Anyone out there have any experience with the new NMEA 2000 wiring systems? Now that I've redone the deck on Pie-Rats, I want to eliminate the rat's nest (pun intended) of wiring behind the old DC panel, and eventually upgrade the electronics (Signet vintage 1985). I'm also putting in new lighting, and now's the time (before a new headliner goes in).
NMEA 2000 in theory sounds great. A 3-cable backbone is all that runs through the boat, and you supposedly just "tap in" at the closest point to the backbone to add gear. NMEA 2000-compliant equipment "talks" to all the other devices, so you can theoretically plug-in a Raymarine display unit, for instance, and it will immediately recognize and be able to use the data from, say, an AirMar weather station/GPS. The backbone cable can also supposedly provide DC power to lights, etc. The descriptions remind me of Firewire or USB 2.0 for computers.
I'm wondering if this new system is DIY-friendly, or if I should consider this, or just stick with rewiring the traditional way?
NMEA 2000 in theory sounds great. A 3-cable backbone is all that runs through the boat, and you supposedly just "tap in" at the closest point to the backbone to add gear. NMEA 2000-compliant equipment "talks" to all the other devices, so you can theoretically plug-in a Raymarine display unit, for instance, and it will immediately recognize and be able to use the data from, say, an AirMar weather station/GPS. The backbone cable can also supposedly provide DC power to lights, etc. The descriptions remind me of Firewire or USB 2.0 for computers.
I'm wondering if this new system is DIY-friendly, or if I should consider this, or just stick with rewiring the traditional way?