I have begun designing the layout of the navigation station. Of course I really can only design the layout of the instruments and the electrical panel as the actual layout of the furniture is already predetermined.
It got me to thinking of course, what do I need, want, wish to have in the nav station area? Do I want to keep it modern and only have electronics or do I want to go a little retro and include my sextant. All of these questions has led to a list of things and a first drawing of possible layout. The list thus far is:
Pencils, pens, Ship’s Log, Handheld VHF, mounted vhf, charting tools, charts, GPS and plotter, clock, barometer, electrical panel, stereo, quick reference cards, binoculars, sextant, hand bearing compass, notepad, laptop, SSB, depth finder, 2m VHF, EPIRB, SPOT, shortwave radio, weatherfax or printer for laptop, Pactor modem, radar, and engine instruments.
I am sure I am forgetting things but at least I have a starting point. The trouble comes in the layout. On some of our previous boats the placement of some of the electronics made it difficult to operate the dials and or buttons, but having everything directly in front of your face within an easy arms reach is not possible either. And when designing the layout I need to be aware of screen brightness so that one device does not outshine another etc.
I like to think of the Nav Station as the Man Cave. It is command central and everything, within reason, on the ship should be controllable and or capable of being monitored from command central. I should be able to glance at it and know the ships status in a few moments. I hate having to call around for reports from different areas in order to complete the log entries. Yelling to the helm, what is the engine temp and oil pressure. Yelling to the main salon bulkhead, what is the barometric pressure, yelling to the foredeck, are the nav lights on, yelling to the helm, what’s our course, and on and on. All of this information should be within arms reach for whoever is completing the log entry. At least that is my opinion.
So, back to drawing pictures and adding to my list.
Ahhh the life of a boater, if you are not working on it, designing something for it, thinking about how to improve something, repairing something, cleaning something, scrubbing, sanding, staining, drilling, filling, painting, scraping, dreaming, wishing, hoping or planning. You might actually get a chance to sail! But look at the time, can’t go sailing today, gotta go back to work to pay for all of this fun. 😉
If your boat is in the water, remember to schedule some time to enjoy it as well as all of the fixing!