the sounder below. These units, like
most modern ones now, have all the
important bits inside already; gone
are the days of a separate CHIRP
or StructureScan module taking
up most of the inside of your dash.
Down in the wet bit lives the popular
and reliable Airmar 1kW sounder.
Using twin screens offers Jim the
opportunity to run his 3G radar
separately to his sounder. He told
us he often runs at dusk and dawn
where the fog and haze that often
covers Gulf St Vincent can be a real
hazard, so having pro-level radar
overlays on his charts is a good safety
feature.
Backing up the Simrad is a FUSION
MS-IP600 marine stereo, it’s easy to
use and with Bluetooth, flexible to
what you want to play, and a Garmin
VHF. Jim told us all the electronics
were picked up at boat shows when
on special, saving him thousands.RELIABLE MERCS
The strict budget was most at risk
with the biggest buy, the outboards.
The thing that separates Jim from
most is that he was happy to buy
some key components secondhand,
like the 275hp Verados strapped tothe back of the X310. Jim did what
anyone buying secondhand motors
should do, he bought from someone
he trusted and had the engines
checked over by an independent
third party. The result, an affordable
550hp of smooth-as-silk in-line
supercharged sixes, and with cams
driven by chain service costs are
good compared to most. We couldn’t
get fuel figures on the day, it was too
rough, but I’m happy to report they
behaved with aplomb, started easily
and ran without smoke or oddities.
Part of the appeal of the 275s was
the electronic throttle and built-in
power-assisted steering. Merc was
first to get these two cutting edge
bits of tech into the one motor when
it released the first of the inline-six
Verados back in the early 2000s,
and proved the concept. Available
in more brands and across more of
the Mercury range now, electronic
throttles do away with potentially
notchy and maintenance-heav y
cables, while the power-assisted
steering makes light work of the
torque the big twins provide.
Props were 14.625- by 21-inch
pitch Revolution from Merc. They
are hand-cast and hand-polished94 tradeaboat.com.au