Electronics on an older boat
What to inspect · Power & sail
Electronics on a boat built before 2010 are likely dated, and some may be useless. Budget to replace them, check that the VHF has DSC and a correctly registered MMSI, and see the Electronics guide for item-by-item buying checks.
Safety first
- Never test a DSC radio by pressing the distress button; it sends a real alert.
Expect dated gear
- PassageMaker observed in 1998 that a boat cruised for 20 years will likely need new electronics. Test everything on the sea trial; don't assume a unit works because it switches on.
- Loran-C receivers are now useless. The Coast Guard began shutting the signal down on February 8, 2010, and planned for every station to be off by October 1, 2010.
- Civilian GPS became far more accurate when the government stopped deliberately degrading it in May 2000. Old receivers still work, but check whether the maker still supports the unit and its charts.
VHF radio, DSC and MMSI
- The FCC required VHF radios type-accepted from June 17, 1999 onward to include DSC, which sends a digital distress alert with your identity and, if linked to GPS, your position. An older radio may have no DSC at all.
- DSC does nothing until an MMSI number is programmed in. If the radio holds the previous owner's number, it must be transferred to you or replaced; two boats must never share an MMSI.
- BoatUS issues MMSIs for US recreational boats under 65 feet that don't visit foreign ports; others need an FCC ship station license. Test with a DSC test call to the Coast Guard's 003669999, never the distress button.
- The Coast Guard strongly urges connecting the DSC radio to a GPS so a distress call carries your position.
Budget and support
- Ask each maker whether parts, software and chart updates are still available for an older plotter, radar or autopilot.
- Put replacement of anything critical to how you'll use the boat into your first-year budget.
Sources (5)
trawlerforum.com · federalregister.gov · gps.gov · navcen.uscg.gov · boatus.com
General guidance for recreational boaters, researched from the sources listed and written in our own words. Your equipment manuals, local knowledge, the Navigation Rules and a qualified instructor come first.