We’ve been learning about the NMEA 2000 Maretron system fitted to the FPB 64s for data management. Our decision to use this system was based on its ability to help the crew process information and make decisions, particularly in an out of the ordinary situation.

This first screen tell most of the story. The way information is relayed and the actions the system takes (the type of warning sound for example) is totally customizable.

There is control of type fonts, how much information is displayed on the screen, and the action the crew must take to acknowledge or cancel the alarm.

There is a lot going on in a modern yacht, and this approach makes the information processing much simpler, once the system is set up.

Most engines now can broadcast their data on the NMEA 2000 system. Adding displays makes any of this data available wherever required. The first FPB 64 has a data screen above the forward bunk and in the aft port cabin as well as at them inside and outside helms.

There are 16 possible screens in the system. So, lots of potential combinations of data.

The wiring of the Maretron NMEA 2000 backbone and its related components is straightforward. The programming, however, is not simple. There have been two very savvy techs working on the programming now for three weeks. The rest of the screens programmed so far follow.