3 years with MMBW Nicole

Hi,

Three years passed since I got our new 630.
Enough time and water passed under the keel and I feel ready to summarize my experience.

In general .

Choice of brand .

Relation with the local dealer : 

Model selection : I could be equally happy with the 540 or even the 470.

Best option : The carbon mast and boom

Most used extras : aircondition, 10Kw genset, hydraulic gangway, 3Kw inverter, electric winches, electric toilets,Bose home cinema, TV in salon

Never used extras : rear anchor windlass, DVD in front cabin

Not so useful yet : watermaker - will be used if we cross the Atlantic next year.

Choice of engine (Yanmar 110 Hp)

Choice of propeller (Gori 3blade) : The overdrive feature is b****t.

Choice of sails (North 3DL) : the cruiser - tafeta sailcloth proves too heavy for the jib. Next time I will select lighter cloth


to be continued...

 


Edited by panos - 09 September 2011 at 16:12

The Simrad system deserves a separate post .

We opted for the full packet which includes :
one GB40 plotter with a monitor in the navigation station
one GB40 plotter driving two monitors next to the steering wheels
SIMRAD wind vane trnsducer
GPS receiver
AIRMAR speed-depth-temperature sensor
RC42 rate compass
two IS20 wind instruments - two IS20 combi instruments
AIS transponder with separate GPS antenna
AP24  autopilot control unit
AC42 autopilot computer
Jefa rudder servo motor
DX42s radar 2kw radome
RS82 dVHF system
WR20 remote commander

Well???

How did this complicated system perform?

When everything works , the system performs excellently.- the GB40 leaves nothing to be desired, the instruments show the correct values and  they are averaging out the wave and mast movement  effects. The autopilot steers the boat so good that I trust HIM (not it) to steer the boat downwind at 170 degrees , carrying the asymmetric.
There is an IF, a BIG IF
The system is sensitive to human mistakes. It is based on a MS windows platform! and if you are not good with computers then you can run into trouble. Every time I let the skipper of the boat alone for a trip, the system collapsed and I had to give restoration instructions over the phone. Too many "dangerous" options are open to the user. Even a innocent "night mode" screen selection turns the screen completely  unreadable during the day and one has to memorize the exact keystrokes necessary to restore to day mode.

Also the simnet (NMEA 2000) is a plus since all talk to eachother and all info is everywhere available. BUT THERE IS A BIG BUT : if one of the many components fails then the simnet might stop and NOTHING WORKS! This happened a few times. The user must be warned in advance and a plan B must be available. The way that Hanse connects the simnet does not help to prepare a plan B. (a plan B could be to disconnect a selected simnet plug, so that at least the nav station plotter, the GPS receiver,  the autopilot computer and control unit continue to work, separated from the rest of the system)

My conclusion : If one is good with computers (and /or complicated mobile phones) and is prepared to spend time to learn it,  then I definitely recommend it.



Edited by panos - 09 September 2011 at 21:30

I didn't realise that it was your 1000th post, Panos. It even makes more sense to some reflection. Congratulations to your promotion.

Johan

Hi Panos

@ admiral panos: Congratulations to your promotion and your very welcome support to this unique forum.

It is very nice to have your feedback from the bigboats as there are not so many.

Our new forum admiral from greece: