By Russ, on August 23rd, 2009
Maretron have allowed a free download of their excellent drawing software for free here.
Using this software you can:
* Design NMEA2000® Networks
* Document network Design Decisions
* Analyse NMEA2000® Networks
* Automatically Generate Bill of Materials (BOM)
* Create Network Configuration Files
* Print Schematics and Reports
N2KBuilder™ software is a powerful, free PC-based tool for designing and verifying the integrity of NMEA 2000® networks. The N2KBuilder™ software, when installed on a Windows PC and used as part of an integrated design workflow can be used to layout, document, and validate the design of complex NMEA 2000® networks. In addition, it will directly produce a Bill of Materials (BOM) for Maretron® products, eliminating guesswork and transcription errors.
I have used it to map out a schematic of my old NMEA0183 network too..I know that this undermines the built in checks and balances but at least I get a nice schematic diagram..which I previously had to keep up to date using Excel and pasted images.
By Russ, on December 24th, 2008
The owner of the pretty catamaran “Phlat Chat” has sent in an updated copy of the passage plan that I first posted here.
You can download the updated passage planner here…
…Yes, its free and its virus free too!
The update is a useful calculator for fuel consumption especially if you have two engines and anticipate motoring for any length of time.
So now you get the following displays inside the passage plan:
..or if the calculations shows you havn’t got enough fuel then the display shows…
“Phlat Chat” will be cruising up the east coast of Australia over the Christmas period from Sydney to Lake Macquarie….am I envious?….no we love the rolling fog and bitter cold of the English Channel in December 
By Russ, on September 18th, 2007
Following my previous post on Passage Planning I received a number of requests for copies of the passage planning documents that I use. So I thought I would post them here to make it easy to just download them. Just click on the icons below.
1. EXCEL doc – a template and guide to the passage planning process. Inside this workbook there are the following worksheets:
a. Passage Planning Process (for complete novices)
b. Yacht Data Sheet – its becoming a real chore in Europe to carry all these documents and information with your all the time.
c. Departure Checklist – a bit like a flight check list before you “take off”
d. Passage Planning Template – for when the electronics all fail (and the backup) and you forget the vital information that seemed so easy and obvious before you set off!
2. WORD doc – a copy of a typical set of weather and tide information that I would take with me . The URL’s take you to the UK sites that I use, but you can easily swap these for your own locale. I just copy and paste (right click on images and copy and paste) into the WORD tables and re-size so they fit on A4. Then I print them and put them in a Nyrex clear plastic wallet and binder.
The documents are all editable – so feel free to amend and doctor to your own taste. If you do distribute to friends and club members and so on, I would only ask that the footer is maintained that gives the URL of my blog site.
I would welcome feedback – I am sure you all have other good ideas….
By Russ, on August 3rd, 2007
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