Randy, to answer your questions I will start with the Tracvision. Yes it is
completely hassle free. I have DirectTV at my home so I have one receiver
that is dedicated to the boat during the spring,summer,fall and comes home
to the guest bedroom in the winter. The Tracvision comes already setup for
DirectTV so once it was installed all I had to do was install my receiver. I
turn on the power to the Tracvision, receiver and TV. Inital setup takes
about 2 minutes to find the satellite, once it does so it locks on and once
locked on there are no interruptions in service. This is an in motion system
so once it begins tracking I can then drive the boat without loss of signal.
If I power the unit down then move the boat then power it back up it has to
search for the satellite again but within 2 minutes I am watching TV again.
Although it was expensive it is worth every penny.I debated between
Tracvision and Sea-tel for several weeks but finally decided on the
Tracvision based on their reputation. The boat came with a 9 inch DC powered
TV which didn't do the tracvision any justice so I took it out and installed
a 13" flat panel Sharp Aquos LCD TV. The picture is phenomenal. As for the
stereo it came equipped with all Clarion Marine AM/FM CD player, 6-disc CD
changer and 4 6.5" speakers. I used to work at a car audio shop in my early
20's and ever since then I have been installing high end stereo equipment in
my vehicles and my boat wasn't going to be any exception to that rule. Since
it already had quality Clarion equipment to start I built on that by adding
2 more Clarion 6.5" speakers in the cockpit to make a total of 4. I powered
them with a 80x4 USCoustic amp and added a 10" self amplified Bazooka tube
subwoofer under the port aft bench seat and a helm mounted remote. I added
the Delphi SkyFi XM radio reciever. I wanted a system that I could hear
clearly while hanging around outside the boat whether it be on the dock or
in the water. I chose Garmin GPS because my 1st boat had one already
installed on it so I bought the chip for the Chesapeake Bay. Since I already
had the chip when I bought my new boat i stayed with Garmin, plus I am very
familiar with to use them.I bought a Garmin 3006C color charplotter and
flush mounted in the dash. In my area storms can come out of no where and
before you can react to the dark sky it is generally too late. I got caught
in several bad storms this past summer and it wasn't fun. I don't want to go
through that again so I added the XM satelltie weather receiver to the 3006C
so I can constantly keep track of the weather around me by way of the real
time weather radar. It overlays the weather radar on top of the chart so you
constantly know where you are in relation to the weather around you. I only
got to tinker with this system for a couple of days before I had the boat
winterized but am looking forward to taking advantage of all this system has
to offer next summer.
"Brass Monkey" wrote in message
...

Thanks for redirecting, Scott.

Tell us more about why you picked the electronics you did, what the
decisionmaking process was, and how you integrated it.

What TV do you have, and sound system to take advantage of the XM,
etc...

Is the Tracvision completely hassle free?
Thanks!
Randy

Scott Gardner Wrote:
OK I will start by introducing myself. My name is Scott and I have a
2003
MAXUM 3300 SE. I purchased this boat new at the end of the 2003 season
and
had it splashed for the very 1st time in April 2004. It has twin 5.7L
Merc.
350's rated at 250 HP each with Bravo 3 drives.It had every available
option
except a generator and the navigation electronics, which is fine for
me
because Maxum uses Raymarine equipment and I prefer Garmin. So i had
the
generator installed and added a Tracvision 4 in motion satellite
tracking
system and a Garmin 3006C color chartplotter with the GDL-30 XM
satellite
weather receiver.This thing is awesome. I can see live weather radar on
my
chartplotter in real time and get up to the minute weather forecasts. I
love
my boat and how I equipped it. I cruise on the Potomac River and
Chesapeake
Bay. How about everyone else? Where do you boat and what kind of boat
do you
have? I am new to this group but hope I will fit in. Scott.
"JimH" wrote in message
...-

"Scott Gardner" wrote in message
news:C%[email protected]
This is a boat newsgroup not politics, so can we keep the discussion
to
boats only please?

-

Lets go. You start.

-


--
Brass Monkey

Sweet. Sounds like a great setup. Now all I need is the boat and I'll have something to pour the money into!!!!

Will definitely consider your equipment suggestions.

-Randy

To barge in, here is a topic just brought to my attention, although this
probably belongs in rec.boats.cruising...

I just finished the book Adrift, by Steven Callahan (76 days Lost at Sea),
and have to ask why anyone would buy an inflatable raft for emergencies.
Sure, safe at home, I can think of several, but after reading his account
and seeing how much better off he would have been with an "unsinkable" foam
and fiberglass dinghy, they seem to be a very poor choice.

