B&G H5000 Hydra CPU

Imagine slicing through choppy seas with confidence, your instruments delivering pinpoint-accurate data that keeps you one step ahead of the elements. The B&G H5000 Hydra CPU serves as the intelligent brain of your sailing setup, tailored for blue-water cruisers and weekend racers who demand reliability without unnecessary complexity. This processor-only powerhouse requires pairing with sensors and displays to unlock its full potential, creating a cohesive system that processes depth, speed, temperature, and wind data with sailing-specific smarts.

Powering Your Dual-Purpose Sailing Adventures

Whether you're plotting a leisurely coastal cruise or pushing limits in a regatta, the H5000 Hydra CPU strikes the perfect balance. Its ultra-fast ARM processor crunches numbers at speeds up to 50 times faster than older models, ensuring real-time updates on true wind angles corrected for heel and trim. This isn't just raw computing—it's precision engineered for sailors, filtering out erratic gusts with the proprietary Performance Wind Filter (PWF) so your displays and autopilot stay rock-solid even in turbulent conditions.

Cruising sailors appreciate the streamlined setup, while occasional racers benefit from enhanced data processing that simplifies tactics. Pair it with masthead wind sensors, thru-hull transducers, or GPS for a custom network that grows with your needs.

Standout Features That Elevate Performance

• Lightning-Fast Processing: ARM-based core delivers rapid calculations, feeding accurate data to your autopilot for smoother, more responsive steering.
• Advanced Wind Intelligence: PWF stabilizes wind readings, crucial for layline decisions and sail trim in varying sea states.
• Versatile Connectivity: Dual NMEA 0183 ports, NMEA 2000 backbone, and Ethernet open doors to seamless integration with chartplotters, AIS, radar, and third-party apps.
• Smart MOB Handling: Dedicated input for Man Overboard activation, with dead reckoning that factors in tides and updates via AIS-compatible SART beacons for quicker recoveries.
• Dynamic Display Control: Oscillate HV displays between variables effortlessly, maximizing visibility without cluttering your cockpit.
• Wireless Expansion Ready: Add a compatible module for GoFree technology, streaming live data to tablets or smartphones for remote monitoring from the helm or below deck.
• LED Status at a Glance: Built-in indicators keep you informed on system health, minimizing downtime.

Effortless Configuration for Real-World Sailing

Setting up traditional marine electronics can feel like navigating a storm blindfolded. Not with the H5000 Hydra. Dive into browser-based configuration from any connected device—no proprietary software needed. Perform calibrations with intuitive AutoCal routines that handle heel angles, speed-through-water, and more automatically. Backup and restore settings in moments, and run diagnostics to troubleshoot proactively.

This CPU supports a broad ecosystem of B&G sensors and expansion modules, breathing new life into legacy gear while future-proofing your yacht. Dimensions fit snugly in tight console spaces at 8.3 inches wide by 7.6 inches high by 2.4 inches deep, making installation straightforward for DIY enthusiasts or pros.

Why Hydra Levels Up Your Cruising and Racing Game

In the H5000 family, Hydra sits sweetly between entry-level basics and pro-level intensity. It processes essential inputs like depth soundings, log speed, water temperature, and apparent/true wind without overwhelming novices. Yet, it packs enough punch for tactical racing, guiding autopilots through tacks and gybes with corrected data.

Sailors report fewer false alarms from unstable wind, quicker heel compensations during gusts, and autopilots that hold course tighter in swells. It's the quiet workhorse that lets you focus on the horizon, not the dials.

Building a Bulletproof Network

Start with the Hydra CPU as your hub, then layer on choices like color graphic displays for vivid race panels or single-line HV units for glanceable info. NMEA 2000 ensures plug-and-play with compasses, GPS, and transducers. For the ultimate setup, integrate with sailing chartplotters to overlay instrument data on charts, turning raw numbers into strategic insights.