PredictWind, the New Zealand-based company known for providing sailors with weather data, has introduced the PredictCurrent App.

The PredictCurrent App has a quick-view dashboard where sailors can see wind, current, waves and tide height data in one place. Animated maps provide extensive detail on tidal currents, setting what the company calls a new standard in tidal current modeling.

PredictCurrent’s tidal current maps cover 90 percent of the world’s coastlines, according to the company.

“The launch of the PredictCurrent App marks a pivotal moment in marine navigation technology,” Jon Bilger, CEO of PredictWind, stated in a press release. “Our dedicated team has spared no effort in providing mariners worldwide with unparalleled access to comprehensive current data, fostering safer navigation and informed decision-making on the seas. We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of enhancing maritime safety and empowering users with unprecedented insights.”

The app is supported by ultra-high-resolution models that cover areas characterized by complex bathymetry and high tidal flows. This provides accuracy at 100-meter (328-foot) resolution. Supported by a 400-meter (1,312-foot) resolution within 90 kilometers (55 miles) of the coast and a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) resolution extending up to 600 kilometers (372 miles) offshore, users can see tidal flows anywhere in the world.

Backed by PredictWind forecasts, the app also provides marine weather forecasts in a table format, including weather warnings, tidal current flows, tide times and atmospheric parameters. Users also can access tidal currents, sea temperature maps, wind and wave displays.

Does PredictCurrent also let sailors see ocean temperatures? Yes, in color-coded zones.

Where to learn more: visit www.predictcurrent.com

The post PredictWind Introduces PredictCurrent App appeared first on Cruising World.

If you’ve spent any time in the West Indies on a boat, then you may have already figured out how to connect your phone to the Internet. Understanding phone service and digital roaming is paramount. Here’s what I recently discovered.

You can always go ashore and, for the price of a beer or an iced tea, connect using the bar’s Wi-Fi. And all along the island chain, from Grenada to the US and British Virgin Islands, cell phone service is available, even a few miles offshore.

In March, I flew to the islands to meet a friend on his boat in Bequia. As my plane touched down on St. Vincent, my iPhone lit up: “Welcome to St. Vincent and the Grenadians. You are now connected to Spectrum Mobile. Outgoing calls are 12 cents a minute; 25 cents for incoming calls; texts are free; and roaming data is 10 cents a megabyte.”

It wasn’t always this easy to connect. In the early ’80s, I’d call my office in Maine from a pay phone nailed to a palm tree near the taxi stand at the Cruz Bay ferry terminal on St. John. In 1983, AOL came online. With a bag phone—the one with an antenna that you placed on your car roof or cabin top—you could connect to AT&T and AOL while cruising in the USVI. Over in the BVI, rates were outrageous, but if you anchored off the caves or in Kelly’s Cove on Norman Island, you could hit the AT&T tower on top of St. John, and you were in.

It’s been a scramble ever since to find inexpensive access to Wi-Fi while living on a boat in the islands. In 2010, we were boat-schooling our two kids on Searcher, our Bowman 57 ketch. While in Grenada, we learned of a Wi-Fi hot spot in English Harbour, Antigua. For $50 a month, we had Wi-Fi on board with an antenna on the aft deck, a booster and a router below. We could use Skype to make calls.

It’s much easier to make calls today, but the costs can still add up. After a week on board in Bequia, I checked in with Spectrum at home and learned that I’d already run up a $30 bill. The Digicel store in the middle of Port Elizabeth had a sale on: I could get a monthly plan with 25 GB for $42. It also had free texting and an ample number of free phone calls.

However, I’d have to buy a new phone or replace the SIM card in my phone, with a new one ($19) that had a new phone number, thereby losing access to my contacts and email. And, service would only be good from St. Vincent and the Grenadines south to Union Island, but not in Grenada or the islands to the north.

That would not be ideal when we left to go sailing for a few months. I emailed a friend who’s been skippering a charter boat in the islands for 30 years. He had a plan for unlimited Internet all over the Caribbean, and unlimited calls in the Caribbean and toward Europe— but not to the US or Canada. To get that plan, I’d have to visit one of the French Islands to buy a new phone, or switch SIM cards. 

Still not ideal. I noticed that Richard Thomas, the owner of the boat I was aboard, was on his phone all the time. I asked about his plan. 

“AT&T,” he replied. “It’s $10 a day for unlimited phone calls, in and out, data and texting.”

“That’s costing you $300 a month!” I shrieked.

“No. It’s $10 a day for the first 10 days, then free for the rest of the month,” he said.

A $100 maximum? That was less than what I pay at home in Maine for Internet and phone service. But, there was no AT&T store handy, so I muddled through with what I had. Each time we neared an island, my phone lit up with a welcome from Spectrum and the rates for that new island.

Richard discovered that he had a spare cell phone onboard, one he’d bought in the French Islands earlier in the year. “All you need to do is reactivate it and top it up,” he told me.

When we reached Rodney Bay on St. Lucia two weeks later, I went looking for the Digicel store. “I want to use this French phone as a hot spot,” I told the clerk. “That way, I can still use my iPhone to access the Internet.”

“Yes, that will work,” he said. “You’ll need a new SIM card.”

It would cost me $15. For another $40, I could get a plan with 25 GB of data and free phone and text, for a month. 

“Will it cover the islands north to Antigua?” I asked.

“Yes, but not the French Islands,” he said.

I could live with that. I bought in. At the end of the few weeks of sailing, I had spent $60 for the plan but used only 250 megabytes of data.

When I got back home, my Spectrum bill for the two months in the Caribbean was only $60. 

The Bottom Line

Next time I’m off to the islands, I’ll stick with my Spectrum International plan. If I need a lot of Internet access, I’ll go ashore and spend the morning at a cafe with free Wi-Fi. 

