Onboard electronics are an essential component of a modern sailing yacht, significantly contributing to navigation, safety, and comfort. Although my First 235 has always been reliable and experienced no real failures last season, a certain dependency on external power supply became apparent. In every port, it was necessary to connect to shore power, and we had to constantly turn off consumers proactively to save energy.
Thanks to the electric starter system of our outboard engine, starting the motor was convenient. However, even in the event of a total electrical failure, the engine remains operational via the functional pull-start. Thus, this refit is not a necessity but rather a targeted modernization to enhance comfort and prepare the boat for longer, self-sufficient stays on the water.
Goals for 2025#
The refit project includes the following key areas:
1. Planning and Sizing#
- Selecting suitable electronic components and sizing the power supply.
2. Power Supply & Wiring#
- Replacing the batteries with a new LiFePo4 battery.
- Installing a new charger.
- Installing a new solar charge controller.
- Checking the outboard engine’s lighting coil and installing a charge booster if necessary.
- If required, adding an extra starter battery with a dedicated charger.
3. Solar & Lighting#
- Replacing the solar panel on the deck.
- Converting interior lighting to LED.
- Upgrading navigation lights to LED.
4. Navigation & Sensors#
- Connecting log and wind instruments via NMEA.
- Integrating an autopilot via NMEA.
- Installing new sensors for GPS and an electronic compass (inclination, heel, etc.).
- Additional sensors: temperature, humidity, air pressure, and bilge water alarm for OpenBoatProject.
5. Communication & Onboard Network#
- Setting up a Raspberry Pi with its own mini UPS (optionally as a 3-node cluster).
- Test setup of OpenBoatProject.
- Installing a DIY AIS receiver.
- Adding a USB charging port for mobile devices.
Conclusion#
The planned electronic refit of my First 235 will be an exciting and technically challenging series on my blog. Each step will be documented – from planning to installation and commissioning. Stay tuned if you are interested in modern boat electronics and DIY solutions!