year history, and even came from the factory with a built in sonar or depth gauge. That's pretty amazing since she is a 1974 model and marine electronics were in their infancy on privately owned vessels during that period.
Over my twelve plus years of "parenthood" (I've been told that Roma is my 4th child) I've only had a couple inexpensive handheld GPS or chart-plotters. Built-in or mounted chart-plotters were initially very expensive and well out of Captain Hugh and Roma's budget. Just as computers and other electronics have come down in price so have marine electronics. After a year of research, six months of saving, and finding a real good deal on Craig's List, Roma is now sporting a Lowrance HDS7 Insight electronics unit.
The days of individual instruments on smaller boats are over. Now most critical electronics data can be driven to a single unit with what is referred to as multifunctional navigational technologies. With the Lowrance HDS7 I have the capability for chart-plotter, depth gauge/sonar, radar, engine instrumentation, SIRIUS satellite weather and radio, as well as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System or GMDSS - all reading out through one instrument and screen.
GMDSS is an automated marine radio distress alerting system called Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) or unique number when tied in to a compatible VHF radio system. The advantage with this system is that a radio distress call will not only carry a voice description of the emergency but will also transmit the exact coordinates or position and unique identity of the registered vessel and captain.
Essentially, the Lowrance HDS7 Insight is a single electronic unit that I can add layers of capability to as the budget becomes available. For now, the functioning systems are the GPS/Chartplotter and sonar/depth gauge. Since my motor is already NMEA 2000 compatible I can activate the instrument readout feature with relatively inexpensive and simple cable connections. Then I'll replace my existing 12-year old built in VHF radio with a MMSI compatible unit for added safety.
After two days of installation work which required me to crawl into places a 240 pound man should never have to go, the sea trial took place on Friday, August 24. The results were a complete success and Roma seemed to know something new was up because she's never performed better. Joining me were my son-in-law Chris and his dad, Greg Phillips. We enjoyed 12-15mph winds from the Northeast and the sea conditions were flat and perfect. Roma proudly clocked between 6 and 7 mph SOG (speed over ground) while on a beam reach into a slight current, and otherwise sailed and handled great. Her new "eyes" and "ears" worked flawlessly.
Click here for video of Roma sailing in St. Simon's Sound near Jekyll Island.
All of this is just in time for Roma's move from St. Simon's Island to Savannah over Labor Day weekend. The 75 (statute) mile off-shore trip will take approximately 11 hours, assuming we have favorable weather conditions. Roma's new home for the next year will be Delegal Creek Marina on Skidaway Island.
Known by our family and close friends as “Hugh & Suze” we live in Warrenton, Georgia, which is a four hour drive from St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. [...]We enjoy periodic visits to our Catalina 34, CAILEIGH ANNA, where we participate in club races and cruise the coastal area of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Our "extended" crew for many years was our daughters although their participation barely deserves recognition for anything more than a courtesy. Cail, our oldest daughter, is actually a very good Hobie Cat sailor, but has never become comfortable with larger boats. Leigh hates sailing and that's the most positive comment I can make about her involvement in the sport. Anna has no fear when it comes to sailing, but she's not going to take the time to learn. Her life moves at a far faster pace than CAILEIGH ANNA. The “girls” are grown now with their families, but they do visit us on the boat at least yearly.
I have sailed extensively with my first boat being a Sunfish I built from a Popular Mechanic plan at the age of 14 for a shop project in high school. Next I joined the Georgia Tech Sail Club and raced wooden Y-Flyers on Lake Lanier, Georgia.
While stationed near Washington D.C. three army [...]
buddies and I leased a 30' Piver Trimaran and sailed the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay for nearly two years. Because of our work schedules much of our sailing was done at night.
It was on the Chesapeake that I learned important lessons about navigation and the hazards of sailing. To this day I still reflect on the experiences learned there. One of my goals is to return to the Chesapeake some day and rediscover some of those forgotten treasures that are the Chesapeake Bay.
After returning to Georgia I purchased a Venture Newport 24' and a Hobie 16' and sailed on a Clarke Hill Lake for many years. I was never happy with the Newport because it was too light for stiff winds, at least compared to my experiences on the Chesapeake. It was a great looking boat, and even today I still have a soft spot for this model. I learned my lesson and sold the Venture Newport after a couple seasons of sailing. In hindsight it would have been a suitable boat for "trailer-sailing" and making trips to the coast and the Keys.
The Hobie 16' was a scream and I've had many great experiences with her from fresh to salt water sailing. For several years I used her with youth groups and gave many young people the first and maybe only sailing experience of their life.
I purchased ROMA, a 1974 29' Seafarer, in 2000 from a former sailing buddy. I was looking for a solid boat in the 30' range with light blue-water or coastal cruising credentials, and wheel steering. ROMA is a left-over relic from the era when boat designers were discovering how to manufacture boats using fiberglass.
She has a great pedigree being designed by McCurdy/Rhodes and very traditional lines. ROMA sails extremely well and the swing keel configuration works well for shoal draft sailing. The Coastal Georgia waters are notoriously shallow sand or mud bottom. There's not a question of "if" you're going to run aground, but only when.
In May 2012 I became a contributing writer for Southwinds Magazine with responsibility for covering sailing news along the Georgia coast. This has given me the opportunity to combine my passion for sailing with my interest in promoting the Georgia coast. My first assignment was covering the Tall Ship Festival in Savannah. In addition to the article one of my photos was selected as the cover shot for the June issue of the magazine.
https://issuu.com/southwinds/docs/southwindsjune2012/01
I purchased CAILEIGH ANNA a Catalina 34 in the fall of 2013 and spend the next nine months bring her back to life including an engine replacement. ROMA was sold in the spring of 2014 and is now enjoying life on the Gulf at Mobile Bay, Alabama.
I've also crewed on other boats including BLU, a 48' Racing Beneteau sailing from Charleston to Jacksonville, two America's Cup Challenge Yachts - Australia 29 and Canada II and the square rigger PEACEMAKER – a 150’/400 ton Barquentine, sailing from Brunswick to Savannah. I often crew on SABRINA, a Hinckley Bermuda 40, owned by good friends who also crew with me during club races.
I've never missed an opportunity to gain sailing experience and I’ve never failed to learn something new every time I set sail.