Check your phone’s international plan before you depart, and if you plan to work offshore or in remote locations, then consider investing in Starlink. If your only requirements are accessing PredictWind and the Windy weather app, then Iridium GO! is a more cost-effective option. 

Or, you can always throw the phone over the side and go off the grid entirely. Which, some people tell me, is also quite nice.

The post Connected in the Caribbean: Learning Lessons Underway appeared first on Cruising World.

Weems & Plath has introduced BrightWind, the latest addition to the company’s OGM Series of LED navigation lights.

BrightWind is reportedly a first of its kind, combining an ultrasonic wind sensor, LED tricolor and LED anchor light. It is built with a low-power-draw, non-mechanical wind sensor (created by Calypso Instruments) and incorporates Weems & Plath’s navigation light with a strobe and photodiode. BrightWind also can provide wind speed and direction data to any NMEA 0183 or (with a converter) NMEA 2000 display.

“The top of a mast is a small yet extremely valuable piece of real estate on a sailboat,” Michael Flanagan, president & CEO of Weems & Plath, stated in a press release. “By bringing the navigation light and wind sensor together as one unit, we’re not only reducing the footprint that’s required to mount these two vital pieces of equipment, but we’re also consolidating the wiring within the mast. It was a logical step to combine our acclaimed navigation light with Calypso’s innovative wind sensor.”

BrightWind has no bearings or mechanical parts, which typically wear out over time and can degrade performance. This design makes it suited for long-term, outdoor use in all conditions, according to the manufacturer.

In place of mechanical parts, the wind sensor uses four ultrasonic transducers that measure how fast it takes for sound waves to travel back and forth between each transducer. The sensor then uses the speed of the sound waves to determine the wind speed and direction.

BrightWind’s anemometer can measure up to 100 mph and provide full directional data with accurate measurements not subject to mechanical friction.

Weems & Plath says the LX TriColor/Anchor LED Navigation Light (LXTA-SP) is one of its most popular navigation lights in the OGM series, with use by riggers as well as coastal and offshore sailors. While the LXTA light is US Coast Guard-approved at 2 nautical miles for sailboats up to 65 feet in length, its actual brightness exceeds that distance and uses less than 20 percent of the power of comparable incandescents. When the light is used in tandem with the wind sensor, the power consumption is only 0.35 amps at 12 volts DC.

BrightWind is built using military-grade anodized aluminum and a UV-resistant acrylic lens. There’s a limited lifetime warranty on the light and a two-year warranty on the wind sensor.  

How long has Weems & Plath been in business? Since 1928. The company is based in Annapolis, Maryland.

For more information: go to www.weems-plath.com/brightwind

The post Weems & Plath Introduces BrightWind appeared first on Cruising World.

FLIR, popular manufacturer of high-performance marine thermal imaging systems, just announced that Garmin has added support for the FLIR Maritime Thermal Monitoring System (MTMS) in their recent April 2024 (v35) software release. Supported features include:

• Live display of the video feed from the FLIR MTMS camera system
• Audible alarms and visual alerts from the FLIR MTMS on the Garmin chartplotter
• Full support for thermal, visible and MSX thermal/visible blending
• Thermal color palette selection
• Custom camera naming

The FLIR MTMS is a trending tool for monitoring and protecting vital machinery and equipment from catastrophic breakdown. The system has been proven in hundreds of marine and industrial installations to effectively identify temperature anomalies in equipment like gas and diesel engines, generators, bearings, electrical panels and much more. Early identification of impending trouble encourages operators to take action to protect equipment and minimize damage.

The FLIR MTMS can monitor multiple spot-targets and isotherm boxes in its field-of-view and can be programmed to provide alerts based on high-, low- or delta-temperature factors. Alarm configuration is completed using the MTMS’ built-in web server through any network-connected device with a web browser. The FLIR MTMS is equipped with both a FLIR Lepton thermal imager as well as a visible camera with LED lighting making it suitable for use in lit or unlit spaces.

“The FLIR MTMS is a robust system that can help users on a variety of vessels better anticipate the health of equipment in hard to monitor spots like engine rooms,” said Grégoire Outters, general manager at Teledyne FLIR Maritime. “Garmin’s integration with this system allows users to deploy this solution seamlessly, without needing a separate display taking up valuable helm station real estate. The ease of installation and use, combined with the customizability of the system allows users to tailor it to their specific needs or mission.”

The post FLIR Announces Garmin Integration of Maritime Thermal Monitoring appeared first on Cruising World.

More than 1 million cruising boaters are now using PredictWind, a weather-­forecasting service created in 2010 by competitive sailor Jon Bilger. He founded the company after serving as weather manager for teams who won the America’s Cup in 2003 and 2007, when he realized that the higher-end technology could be a boon to the cruising public.

“It’s been quite a journey,” Bilger told Cruising World in early March, adding that as the community of cruisers continues to evolve with different styles of boats, PredictWind has been evolving right along with it. Sailors are still the company’s biggest client base, and those who make the shift to powerboats can now also use PredictWind to help with routing that optimizes fuel efficiency. 

That kind of advancement in forecasting ­capabilities is in great part due to ­technology. What’s possible in terms of forecasting today is far different—and much more detailed—than when Bilger founded PredictWind 14 years ago. 

It’s a timespan that might as well be an eon when it comes to technological advancements. When PredictWind was created, the Blackberry still dominated the handheld marketplace. The iPad was brand-new. So was Instagram. Forget about today’s 4K screens; manufacturers were still trying to get people to understand the difference that a 3D screen could make when watching hot new movies like Avatar. Uber was just one year old. Lyft didn’t even exist.  

It was also in 2010 that Google started to personalize users’ search results. Machine learning began to analyze and predict all kinds of things, as wide-ranging as voter behavior and power-grid spikes. As CNN reported: “In 2010, artificial intelligence was more likely to pop up in dystopian science-fiction movies than in everyday life. And it certainly wasn’t something people worried might take over their jobs in the near future.”