Granted, his "real" sailboat was a homebuilt 21 footer and it went down in a
mighty empty piece of ocean (south-west of canaries), but after reading his
story, rubber rafts seem VERY undesirable - although a notch up from going
down with the ship, to be sure.

Any one else read the book or have thoughts on the matter?


"JimH" wrote in message
...

"Scott Gardner" wrote in message
news:C%qNd.104814$Jk5.60761@lakeread01...
This is a boat newsgroup not politics, so can we keep the discussion to
boats only please?



Lets go. You start.

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 04:32:39 GMT, "Greg"
wrote:

To barge in, here is a topic just brought to my attention, although this
probably belongs in rec.boats.cruising...

I just finished the book Adrift, by Steven Callahan (76 days Lost at Sea),
and have to ask why anyone would buy an inflatable raft for emergencies.
Sure, safe at home, I can think of several, but after reading his account
and seeing how much better off he would have been with an "unsinkable" foam
and fiberglass dinghy, they seem to be a very poor choice.

Granted, his "real" sailboat was a homebuilt 21 footer and it went down in a
mighty empty piece of ocean (south-west of canaries), but after reading his
story, rubber rafts seem VERY undesirable - although a notch up from going
down with the ship, to be sure.

Any one else read the book or have thoughts on the matter?

I haven't read the book, but what would make an inflatable life raft
undesirable?

Compact, easy to store, designed to float to the surface, provide
shelter from the elements and are reasonably tough.

What's not to like?

Later,

Tom

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


I haven't read the book, but what would make an inflatable life raft
undesirable?

Compact, easy to store, designed to float to the surface, provide
shelter from the elements and are reasonably tough.

What's not to like?

Part of the problem was caused by his extended stay, obviously.
But the waves really pounded him, at times even folding the raft. It
took on water pretty easy, which led to sal****er sores/ulcers. He had
to daily reinflate the raft, which once hunger set in, became a more
critical issue.
The canopy waterproofing wore off - more water. A fish he speared
ripped the bottom tube, which he was able to patch and reinflate. And
the worst was the fish biting and sharks hitting him thru the bottom.
He was pretty much in constant fear of a shark biting thru the raft -
especially when the bottom tube was punctured and his feet extended an
obvious distance below the raft.
Again, some of this was definitely due to the 76 days before rescue
(1800 miles later near Guadeloupe).
But I could see the wildwife and swamping by waves a serious issue for
shorter stays. This was in 1982. Maybe current rafts do a better job?

I recommend the book, very good read.


Later,

Tom

On 7 Feb 2005 09:46:29 -0800, "Greg"
wrote:


Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


I haven't read the book, but what would make an inflatable life raft
undesirable?

Compact, easy to store, designed to float to the surface, provide
shelter from the elements and are reasonably tough.

What's not to like?

Part of the problem was caused by his extended stay, obviously.
But the waves really pounded him, at times even folding the raft. It
took on water pretty easy, which led to sal****er sores/ulcers. He had
to daily reinflate the raft, which once hunger set in, became a more
critical issue.
The canopy waterproofing wore off - more water. A fish he speared
ripped the bottom tube, which he was able to patch and reinflate. And
the worst was the fish biting and sharks hitting him thru the bottom.
He was pretty much in constant fear of a shark biting thru the raft -
especially when the bottom tube was punctured and his feet extended an
obvious distance below the raft.
Again, some of this was definitely due to the 76 days before rescue
(1800 miles later near Guadeloupe).
But I could see the wildwife and swamping by waves a serious issue for
shorter stays. This was in 1982. Maybe current rafts do a better job?

I recommend the book, very good read.

I'll just say this - it kept him afloat and alive didn't it?

'Nuff said. :)

I've never had the oppotunity to live in one for even a couple of
days, but I think I'd rather have one than not.

I'll look the book up - thanks for the info.

Later,

Tom

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 04:32:39 GMT, "Greg"
wrote:

To barge in, here is a topic just brought to my attention, although this
probably belongs in rec.boats.cruising...

I just finished the book Adrift, by Steven Callahan (76 days Lost at Sea),
and have to ask why anyone would buy an inflatable raft for emergencies.
Sure, safe at home, I can think of several, but after reading his account
and seeing how much better off he would have been with an "unsinkable" foam
and fiberglass dinghy, they seem to be a very poor choice.

