2019 Cutwater 30CB / Garmin 800 AIS Add on

[Cutter 30124]

Did these boats come with an AIS receiver from the factory? If so, where is the black box generally located? I am wanting to add a Garmin AIS 800 transceiver. Can it be added to any existing wiring? Where is a good location for the new Black Box? Not much room behind the mirror in the head, just wondering what everyone else is doing.

Thanks!
John M

 

[SKing]

I have a 2021 c30 It comes with a receiver but not transmitter. So yes you will need to install an AIS 800. Mine I located behind the dash. When you open the mirror in the bathroom I chose to mount it inside the compartment above the opening. I created a block that I could mount it on in a removable fashion. And then glued the block to the fiberglass.

That was the hardest part of the project everything else is plug and play. The fuse block is easy access with a spare unused fuse. The radio antenna is easy to tap into. Along with the data link.

You can reach out to me with a personal message and I'll provide my phone number if you have questions.

 

[Cutter 30124]

Thanks for the reply and good info! Is the existing receiver internal, or a seperate component, and if so, where is it located?And should it be removed? I'll be tackling this project soon, already have the 800. Will let you know if I have any questions, any chance of a photo or two of your install? Thanks again!

 

[RobMcClain]

I have a 2022 model C30 Sedan. The boat came with an AIS receiver built into the Garmin VHF radio. So no separate receiver box. I bought an em-trak B953 AIS transceiver, which is smaller in size than the Garmin 800 and Cortex. I also mounted mine inside the cabinet behind the helm, but I utilized a different location. With the smaller size I was able to mount it to the side of the cabinet opening. Specifically, I open the mirror in the head and immediately to the right of the opening the fiberglass wall begins to bend into the shower mold. The wall has a large straight section just before the bend and the small em-trak units fit on this section just perfectly. It’s very secure and I can also easily see the operational lights on the top of the box. Mounting in this general location allows easy routing of the wires and necessary cable connections. I also changed out several of the individual NEMA “T” connections and instead put in a single 4-port connection that saved a significant amount of space and easily allowed me to install the new port for the AIS. To do this I just used one of the individual T ports I had replaced with the multiport piece. The em-trak is pre-wired to accept a “silence” switch, if doing so is desired. Since I don’t want to transmit while in the marina I did this. I put the switch thru the bottom of the same cabinet. It’s a simple toggle that is not noticeable but is reachable just below the cabinet, so I don’t have to open the mirror. The AIS unit works great. Once I was done with the installation I simply turned off the receiver unit inside the Garmin VHF since I didn’t need 2 receivers.

 

[mlanger]

...Once I was done with the installation I simply turned off the receiver unit inside the Garmin VHF since I didn’t need 2 receivers.

I'm wondering if this should have been done after my Black Box 800 install, too. I'll have the tech look at it when he installs my Garmin rudder indicator sensor this spring.

 

[RobMcClain]

Turning off the AIS receive capability on the Garmin VHF just involved the turning of a dial and push of a button, maybe took 5 seconds. The Garmin radio allows for a very fast on/off operation of the built-in AIS receiver. I don’t think it creates any sort of conflict leaving it on, but I thought it best to have just the one clean signal from my em-trak unit.

 

[mlanger]

Turning off the AIS receive capability on the Garmin VHF just involved the turning of a dial and push of a button, maybe took 5 seconds. The Garmin radio allows for a very fast on/off operation of the built-in AIS receiver. I don’t think it creates any sort of conflict leaving it on, but I thought it best to have just the one clean signal from my em-trak unit.

This makes a lot of sense. I'll experiment with this a bit when I get my boat back in the water in spring. Thanks!