Oh, how times have changed—in some ways, for the better. PredictWind is embracing AI to create products that help with weather forecasting in ways that seemed unimaginable until recently. 

Just one example is the company’s newest service, PredictCurrent, which Bilger says is a world first. 

“This is very, very simple,” he explains. “You put your location in. You say, ‘This is the current I want to know about.’ And then, boom, you get a graph. We give you windspeed and wind direction as well, and you get current speed and direction, and we give you a map, so you can actually see, hour by hour, how the current is changing over the whole area. It’s amazing to see that sort of detail on your iPad or your laptop.”

PredictCurrent covers tidal currents for 90 percent of the world’s coastlines, he says. The level of detail and accuracy is best within 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) of the coast, but there is also information about currents as far as 600 kilometers (nearly 375 miles) offshore. 

“It’s amazing. You can see how the eddies and currents are changing,” Bilger says. “Compute power for the whole world is enormous. The storage capacity is there. It’s a pretty cool thing.”

Another new product from PredictWind is called Over the Horizon AIS. Typically, Bilger says, a cruising boater can receive an AIS signal within just a few miles of an oncoming hazard such as a container ship. Over the Horizon AIS compiles data from the Automatic Identification System worldwide—“We pay a lot of money to get that information,” he says—and customizes it for use by individual cruising boats through the PredictWind DataHub smart device.

“This is very, very simple. You put your location in. You say, ‘This is the current I want to know about.’ And then, boom, you get a graph.”

“It can download the data every minute with a Starlink connection, and it shows vessels out to about 300 nautical miles,” Bilger says. “If you have a container ship barreling at you, maybe you have about eight minutes to take evasive action. We can give you something more like eight hours.”

The capabilities that Starlink offers are hugely important for some of these newer features, Bilger says, but he tempers his enthusiasm for the satellite service with a caution for offshore cruisers.

“We genuinely are huge fans of Starlink. It means that people can get weather forecasting offshore, and get it a lot easier,” he says—adding a big but. “If you go offshore, you need to have a satellite phone, an Iridium Go. If the power on your boat goes down, Starlink requires AC power. If you have a problem with your inverter, you have no communications. You really should have something with a battery backup on it.”

With that said, Bilger is gung-ho about all the information cruisers can now access on a regular basis thanks to Starlink, instead of having only occasional access to downloads. The amount of data coursing through PredictWind’s DataHub, coupled with artificial-­intelligence analysis, can create things such as polars for a specific boat. 

These “AI polars,” as Bilger calls them, represent the performance of a boat in different wind and wave conditions—information that can be critical for weather routing.  

“Normally, you select from a predefined list of polars for all the boat types, and then there’s a velocity-prediction program that shows the ideal speed of your boat in perfect conditions,” he says. “But that’s not reality. That’s not how you sail a boat. With the DataHub, it’s reporting your windspeed, your direction, and it averages that data. It sends it back to our service and compares it. Over time, it will learn how you sail the boat, and you’ll even have a different set of polars for daytime and nighttime.”

Today’s level of artificial intelligence is required to make these types of services possible, he adds. 

“Our service is doing billions of calculations for six of the top-level models, and boom, you get the comparison,” he says. “It’s way easier and very powerful to have. You really have no excuse to get caught out in bad weather.” 

Similar use of technology allowed PredictWind to launch a product last year that helps cruisers better understand the wave state that they are likely to encounter. 

“Generally, all weather services give you the primary wave state,” Bilger says. “We have modeled monohulls, catamarans, trimarans, sailboats and powerboats, and every possible wave state. We know exactly how the boat’s going to perform based on length, beam, displacement.”

This level of detail makes it easier for boaters to make better-informed choices, he says. 

“The real kicker is that we can display how much the boat’s going to roll, and whether it’s going to be dangerous to be on deck,” he says. “The other one is vertical acceleration. If you’re going over a big sea state, you’re going to be going up and down a lot, which affects seasickness. And we can talk about slamming. That’s a big one as well. When you do your weather route, you can see all of that during a trip. If you use a departure-planning tool, you can know which day to leave in terms of the degree of roll you’re going to experience. No one else is doing that, as far as we know.”

All of it adds up to more boaters feeling safer and more comfortable out on the water, Bilger says. 

“We get emails from ­families who say, ‘Thank you for keeping us safe all around the world,’” he says. “It’s ­really cool. It’s why we’re here.”

The post The Data Difference: Advances in Marine Weather Forecasting appeared first on Cruising World.

Weems & Plath Atlantis Collection Barometer

No pressure, but if you’re looking for a unique gift for Dad, you can’t go wrong with Weems & Plath’s Atlantis Collection Barometer—a timeless traditional maritime instrument with a large dial held in a slim profile case. The screw bezel allows easy access to components for adjustments, and the sturdy encasement is solid, forged brass, hand-polished and flawlessly lacquered.

Garmin MARQ® Captain (Gen 2) Modern Tool Watch

For fathers living life at the helm, the Garmin MARQ Captain Modern Tool Watch features a race-inspired striped nylon strap and a stunning AMOLED touchscreen display. The 46 mm case is made of Grade-5 titanium. The MARQ Captain can also show imminent tide changes and anchor drag, and supports premier coastal charts featuring integrated Navionics data, which Dad can view directly on his wrist when he connects to the boat’s compatible devices. Even when he’s not at the helm, he can control his boat with the autopilot app.

Garmin inReach® Mini 2 Marine Bundle

This compact satellite communicator marine bundle helps Dad stay connected to home everytime he leaves the dock. Exchange text messages, post to social media or communicate inReach to inReach. In case of emergency, trigger an interactive SOS message to Garmin Response, a 24/7 staffed emergency response coordination center. Share location with loved ones at any time. The inReach even gets accurate heading information and detailed weather updates for routing around the elements.

