BOAT WORK- B&G Halo 20+ Radar and Zeus 3S 9 Chart plotter FULL INSTALL

We do a full install of our new B&G Halo 20+ Radar, Zeus 3S 9 Chartplotter, and Triton 2 Sailing Displays. Since having Sierra onboard sailing and watch keeping has become more difficult as we find our attention divided between caring for The Little Nugget and Delos. Because of this we felt the need to upgrade our radar and chart plotter to a new B & G system with more manual controls and better radar zone and AIS alarms. We're super excited to announce our partnership with B & G Sailing, and be using their radar, chart plotter, and instruments on SV Delos as we navigate our way south towards Panama :)

@BandG makes marine radars, instruments, and chartplotters with features built specifically for sailors.

We really hope you learn something from the video, I know that I did! If you have any questions about the new system pop them below and I'll do my best to answer!

Equipment installed in this video:

[anitahardesty]

I cant stop smiling everytime Sierra is on camera. She is such a joy and full of an awesome and an amazing personality!! You are both awesome parents!! Happy girl 👧 😊👍❤

[kennethrand]

Glad to see the Nugget pulling her weight as part of the crew. She brightens my day.

[dniemdzisiejszym]

The best part of this video was when Brian said that he will put one piece of plastic behind new installed displays to look it even more nice :D I really like that approach!

[mikeratel]

Sierra, by age 5, will be an accomplished sailor, engineer, cartographer, critical thinker and so much more yet to be determined…what a pleasure and much gratitude allowing us into your lives to watch you all grow and evolve!

[RichHarmer]

I love the ending to the video. You could play that 1-2 seconds at the end of every video and it would make me smile every time.

[piecesofbrokentime]

I can't get over how much _The Nuggs_ is growing!
She's such a HAPPY wee one!
❤️🙏⛵🌊⚓🌅❤️

[rickstevens]

Good to see the smallest crew member pulling their weight.. and cables . Adorable as

[ianh]

You two are frickin awesome, A-1 people and parents and ya sail too boot a perfect trifecta.

[tonyheaton]

You guys are awesome. I'm glad I found you some many years ago. I would love to sail the seas that you have sailed and hopefully my wife and I will. Keep up the awesome videos. You make life fun. I know that it is always not fun but in the long run, you make life great!

[WillNGo]

Here's what I've learned installing this same B$G package. I know electricity, wiring.... but this is new to me and the directions suck. (This video is helpful.) So far I only have the radar and the 9"B&G chartplotter, so I don't yet need a NMEA 2000 network. To get the chartplotter and radar to work. 12 v Power to the chartplotter. The fuse for a 9" B&G chartplotter is a 3 amp Bayonet (like for cars). The larger chartplotters use a bigger fuse. Get a pack of 5, put them in a baggie and leave them right next to the fuse holder. (And if you suspect it's the fuse, replace it or test it. Sometimes they trigger but still look completely normal).

Run the radar cable to the chartplotter. That Cat-5 connector can be a huge problem pulling through the tight spaces. I just cut it off and used a cheap connection tool/kit to reattach another one. There's nothing special about this end. The Yellow Wires. One from the radar and one from the chartplotter power cable. These need to be connected or the Radar will not work. When they are connected you can turn the radar on and off from the chartplotter. (No where that I've found explicitly says this.) I have no idea which side of the fuse the radar should be on.

My old Raymarine Autopilot works great. There were two SeaTalk cables plugged into it. I removed the one that went to the old Raymarine chartplotter. The Autopilot still works fine, but now it's point the boat and set it. It's connected through just those three wires on that one plug to a GPS/Flux Gate Compass and power. There are 0813 to NMEA 2000 translators/adapters.... but I won't even attempt it until I meet someone who's done it and it works. If the compass direction disagrees with your chartplotter there's a way at the Autopilot to adjust this. Somewhere online are the directions.

I haven't yet connected my Chartplotter to a NMEA 2000 network because so far there's nothing else to connect to. All my other stuff still works...
What will come up is new instruments on the top of a mast are an issue with NMEA 2000. The drop line from device to the Backbone can only go 20' (6m). My mast is 63' (Delos is probably taller.) The way to get around this is: Run the backbone to the most forward part of the boat and then loop it back to the mast. Run the backbone up the mast, connecting whatever is up there. Then terminate this end inside the mast.

