I've been wrestling with failures on some of the original Nexus instruments this year.  First the wind sensor and electronic compass, then one of the Multi-control displays on the sprayhood.  Rather than continue to bandaid fixes on obsolete parts, I've decided it is time to make the jump and upgrade the instruments to a full B&G system.  This includes spray hood displays, the autopilot, the helm chart plotter and the "brains".  The Nexus server will be replaced by a B&G H5000 Hercules Processor.  The mast displays will eventually be replaced, when I decide what works best for our program, but the Nexus XL displays may stay on for another year.  The existing sensors for speed and  depth will be used.  The Garmin Nexus wind sensor that was just replaced will also be used, if I can prove that the new processor will accept wind from the NMEA 2000 bus to perform the advanced corrections.  Otherwise, a new B&G 213 Mast Head Unit will be installed.  The Nexus HPC compass was already replaced this season with a B&G Precision 9 Compass.

The left most Nexus Multi-control display on the spray hood was replaced on 2 October with a B&G Triton 2 display as shown on the picture below. Over the winter, the spray hood will be updated to include a B&G H5000 graphic display, the B&G H5000 pilot controller and an additional B&G Triton 2 display.

The B&G H5000 graphic display will be located in the center of the spray hood and provide some advanced features such as start lines and lay lines.  It also provides control for other features in the upgraded system.  Next to it will be the B&G H5000 pilot controller for the new B&G H5000 Pilot Computer autohelm.  This will allow complete control of the autopilot from the companionway, in addition to control via the chartplotter at the helm.

The helm display will be updated to a B&G Zeus 3 – 12″ multifunction chartplotter.   This replaces the existing Raymarine e125 chartplotter at the helm and provides integrated autopilot control, along with access to all the advanced B&G H5000 Hercules Processor sailing features.

The new processor will be the B&G H5000 Hercules Processor which does all the advanced performance calculations.   It does everything the Nexus server does plus more, and provides an expandable interface architecture allowing upgrades to be more easily done on the future.  The updated autopilot will be the B&G H5000 Pilot Computer which has significantly better performance in all conditions and has been proven in offshore racing on many winning programs.  It will be a game changer for short handed racing allowing reliable helm control in all wind and sea conditions.  It is also very easy to operate and will be useful for deliveries and cruising.

Bill has some winter projects to do on Vento Solare!