Fusion® Apollo MS-RA770 Marine Stereo by Garmin

Give Dad the gift of good tunes on deck. The Fusion Apollo MS-RA770 Marine Stereo by Garmin redefins audio excellence with revolutionary technology and innovative design. The brilliantly designed black front face blends seamlessly into black glass panels, complementing other electronics and MFDs for a tidy installation. A “speed vs volume” feature enables audio volume to be automatically adjusted based on boat speed. Fusion DSP optimizes the audio signal to produce superior sound quality at all volume levels, in every listening environment.

The Loafer by Amberjack

Designed for performance, The Loafer features water-repellent Italian suede, a mechanically designed outsole and a thermo-moldable insole. Amberjack soles are made with materials that deliver surprising comfort all day long—which our editors can attest to, having worn them exclusively while walking the docks for five grueling days at this year’s Miami International Boat Show. Sustainably sourced from one of the finest tanneries in Tuscany, Italy, the protected suede stays fresh, rain or shine. No socks, no problem!

Weems & Plath VEC Vectormaster

Calculating safe routes around storms is essential for any skipper. The Weems Vectormaster helps you put maximum distance between your boat and an oncoming storm, using the circular slide rule to factor time, speed and distance for routing. It can also be used for conversions, multiplication and division, with rapid calculation and vector assistance at the turn of a dial.

Helly Hansen Storm Waterproof Bib Pants 

The Storm Bib takes offshore outerwear to new levels. With extremely durable fabrics and waterproof protection out at sea, the Storm line’s stretch fabric keeps movement easy when the weather turns. Features include elastic adjustable suspenders, an adjustable snap at the waist and a zippered internal chest pocket.

Helly Hansen Storm Waterproof Rain Jacket 

A perfect pairing with the Helly Hansen Storm Waterproof Bib Pants, the Storm Rain Jacket (sold separately) includes cutting-edge features catering to the offshore or near-shore sailor. Neoprene cuffs and a double storm flap over the front zipper prevent rain or spray from getting into the jacket. The storm flap also conceals an inner zippered pocket that can hold valuables or provide music via a headphone hole.

Gerber Magniplier – Salt

Perfect for the sailor in your life who likes to drag a fishing line or two while underway, the Magniplier brings control and power to your fingertips. Gerber has reinvented the traditional fishing plier with optimized ergonomics. The trigger grip is offset to keep line of sight in tight spots, while the finger choil offers maximum control. The thumb lock and ambidextrous tether points ensure safe stowage and transport while on the go. SALT Rx offers superior protection against corrosion, wear and tough environments.

Insta360 Ace Camera

Capture every cruising memory with Insta360 Ace Camera’s incredible coloring and lighting properties. The flexible 2.4-inch touchscreen makes it easy to use and preview your shots. Features allow you to quickly check your shot when your eyes are on the water, pause and resume recording in the same file for one smooth clip, and instantly cancel and delete the current recording and start another.

Bluefin SUP Cruise Lite Inflatable Paddleboard

Experience the joy of paddleboarding around the anchorage. Meet the Bluefin SUP Cruise Lite, the ultimate stowable companion for any cruising adventure. This SUP is as portable as they come, thanks to its ultra-lightweight design at just 21 pounds. It comes with a robust backpack with comfy carry straps and other features including full-length stringers for extra rigidity; tough, lightweight TPR construction; a UV-resistant HQ coating; and a thermostatic Croco-diamond deckpad.

Weems & Plath Sport 7×50 Center Focus Binoculars

Land ho! Lightweight and easy to focus on objects both near and far, these Weems Sport Binoculars live up to the Weems & Plath brand’s popularity. The center focus system allows you to change focus quickly and easily between objects near and far. The waterproof body is aluminum alloy. The package also comes with protective lens covers, a black case, and a padded neck strap.

ACR RapidDitch Express Bag

This buoyant survival ditch bag keeps essential safety gear and important personal items organized and together, should the need to abandon ship ever arise. The RapidDitch floats up to 15 pounds of gear, and its reflective exterior assists in being spotted by Search and Rescue. A tough, water-resistant fabric and self-repairing corrosion-resistant zippers withstand the harshest of elements, especially salt water. 

Rave Sports O-Zone Plus Bouncer with Slide

Have more fun with the entire family while on the hook. The O-Zone Plus features a 7-foot bounce pad with a 48-inch boarding platform with vinyl handles for easy boarding. The bouncer, made with heavy-duty 28-gauge PVC, has grab lines around the perimeter, while large drain holes in the base prevent pooling in the center. Slide dimensions are 84″ L x 42″ W x 52″ H. Limited one year warranty.

Garmin GPSMAP 743 7″ Chartplotter with Garmin Navionics+ Mapping

Get a sharper view from your connected helm with the Garmin GPSMAP 743 7″ Chartplotter. Its higher-resolution 7-inch display has 60 percent more pixels than previous-generation chartplotters. With its compact footprint, vivid sonar color palette and nearly double the processing power of previous-generation GPSMAP devices, it seamlessly integrates into any Garmin marine system. Preloaded Garmin Navionics+ coastal charts and inland mapping feature Auto Guidance technology to help you get where you need to go.

Battery Tender WaveCharge 12 AMP Battery Charger

This onboard marine battery charger is ideal for most charging needs aboard. Four charging banks allow Dad to simultaneously charge four 12V or 6V batteries. The selectable voltage and battery chemistry feature provides flexibility to match the charging requirements of almost any onboard battery. Rugged, corrosion-resistant housing ensures long-lasting performance, even in a saltwater environment. The charger doubles as a battery maintainer, automatically switching to a float mode to prevent overcharging and maintain optimal battery levels.

