I installed an AIS transducer on my boat a few years ago and its makes all the difference in night sailing on open water . I just purchased a 1981 Whitby 42 ketch and it will be one of my first additions. However since the one I installed was almost 2 year ago I looking for advice from anyone who has just recently looked at the market.
BTW I would rank the AIS installation as right up there with the Chartplotter and autopilot for making sailing more comfortable and safer. I definitely put it ahead of Radar.
Check out Vesper Marine XB-8000 AIS. I'm also shopping for a new AIS. The XB-8000 has Bluetooth and the standard ports. Friends have one and did many hours of research before purchasing. They connect with their Android pad and are very happy.
Thanks for the input . I had a Vesper on my former Bristol 41.1 and do like it. I'm sure the newer ones have a few more bells and whistles. What I was hoping to find is an AIS that would wirelessly link to my Chartplotter and anything else that I may decide to install. I'm hoping to make all my instruments wireless so I can stop running more wires all over my boat. Not there yet and do not know if its even possible but know it will be one day.
The Vespar xb8000 is wifi enabled. I also like that you can easily update the software via wifi or bluetooth. And they have been making frequent upgrades.
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