Downeaster Yachts.com - Topic: AIS

Scott Carle on AIS

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:51:06 -0400

Tim,

Your going to jump off just up the coast from us. We are located about 5 miles up the ICW just past Little River Inlet on the NC/SC border. I think Oriental is about 50 miles up the coast from there.

I have been looking at the standard horizon DSC/AIS radio for us. However just doing coastal stuff right now and with a perfectly fine uniden DSC radio I can't see the budget stretching that far.

So did you get a deal on yours? 100 dollars for a AIS recevier and antenna/cable etc seem really cheap. I would probably pop for one if I could find one for 100. Ah.. I just looked up the ACR AIS units and there is one dual reciever that is in the 113 dollar range from a couple vendors. 🙂 I might have to put that on my mid range projects list. 🙂 only problem is my chartplotter can't display AIS that I am aware of. I would have to run a net book or something to display AIS targets.

Scott

timbalfour on AIS

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:48:35 -0400

I maybe behind the times and only just catching-up - but have recently installed an ACR AIS receiver for little over$100. Even I managed to connect it up, myself, to my old chartplotter and a spare whip VHF antenna (mounted on the aft rails). It's kind of magical to see all those ships as far away as 15 mls, and know their course, speed etc and have an alarm if they get close un-noticed! I have always singlehanded and sleep for 25 min. naps, which most of the time works. AIS will make it a lot easier and safer. I am amazed at how little shipping there is here on the east coast (compared with my home waters of the east atlantic, British chanel and the North sea).

Headed south (from Oriental,NC) in a couple of weeks time - direct to the Bahamas, windward passage and the south coast of the DR, Puerto Rico and Vieques. Any other DEs in the area?

Tim Balfour DE32 'Pelli'