Mammoth Tropic 30 Soft Cooler

The Tropic 30 Backpack Cooler employs a heavy-duty nylon shell construction, making it puncture and tear resistant. Premium insulation keeps food and drinks cold all day long, whether camped out in the cockpit or ashore on an excursion. Multiple storage pockets are perfect for keeping phones and other small accessories safe during hands-free transport to and from the boat.

Kuuma Stow N’ Go 125 Compact Gas Grill

The Kuuma Stow N’ Go 125 Compact Gas Grill is perfect for grilling in limited spaces, making it one of the industry’s top-rated grills for boats. Pairing portability and premium construction the Stow N’ Go Grill transports easily and can mount to any Kuuma rail, rod or pedestal mount. It works with high-pressure propane (disposable or larger refillable tanks) and comes with a regulator.

Weems & Plath 6″ Brass Bell w/ Off-White Monkey’s Fist Lanyard

Weems & Plath ship’s bells make a timeless gift for the traditional sailorman. Hand-crafted in Northern Italy, the bell is cast brass, polished to a mirror finish, and produces a rich tone when struck. The sturdy brass bulkhead/wall mounting bracket allows easy accessibility from the bracket for removal or storage. Topping it off is a white, hand-tied monkey fist lanyard for added nautical flare.

ACR Electronics ResQLink 400 Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon

Small but resilient, the ACR Electronics ResQLink 400 Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon has been professionally engineered and tested to withstand the harshest elements. This buoyant personal locator beacon requires no subscription for use and can be utilized to enhance dad’s safety in a wide variety of environments. GPS and Galileo GNSS communication, along with MEOSAR-compatiable global coverage, lets you depend on the ResQLink PLB anywhere you go.

Rave Sports Aqua Dock 10

What dad doesn’t need a portable floating dock behind his boat? Swim platform, party island, sun lounger, water-game base, working tool bench—the Aqua Dock 10 is an all-in-one versatile floating dock that offers 100 square feet of anytime water access right behind the boat. Rigid and buoyant to the extreme, the Aqua Dock inflates to a 6-inch thickness capable of holding up to 10 adults (max 1,800 pounds). The dock folds into thirds and rolls up like a sleeping bag for easy stowage on board.

Cobra MRHH600 GPS Floating Bluetooth VHF Handheld Marine Radio

Get Dad a new GPS radio worth talking about. The Cobra MRHH600 features GPS positioning, man overboard alert, and even the ability to place and receive phone calls via Bluetooth when paired to a compatible smartphone. A “Rewind-Say-Again feature” replays missed VHF calls. With the largest display in its class, this Cobra radio also remains the lightest and most compact. Stay prepared in crucial situations with emergency strobe and flashlight functions, plus access to NOAA weather alerts. Runs up to 20 hours on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included).

Helly Hansen Svolvaer Sou’Wester

The Sou’wester is a classic staple in Helly Hansen wet weather protection, keeping the cold and the wet out while weathering the elements. Its PVC fabric is fully waterproof, and its brim design offers a great field of vision while keeping Dad’s head dry when he’s working those lines in the rain, with a traditional look and feel to match.

Weems & Plath Brass Yacht Lamp with Stainless Steel Bonnet

Styled after a traditional miner’s lamp, this brass lamp has venting holes at the top of the bonnet and a mesh screen inside that disperses gas from the flame, avoiding the risk of gas build up in the salon. Each lamp is individually numbered and can stand independently on a table or mounted to a wall or bulkhead securely with a brass or chrome gimbal mount (sold separately).

Garmin GPSMAP 79 Series

Cast off confidently, stay on course, and track more adventures with these rugged, floating Garmin GPSMap 79 Series of handhelds. This water-resistant GPS can remember up to 10,000 waypoints and more, so Dad won’t have to. The glass is scratch-resistant and fogproof with a high-resolution color display that registers even in intense daylight. AA batteries (not included) provide up to 19 hours of battery life in GPS tracking mode. Preloaded BlueChart g3 coastal charts (GPSMAP 79sc only) gives leading-edge coverage, clarity and detail with integrated Garmin and Navionics data for reliable tracking and positioning around the world.

The post Best Father’s Day Gifts for Sailors appeared first on Cruising World.

Raymarine is offering a $7,000 sailing package giveaway, as sponsor of the Storm Trysail Club’s 2024 Block Island Race, scheduled for May 24, 2024, in Stamford, Connecticut.

The performance sailing-electronics prize package features Raymarine’s all-new Alpha Performance Displays, whose high-bright, touchscreen instruments feature wide viewing angles for excellent visibility from anywhere onboard. Alpha’s extensive data dashboard options and widgets also make critical sailing, navigation and performance data easy to interpret at a glance.

The fully equipped Raymarine prize giveaway also includes a pair of Alpha 7 instrument displays, an Axiom+ 9 chartplotter, the new Raymarine Smart Wind transducer, the DST810 Smart depth and speed transducer, an Augmented Reality bundle pack, and all the cables, mounts and accessories needed for installation.

Skippers and crew who are participating in the Block Island Race are automatically entered, but anyone can participate. The winner will be announced at the Block Island Race awards ceremony on May 26.

In addition, 2024 Block Island Race participants who purchase a new Raymarine AIS700 transceiver from any Raymarine dealer or reseller before May 31, 2024, will be eligible for a $200 prepaid Visa card rebate.

“We have always been supporters of sailors who enjoy the challenges of offshore sailing and regattas that promote safe but exciting offshore competition,” said Jamie Dery, vice president of Raymarine Americas. “The Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Regatta sets the stage for expert sailors to compete in some of the most challenging conditions in the sport.”

