[C320-list] ST4000+ interfacing with NMEA2000 instruments

[Doug Treff]

Everyone,

I am embarking on a refit of most of my electronics in the off-season. I
have already purchased the major components of the new system:

Garmin 741 MFD
Garmin GWind & Depth package with a GMI20 display
an additional GMI20 display

All of this new gear will of course be interconnected with NMEA2000
cabling. Pretty straightforward install.

Here's the tricky part: I am electing to keep my existing (and still
working) Raytheon ST4000+ Wheel Pilot for now. I'd like to interface
the ST4000+ with my new gear so that I can steer to waypoints AND
apparent wind angle. I understand that the Garmin 741 MFD has an
NMEA0183 port on the back and that I could connect that to my
Autopilot. What I am unsure about is whether the 741 will also forward
wind angle information over to the ST4000 so that I can steer a wind
angle heading. Do you know if that data is sent by the 741 MFD or does
it only send heading and XTE data?

If the 741 will not handle sending that data, I have been looking at the
ActiSense NGW-1 (
http://www.actisense.com/products/nmea-2000/ngw-1/ngw-1.html ) as a
possible way to get the setup that I want. It looks like a pretty slick
way of interfacing single NMEA0183 devices on a boat that is mostly
converted to NMEA2000.

I've also seen the Raymarine Seatalk1 to SeatalkNG adapter (
http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=400&collectionid=197&col=1597 )and
thought that might work but it's got more ports than I will
realistically need for this application.

Surprisingly, the Actisense product is about twice the cost of the
Raymarine...

I was wondering if any you have first hand knowledge of the specific
situation that I am dealing with, and if you could offer any guidance.
I have reached out to Garmin to see if they can confirm what data is
sent from the 741 over the NMEA0183 port, but have not received an
answer yet.

Thanks!

--
Doug Treff
September Song
Hull #350
doug at treff.us