Classic Motor Yacht electronics refurbishment

The project:

Highland Lassie, a Hunt 52 is a large, elegant boat with classic lines and interiors that required a completely new motor yacht electronics system.

The owner wished to simplify Highland Lassie’s electronics and monitoring systems, to improve their enjoyment of their leisure time onboard and to have remote access for efficient boat management. The boat was fitted with various display screens on the wooden instrument console, a complex wiring box with numerous switches and breakers.

Opsrey Technical, leading experts in marine electronics, digital switching and CZone marine installations were contracted to provide the solution.

The marine electronics plan:

An important factor in the planning the new system design was it fitted with Highland Lassie’s classic interior, reduced clutter and is easy to use.

The available space on board for equipment was also quite tight. The Osprey Technical team came up with a thorough design plan. This included pre-assembling the entire motor yacht electronics system in the workshop, to thoroughly test the system prior to installation. This stage was critical to ensure a successful outcome.

The solution – modernising motor yacht electronics:

This stunning classic-styled motor boat had a new electronics packaging installed including digital switching, remote access and 24/7 alerts.

The system design replaced all the engine displays, analogue gauges and tank monitoring screens with a single, integrated multifunctional display. As well as reducing the number of individual units, associated wires and connections, the single screen presented a much cleaner and simpler console.

The conventional power distribution was replaced with a CZone digital switching and monitoring package. Significantly, this means the power distribution, system monitoring and alarms could all be integrated into one simple user interface. In addition, it enabled the vessel owners to have remote access to the boats systems and data.

Rather than turning on over 20 separate breakers, the power modes were configured for different operating scenarios. This enables the mode required to be set at the click of one button or remotely via an app.

Altogether, around 70 breaker switches were removed and replaced with an app on the main multifunction display. So now all power switching, chart plotter, radar, engine monitoring is much simpler and happens on a single touchscreen display.

Additionally, when the owner now comes aboard and switches into ‘off the dock’ mode all the relevant systems and appliances are turned on. Upon docking they simply switch back to ‘on the dock’ mode, and put it into ‘unattended’ mode as they leave the vessel and go ashore.

The outcome – integrated marine electronics:

Modernising this classic motor yacht electronics system has resulted in markedly simpler operation, that overall has improved the owner’s onboard experience. It is considerably quicker and easier to prepare the boat for a voyage and shut her down afterwards.

The single screen with multi-functional display system is intuitive to use and easy to read too. The new electronics package gives the owner complete peace of mind, and the Boat Captain now has remote access and system alerts 24/7. These have already helped avoid some significant issues.

For example, the motor yacht was moved without the captain on board and consequently the shore power was not reconnected. The batteries were at risk of ultimately running flat. However, the system alerted the captain to this remotely, enabling him to remedy the situation before any damage was done.

On another occasion, an older battery charger onboard developed an intermittent fault and was creating a potentially dangerous voltage spike. The CZone system detected this. It sent the captain a remote alert, who then replaced the charger. This type of problem could never have been identified without this modern marine electronics system upgrade.

Overall, the client is thrilled with the result. Gareth Griffiths, Boat Captain for Highland Lassie comments “We are really happy with everything Osprey Technical have done and the back up support you give. And couldn’t wish for more.”

The owners have subsequently asked Osprey Technology to install the same electronics upgrade to another similar motor yacht in their fleet.