The Storm Trysail Club is a private club dedicated to blue water sailing. Membership currently numbers over 1,200 individuals and is by invitation only to expert offshore sailors who have experienced storm conditions and are capable of commanding a sailing vessel in such conditions. Established in 1938 and headquartered in Larchmont, NY, the club has a long history of sponsoring inshore, distance and offshore sailboat races, and supporting the interests and needs of sailors.

To enter the Raymarine giveaway, visit stormtrysail.org/win-a-raymarine-performance-sailing-prize-package/.

The post Raymarine Announces Sailing Package Giveaway appeared first on Cruising World.

About a year ago, a good friend mentioned that his smartphone and tablet had become his sole means of onboard digital charting. His comment concerned me. While trying to figure out how to install a basic digital navigation network on my own boat, I had been doing a head-to-head comparison: an iPad loaded with iNavX versus a B&G Vulcan multifunction display.  

At the chart table, they both excelled, but in real-world sailing conditions, the multifunction display had several important advantages.

In calm seas and under the dodger, the iPad looked pretty good, but in direct sunlight, there was a distinct deterioration in contrast. What fully tipped the scale in the MFD’s favor was a seamanship issue that became quite clear as conditions deteriorated: The general rule of “one hand for yourself and one for the ship” left me one hand short while holding the iPad in a rough seaway. I tried a series of clamping devices, but none was as effective as a ­permanently mounted MFD.

I initially coupled the B&G Vulcan to a long NMEA 2000 drop cable. This allowed me to temporarily mount the unit in several locations: at the helm just above the binnacle, midcockpit just forward of the mainsheet, and on the coachroof just under the dodger. Determining the permanent roost was a matter of preference. For me, the right solution was a flush mount on a raised bridge deck just forward of the helm and mainsheet, where I could reach the wheel and the touchscreen controls. (Sailors who prefer to mount the unit on the SS tube guard over the binnacle can check sources such as Edson and NavPod for quality mounting brackets, hardware and housings.)

The most important thing I learned is that the key aspect of installing a basic digital navigation network is the word “basic.” Think of the project as phase one of interfacing cables and components to get the most important features of a digital charting system. 

To complete phase one, you need to learn how to set up an NMEA 2000 backbone, and then use it to connect components to an MFD. It also makes sense to add a stand-alone depth display, because that number, more than any other, can determine a sailor’s fate. 

MFDs have a lot of similarities, but their software does differ. The best way to make an informed choice about which MFD to purchase is to visit vendors at a boat show. Ask for demonstrations. Try your hand at calling up menus, plotting a waypoint, zooming and panning. You’ll likely learn that bigger screens are better, and that if you’re thinking about a 7- or 9-inch MFD, placement on board will be extra important. 

Also take a look at how the NMEA 2000 cables connect to the unit. A sailboat’s cockpit is often more of an aquarium than a patio. High marks go to manufacturers that take extra steps to keep water out of cable connections, and to owners who opt for quality NMEA cables and fittings, such as those made by Ancor.  

It can also make sense to purchase a remote antenna, even if the unit has a built-in GPS antenna. The remote antenna improves reception. 

There’s also a need for a depth-sounder transducer. Add the necessary NMEA 2000 cables, along with the fittings to connect to the network. Carefully reread the manufacturer’s installation guidelines before doing this work.    

NMEA 2000 cabling expedites installations. One of the big plusses is expandability. T-connectors are used to attach “drop cables” that run from electronic equipment to the network backbone cable. Think of this wiring backbone as the mainstream source of 12-volt DC current, along with much of the digital information traveling to and from connected components and transducers. Take note of the cable that connects the backbone to ship’s power. That cable needs to be fused or provided with a circuit breaker. 

The best way to begin a DIY installation is by sketching the path of the NMEA backbone and the junction points where components will connect along the way. Some boatbuilders provide handy wiring ­pass-throughs for a clear run. 

Lacking those, get an angle drill and a set of hole saws. A good rule is to keep the backbone cable as far away from the bilge as possible.

Refine your sketch before you shop for cables and connectors. One option is to use a tape measure or some light line to mimic the backbone’s route. You can determine the length of each drop cable and note where each T-connector will be placed. Extra cable length can be coiled and tucked away, but a cable that’s too short won’t work. 

And remember that the longer the run, the greater the electrical line loss. Select cabling that best fits the dimensions of your NMEA backbone, and heed the ­manufacturer’s advice on maximum-length cable runs.

Once you have installed the basic components and the system is fully functional, you can read up on a phase-two expansion. For example, a radar installation adds the complexity of mounting a dome and installing an Ethernet cable to support the higher data rate. An autopilot installation adds the need for high-amperage current, necessitating a separate 12-volt DC power cable. Adding a digital compass is easy, but the mechanical demands of installing the drive motor and linkage might not be.

For phase one, keep things simple. It will lower the slope of the NMEA learning curve and make phase two much more manageable.

Pro Tip

When it comes to interfacing a diverse gaggle of new gadgets while upgrading your electronics, consider your electronic gear as a navigation system rather than individual ­components. Before focusing on specific brands, create a realistic two-column list of gear under the headings “Must Have” and “Might Want.” Once that’s completed, steer clear of brand-hopping, thus minimizing the need to lash one manufacturer’s equipment to another’s network. Carefully consider the value, cost savings and reliability that come from brand allegiance. Focus on the essentials, and go with the gear line that hits the most points in the Must Have column.

Selecting an MFD

Settling on the right ­multifunction display should be more than a price-point decision. If your plan is to expand the network over time and add AIS, radar, wind instruments, weather data and more, then look at the manufacturer’s entire lineup of products. In most cases, it’s best to stick with one brand for compatibility; when components from differing brands are merged, certain functions become unavailable. 

The “big four” brands among sailors are B&G, Furuno, Garmin and Raymarine. They all offer 7- and 9-inch MFDs, as well as larger screens. Each MFD is highly expandable using NMEA 2000 backbones. 

