In 1811, a gang of disgruntled English textile workers destroyed mechanized looms and other weaving apparatus in Nottingham. Called Luddites, after Ned Ludd, a weaver’s apprentice who had supposedly done the same thing 22 years earlier, the group was against new industrial technology replacing skilled workers. I understand how they felt, but not because of economics. I think today’s technology often takes away from the joy of doing things using learned skills. However, it sure comes in handy sometimes. Who wants to navigate through fog without a radar, GPS and chartplotter? Been there, done that, and now my nerves are too old for so much excitement. But there’s still some Ned Ludd in me, as I discovered during a recent conference with some fellow marine journalists.
One of them thought digital switching systems, which are showing up on many new boats, would make for a good story. While the ultra-sophisticated systems designed for OEM installation are complex to spec, install and program, Garmin, Maretron, CZone and others