Granted, his "real" sailboat was a homebuilt 21 footer and it went down in a
mighty empty piece of ocean (south-west of canaries), but after reading his
story, rubber rafts seem VERY undesirable - although a notch up from going
down with the ship, to be sure.

Any one else read the book or have thoughts on the matter?

Not only did I read it, it was my firm who edited it. Great book, a
very nice read.

When I did my solo trans-atlantic, I had a large rubber raft on board.
Now I wish I didnt have it. In retrospect, it took up a lot of room,
which I could have made better use of.

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:52:46 GMT, Harry Krause
wrote:

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 04:32:39 GMT, "Greg"
wrote:

To barge in, here is a topic just brought to my attention, although this
probably belongs in rec.boats.cruising...

I just finished the book Adrift, by Steven Callahan (76 days Lost at Sea),
and have to ask why anyone would buy an inflatable raft for emergencies.
Sure, safe at home, I can think of several, but after reading his account
and seeing how much better off he would have been with an "unsinkable" foam
and fiberglass dinghy, they seem to be a very poor choice.

Granted, his "real" sailboat was a homebuilt 21 footer and it went down in a
mighty empty piece of ocean (south-west of canaries), but after reading his
story, rubber rafts seem VERY undesirable - although a notch up from going
down with the ship, to be sure.

Any one else read the book or have thoughts on the matter?

Not only did I read it, it was my firm who edited it. Great book, a
very nice read.

When I did my solo trans-atlantic, I had a large rubber raft on board.
Now I wish I didnt have it. In retrospect, it took up a lot of room,
which I could have made better use of.

Enough is enough. It stopped being funny about 15 posts ago.

Lets go. You start.
I'll be glad to jump in here. I have a 17' Cajun Bass boat which is
currently for sale (as is the lake house) as I'm going back to salt
water. I just bought a new SV2100CC Sea Pro with a 200 Yamaha which
was supposed to be ready for pickup last week but is now scheduled for
this week. I've equipped it so far with a hydraulic jack plate, Lenco
trim tabs, Sunbrella Bimini top, Lowrance X-18 GPS and Icon 402S
radio. To please SWMBO I added the 6' removable rear bench seat option
to accommodate all those people she expects to join us on our fishing
expeditions. Plan to add compass when I get the boat so I'll have a
better idea of space limitations (wanted Danforth Constellation but
was told the 5" was too big), dual batteries with switch, trolling
motor, probably wash down pump and maybe built in tackle boxes.
Looking forward to getting it but it's raining today so makes it a
little easier.

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 15:24:26 GMT, (Tom)
wrote:


Lets go. You start.
I'll be glad to jump in here. I have a 17' Cajun Bass boat which is
currently for sale (as is the lake house) as I'm going back to salt
water. I just bought a new SV2100CC Sea Pro with a 200 Yamaha which
was supposed to be ready for pickup last week but is now scheduled for
this week. I've equipped it so far with a hydraulic jack plate, Lenco
trim tabs, Sunbrella Bimini top, Lowrance X-18 GPS and Icon 402S
radio. To please SWMBO I added the 6' removable rear bench seat option
to accommodate all those people she expects to join us on our fishing
expeditions. Plan to add compass when I get the boat so I'll have a
better idea of space limitations (wanted Danforth Constellation but
was told the 5" was too big), dual batteries with switch, trolling
motor, probably wash down pump and maybe built in tackle boxes.
Looking forward to getting it but it's raining today so makes it a
little easier.

Very nice, but I would echo Harry on the compass - get a good handleld
bearing compass and just a small console compass. As Harry said, you
will rely more on the GPS and depth finder, but it's nice to have a
backup that can accurately tell you North is that away. :)

Now, on to something that I find curious. Why the jackplate on a 21
foot bay boat?

I have a 20 foot 200 C Ranger

http://www.swsports.org/images/Ranger.JPG

that has a good running solid performing FICHT which had a jackplate
on it when I purchased it. I got rid of it after about a month -
totally useless.. If you are looking for shallow water operations,
that's that the trolling motor is for - in particular if you have the
24 volt. You probably had a jackplate on that Cajun and that's
probably useful in that application, but on a bay boat?

And while I'm on the subject, don't buy a Motoguide Great White series
trolling motor. Mercury does not support Motoguide in any sense of
the word, they violate warranty terms and the new digital control
boards are prone to fail - it's a horrible design. Almost as bad as
the older switched design. Buy a MinnKota Riptide series instead.

Nice boat though.

Later,

Tom