B&G’s Vulcan 9 and the 9-inch Zeus 3S are excellent candidates for cockpit installation aboard smaller sailboats. Furuno’s ­GP-1971F has C-Map built in, as well as Navionics cartography. Garmin’s GPSMap 943xsv also comes with built-in Navionics charts. Raymarine’s Axiom+ 9 with built-in Lighthouse also supports C-Map and Navionics charts.

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Looking for an explainer on using Starlink while sailing your boat around the world? How to combine it with offshore communications tools for safety at sea?

Here are all the details of our experience with our own Starlink installation, modifications, service plan options and other essential offshore comms, as well as a look at how Starlink is used in the wider cruising community today.

The first thing to know is that terms can be loaded. SpaceX has changed terminology for Starlink hardware and plans a number of times in the past few years. I’m using terms that are current in 2024.

Second, I’m not an expert at Starlink. I’m a cruiser on a Stevens 47, Totem, who is, like so many of us, astonished at the way our lives are changing around this new technology access. The work that my husband, Jamie, and I do relies upon this connectivity, and our safety tools are increasingly leveraging it as well. I welcome constructive feedback and comments from legit technology experts.

As I write this, Totem is swinging at anchor in turquoise water off Isla San Francisco in Mexico. We’re only able to linger in this Sea of Cortez idyll because of Starlink. We are miles from cell service.

The first time we came here, in 2009-10, we only needed connectivity for weather updates. We got them through our single-sideband radio and via Iridium GO! But today, streaming video calls for our coaching service demands high bandwidth. The Starlink on our stern arch allows us to linger instead of hustling to La Paz. It will be weather (unlikely) or provisions (eventually) or crew flying in (hard dates on those) that will bring us back instead.

Antenna selection

We purchased Starlink in November 2022. We chose a residential Gen 2 dish ($599 at the time; we paid about half in Mexico). This was the rectangle that succeeded the round Dishy McFlatface in 2021. The antenna was used at our apartment in Mexico for a year while completing Totem’s refit, and it is now on a sturdy stern arch mount next to the solar panels. It draws 2 to 3 amps per hour.

This same Gen 2 dish seems to be the most widely distributed among cruisers. In February 2024, it was replaced by a similar Gen 3 dish. The newer dish uses conventional connections on the cable from the antenna, has LAN ports directly on the dish, doesn’t have internal motors, and is supposed to have up to twice the data throughput (300-plus megabits per second). However, it can use 50 percent more power. Gen 3 also has a slightly larger footprint and a different base.

The other option is the Flat High Performance dish ($2,500), a larger rectangle and the only antenna officially approved for in-motion use. Yes, cruisers are using the Gen 2 and Gen 3 dishes in motion, technically out of terms of service, but apparently slow sailboats aren’t ringing the alarm bells at SpaceX. High-performance dishes have a wider view of the sky for better satellite acquisition (so, presumably, more stable connectivity) and use considerably more power, at least double that of our Gen 2 dish.

SpaceX has said that a Starlink Mini dish will be released in late 2024. This antenna is supposed to be much smaller, about the size of a tablet; be set up for DC electricity; and consume significantly less power. Make it half the price and it’ll be a cruiser winner.

Don’t have Starlink yet? Use our link to order, and we’ll each get a free month of service.

Installation on board

Choosing a location wasn’t too hard. There are two factors: Where is the clearest view of the sky? And, where is the dish most out of the way?

The obvious location on Totem was off the arch on our transom. While we were in Puerto Peñasco, the Cabrales Boatyard welder worked with my husband, Jamie, to create a mount on the port side of the arch.

A key customization we made was a stainless tube to frame the perimeter of Totem’s dish. The idea is that if a reefing line or the main sheet flails that way, it will not catch on the antenna and damage it, or send it flying.

The Gen 3 announcement came in time for us to shape the frame’s dimensions to accommodate it, in case we decide to upgrade.

Service plans and costs

Three plans are overwhelmingly used in the cruising community. Mobile-Regional, US accounts $150, for service when changing locations within a single continent; Mobile–Global, US accounts: $200, for consistent service when traveling between continents; and Mobile Priority, which is an add-on to keep service active when you’re away from official coverage areas (see Starlink’s coverage map). US accounts: $2/GB.

We ordered the dish in Mexico and shipped it to our apartment near the Cabrales Boatyard, which set us up with a Mexican service address for our account. Once we sailed south, we switched from the residential plan to a Mobile–Regional plan. When transiting the Sea of Cortez, we toggle on Mobile Priority data. We’ll do the same on the way to Hawaii.

Costs for each of these plans scale and vary by country. Pricing is based on the service address where our dish was originally sent; we pay about half the US rate for our Mobile-Regional plan. It’s not all cheaper, though: Mobile Priority data costs more on our Mexican account, and a Mobile-Global plan would run approximately $70 more than US customers pay monthly.

There are websites dedicated to tracking the range in service plan costs by country. Our data consumption when offshore, so far, has averaged around 6 GB per day on Totem. At nearly $3 per GB on our Mexican plan, it adds up, but it’s a bargain compared to the alternatives for high-bandwidth internet offshore.

Crossing an ocean with Starlink

There are the official terms, and then there are the real-life practices.

Officially, when moving between continent-based regions, Starlink expects an account to be on a Mobile–Global service plan. Offshore and outside of service areas, Mobile Priority data must be toggled on. For example, a cruiser starting in Sicily (European region) who sails to the Caribbean (North America), then stops in Colombia (South America) on the way to the Panama Canal, and transits from there to French Polynesia (Oceania) in the spring would be in at least four (or five, if they were in Africa) regions.

In practice, cruisers have used Mobile-Regional plans without service interruption while transiting regions, such as sailing from Gibraltar to St Lucia, or from Panama to the Marquesas. Mobile Priority does need to be switched on.