At the other end I ran the backbone (for future use) to my binnacle where I have a NavPod and B&G Zeus 3S chartplotter. Terminate it. Later I'll run a Backbone loop aft so anything back there (I have a radar mast) can be connected. You don't have to figure this all out at the beginning. NMEA 2000 is like Legos, easy to plug, unplug, move things around replace a 2-T with a 4-T connector.... The plug ends are also available. As far as I can tell wires for the backbone and the drops are exactly the same and interchangeable.

Because my boat is old with wires all over the place I don't want to remove any that I'm not sure about. So I cut the ends off the NEMA lines, pull the bare cable, and reconnect new plugs. (The only completely bare NMEA wire comes in very long spools. There are however cables of different lengths that have just one connector attached. If you need an 11' for something, and there's an odd situation where you have to pull from the middle, maybe total of 8' -- then buy a 20' NMEA cable with one end. Run the easy run first and then cut off the excess. This keeps you from ending up with a pretty loop on one cable and 8' where you actually need 8' 4".)

Three tips.

1. Use pulling compound. Use it liberally. It costs about $16 for a quart that you will never use up. (I just bought my second quart in 50 years. If you're around bring a plastic catsup squirt bottle and I'll fill you up. Ask around the dock/anchorage. Only a tech is ever going to use it all up.) Pulling lube is a total game changer.

2. Wrap your pull with a lot of electrical tape so it doesn't come apart and so there are no corners to hang up. I you do this right you will spend a lot more time wrapping and unwrapping the electrical tape than pulling.
3. Leave messenger lines everywhere, make them at least double the length of the run. Don't attach the wire/cable you're pulling at the end, attach them near the middle of the messenger line. This way when your wires get through there's still messenger line sticking out of both ends. Coil it up and put it out of the way. (One of my messenger lines runs near my spinning prop shaft. For this one I leave only a small bit tied off to the side. The rest of it is at the other end. When I need to use it I can pull the messenger line.) If you're using a fish tape in a fresh run, add a messenger line to the wire/cable and leave it for the next time.

I usually use paracord for messenger lines. The first people who worked on my boat 20 years ago left a bunch of inexpensive but sturdy nylon line. It still works just great. Another tip. Where's that line actually going? If you have a second person, no problem. Give it a tug and they say what moved. Solo this is impossible, so add some labeling or use different color line so you can tell. Write a note in the bilge for the next guy or next time. Hope this helps. B&G has yet to answer any of my queries.

[trentpierce]

This one is gonna get watched right away! Sorry work, not this morning!

[jsmith]

Thanks for the step by step tutorial Brian! It would be great to get an update after you get some passages under the keel and see what features you like, etc.

[BostonCaptBill]

Very excited for this episode! I’v recently purchased all this same equipment/gear (along with a new bow roller; anchor & chain; windlass; A/C (Bill’s episodes); refrigeration; AIS & more!). and I’m as just about to start installation. Thank you! Boston Capt. Bill

[michaelboso]

I love the nice easy-going folk music with the technical language and descriptions. Such a nice way to conceptualize the process of working to make things easier. Can't say enough about your music choices for a while now. Absolutely makes the videos into a story that moves and flows. Even the selection of moments when to not have underscoring serves the purpose. Well done.

[Ronin_]

I want to build a sailboat someday and what I have learned so far is, as far as hardware goes, quality ringing and quality instruments. If your not on a "money is no object" budget those are the most important, provided your hull is in good shape and you aren't gonna sink of course.

[lawrencegleason]

Love these Delos DYI videos. Thanks for uploading.

[seanalbers]

I love when you upgrade Delos! Safe sailing Guys…

[littlebully]

Love these project videos. Always a great glimpse into the hard work that keeps delos afloat and entertaining and informing us all. Baby pirate stealing the show as usual, big shout out to Bill and Grace, must be so great to have friends like them. Always eager to see the new video when it drops, Kazza and Brian thanks again for your great content as usual. Shout to Mrs L with the Co editing too ❤👍

[mikeefield]

Watched all your progress, amazing. Truly inspiring. So much so I enrolled this year to sailing school. been looking forward to this video.. keep up the good work. Thanks bis XX

[MsSesa]

I love the little nugget so much, she is super cute and she was even trying help her dad today :) I love you Kazza and Brian too of course. Thank you for your videos, I love your channel. Greetings from Arizona!