A+T Instruments equips over 800 of the largest and fastest yachts on the planet, through upgrades to existing systems and the installation of cutting-edge systems for new builds, too. This article explores why A+T systems have been fitted to the highest specification new-builds including Skorpios, Highland Fling (Gunboat 80) and the Royal Huisman built Aquarius II, to name a few.
Quality
All A+T equipment has been designed and built with quality as the primary goal. Whenever a decision between price and quality has to be made, quality always comes first. All displays are tested under water at one metre and then at 75°C for 24 hours before shipping. Meanwhile, in our Lymington-based office, there is a set of instruments that have been continuously under water for five years.
A+T’s founders have huge experience spanning over 40 years at the leading edge of yacht instrumentation. We know what works and what does not, how electronics fail, sensors break and displays leak… so that A+T’s do not. This is why an industry-beating three-year warranty is offered. A+T has a concentrated market focus, aimed purely at superyachts and raceboats that want the best.
This is why an industry-beating three-year warranty is offered. A+T has a concentrated market focus, aimed purely at superyachts and raceboats that want the best.
Ethernet architecture
The heart of a new A+T instrument system is an Ethernet network which is a single cable around the yacht connecting all sensors and displays. This is robust in that if a wire is damaged, a connected device goes down, or water gets into the electronics, the rest of the system keeps going. This, combined with effectively unlimited bandwidth, cable lengths and plenty of third-party tools and accessories, make it a future-proof choice. A+T processors also have interfaces for the many other systems including NMEA0183, N2K compatible CANbus and analogue.
The move to Ethernet is ground-breaking technology and we have now installed many Ethernet systems with a proven pathway for the future of instrumentation.
Connectivity and customisation
Integration with other ship systems is critical, so we have full integration and mutually supported interfacing with Furuno Time Zero products and similar connections to all other glass bridge manufacturers.
Luke Allen, from Furuno believes that “Furuno and TimeZero Professional software integrated into A+T is the perfect solution for large sailing vessels engaged in racing and or cruising. Furuno provides excellent navigation equipment and radars whilst using A+T’s BFDs (well-regarded large colour displays) on the mast or elsewhere in the cockpit and nav station, combining to be an excellent solution.”
“Furuno and TimeZero Professional software integrated into A+T is the perfect solution for large sailing vessels engaged in racing and or cruising.”
Luke Allen, furuno
On superyachts and raceboats, many critical sailing functions are controlled by plc based sail systems, so requiring two-way data exchange between plc and the instrument system. A+T provide full MODbus capability, including assistance with planning, execution and testing of this. In particular, a dedicated Ethernet port is provided for plc-only access to preserve isolation of this key control component.
On A+T’s highest specification, ATPX Series Processors, a layer of custom programming is available in “drag and drop” Node-RED modules. This provides unlimited customisation for race or specialist application which maintains the robustness of a well-proven base instrument system for crossing oceans without specialists onboard.
Support from a team that really understands
The team at A+T includes captains, race navigators, ETOs, electronics and software specialists, so we speak the same language and deeply appreciate the requirements, environment and working demands of clients. We work daily with project teams on input to specification, helping with commissioning and calibration and offering worldwide support. The support team is on the phone or Teamviewer many times each day helping with issues as small as aquestion about calibration, to a major “get you home” triage after a lightning strike such as A+T provided to SY Ghost a few years ago.
An example of everything coming together was the build of the Huisman Aquarius II under project manager Godfrey Cray and captain James Turner. A+T’s Hugh Agnew navigated the previous Aquarius so is well acquainted with the sailing systems and the demands of its racing programme. We have been involved since the start, with the initial specification, project meeting and then signing off the installer, Tijssen’s, drawings. A+T also supported with sea trials through a combination of Teamviewer support, plus sailing on the boat to assist with setup and calibration. The yacht then left for the Caribbean where again, A+T was on hand to help them and the many other clients that spent the winter there.