Officially, if you’re using Mobile-Regional in a new country for more than two months, you’re supposed to change your service address to the new country, or return to the country where your service address is located.

In practice, there is no enforcement of this country requirement unless regions are changed as well. Many cruisers find ways to optimize their service plans based on location without repercussions. For example, cruisers sailing from the Americas to French Polynesia generally choose among three options after arriving: They continue with Mobile-Regional with Mobile Priority data on, or they switch to Mobile-Global, or they sell the hardware to themselves and associate it with a new account in the region. This hack requires reassigning the hardware to the new account, and then closing the old account.

No matter how they set up Starlink, some cruisers limit the power draw and data cost by turning it on once or twice a day offshore.

Modifications to consider

Three modifications help our Starlink work better on board Totem.

First, we converted the AC powered dish to 12-volt DC. Why? To reduce power consumed overall.

Here, we needed two aftermarket components: a 150W GigE Passive PoE Injector ($65) and 12-to48-volt DC Step Up Converter ($39). Connect the cable from the dish to the PoE, which is connected to the step-up converter. Gen 3 dishes have a standard RJ45 connection at the end of the cable; Gen 2 users will need to convert it. That’s the next step. Remember to add a fuse block.

Second, we replaced the Starlink router. Why? To add power efficiency and access more features.

The ethernet cord coming out of the Gen 2 dish has a proprietary connection. That’s annoying when you want to use a different router. We converted ours through this rectangular Dishy cable adapter to RJ45 ($30), then used Totem’s existing MikroTik router ($75). We’re running PredictWind Data Hub ($299) in this mix. Make those connections (network cable on one side of the PoE box, power on the other), and then it works once the 12-volt power is on.

Third, we disabled internal motors. Why? Motors increase electricity use and reduce connection stability on a moving boat, including when swinging at anchor.

SpaceX cottoned onto this, I guess, since Gen 3 dishes don’t have motors. We’d encourage Gen 2 owners to disable theirs: it might feel scary to drill a hole in your antenna, but the performance is more stable, and you’ll save power.

The trickiest bit took a couple of tries to make the dish go flat. Jamie marked the spot, then drilled a hole with a 5/8-inch bit. After sucking out plastic debris, he used a pair of longish, stiff tweezers to pull out the wire connections to disable the motors.

How-to steps for this process are easy to find online. We initially covered the hole with some electrical tape, and later used silicone sealant on it for a longer-term solution.

Integrating to Iridium Exec

Like a growing number of cruisers, Jamie and I rely on connectivity for income. We also aspire to spend time in remote locations again soon. But counting on Starlink working 100 percent of the time is too risky.

Iridium Exec is the obvious piece of gear for reliable remote connectivity. The Exec and Starlink are integrated through our PredictWind Data Hub, with Starlink as our primary internet source and with Iridium on standby.

Embarking on offshore passages without reliable backup communication feels dubious at best. For folks who have lower data needs: If texts are enough, an InReach is another option for that backup. It can’t download weather GRIBs, so isn’t a great option if you go farther for longer and end up relying upon it.

Change is the constant

It seems that as soon as cruisers get used to one set of norms with Starlink, things change. Terms of service continue to be inconsistently enforced, which means anyone using Starlink outside of those terms are carrying some risk.

This week, Starlink emailed a reminder to some users that Mobile plans are intended for temporary travel and transit, not permanent use in a country different from the service address on the account. This email reminded users that terms of service are contingent upon regulatory approvals by the country in which the dish is used, and stated that connections could be cut off on April 30.

This notice appears to be aimed at a single country in Africa that does not have regulatory approval, with the helpful directions, “Should you wish to advocate for Starlink to be approved…” Recipients included plenty of South Pacific cruisers (French Polynesia is not yet “available” on the Starlink map) who were shaking in their sea boots. We get it. We depend on Starlink now, too.

More on Starlink aboard

For more resources on using Starlink on board, check our post about Starlink for Cruisers from November 2022. The resources we detailed are still the go-to references.

Coming up from the Sailing Totem crew

We’re giving two American Sailing Association seminars in the next few weeks. On April 25, we’re presenting proactive steps for safety on board. May 7, on the cusp of our intended passage to Hawaii, we’ll discuss passage preparation. For $10 off (more than 25%) use TOTEM10 in the checkout. Register here for safety at sea. The registration for passage planning is here.

On April 28, Totem Talks will answer the important question: Do cruisers poop in the ocean? A no-holds-barred conversation about heads, holding tanks and dealing with our, um, output. Get the poop here.If you’re in our coaching community, you could also join this weekend’s OpenCPN workshop. Want to know more? You can learn about working with us, or get in touch.

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IMTRA, a leading manufacturer of products for the marine, energy and transportation industries, was honored as the employee-owned company of the year by the New England chapter of the ESOP Association. 

The Massachusetts company is fully owned by its employees and has spent more than 70 years in the commercial, industrial and marine markets. The award honors companies that show a strong commitment to employee ownership, a news release said. 

The award puts IMTRA in the running for national recognition. ESOP Association is the largest employee ownership advocacy organization in the world. 

“We place a high value on being part of the ESOP community, with all these companies that support each other, share best practices and help each other be better employee-owners and organizations,” Eric Braitmayer, IMTRA president and CEO, said in the news release. “I’m excited by how impactful becoming an ESOP has been for our company culture. Our team is embracing what it means to be owners of IMTRA and we expect our customers and suppliers will benefit from this enhanced engagement by our teammates.”

IMTRA’s service philosophy, across all its marine product lines, is to ensure that customers select the correct product for their specific boats. The company’s Learning Center is a great resource for everything boaters need to know about their boat’s equipment and systems. Everything from product overviews, product comparisons, buying guides, troubleshooting guides, maintenance tips and more can be found HERE, and it’s always being updated.

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