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.

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.

Sailors can thank recently adopted commercial-shipping regulations for a new generation of electronic emergency beacon boating accessories. These devices are designed to connect vessels in distress via satellite to a global network of rescue centers, while also broadcasting Automatic Identification System alerts over marine radio channels to (potentially) summon help that much quicker. 

Florida-based ACR Electronics and its UK sister company, Ocean Signal, are the first to take advantage of the new rules. They are set to go with products expected to be approved by US regulators and made widely available this winter.

For mariners, this merging of satellite and VHF-radio-frequency technologies in a single device—either an emergency position indicating radio beacon or a personal locator beacon—is a game-changer. In a crisis, this tech will ensure that a request for assistance will be broadcast to as wide a net of potential rescuers as possible. 

Since the 1980s, mariners have relied on a vessel’s EPIRB to broadcast emergency alerts to authorities via a network of satellites and ground stations. Though thousands of lives have been saved by the global COSPAS-SARSAT network, it can take time for distress calls to be processed and for help to arrive. And in a crisis, time is of the essence. 

In more recent years, as electronic components shrank in size and battery life increased, PLBs were introduced, allowing sailors to affix them to, say, a life jacket and take them along from boat to boat. These PLBs rely on the same emergency network as EPIRBs.

With the advent of AIS, electronics manufacturers also developed personal AIS beacons, whose signals can be picked up by AIS transponders on nearby vessels. The benefit here is that should you go overboard, your own crew will be alerted, and in coastal waters, other boats equipped with AIS may be able to respond quickly. The drawback, though, is that the range of the beacons is limited to just a few miles, so if there are no other vessels around, or if your crewmates are asleep or distracted, the signal could go unnoticed.

ACR’s GlobalFix V5 AIS EPIRB and its ResQLink AIS Personal Locator Beacon both contain satellite and local communication transponders. The dual-purpose EPIRB is a result of the IMO’s new rules for commercial vessels. Meanwhile, developers were able to take advantage of more-efficient electronics and better batteries to also produce the new lineup of ResQLink beacons. Similar products are sold under the Ocean Signal brand and include the rescueMe EPIRB3 and the rescueMe PLB3. (The latter, winner of the Metstrade 2022 Overall Dame Award, will be available only in Europe; the ResQLink, with identical technology in a different exterior case, will be sold in the Americas.)

Mikele D’Arcangelo, ACR’s vice president of global marketing and product management, says that the new AIS PLBs are compact enough to fit the majority of the inflatable PFDs on the market.

Both the ACR and Ocean Signal products offer a couple of other features that D’Arcangelo says improve upon existing technology. Previous models have included strobe lights, but the new beacons contain infrared strobes as well, making them more visible in daylight and low-visibility conditions, another IMO requirement.

EPIRB and PLB boating accessories also offer smartphone connectivity, using near-field communication technology. By placing a phone with the ACR or Ocean Signal app near the beacon, a user can capture data about battery life, beacon programming, the number and results of self-tests, and GPS test locations. Again, D’Arcangelo says, technology was key here. By using a chip similar to what’s imbedded in credit cards, data can be transferred without using power from the beacon’s battery; the phone provides the power instead.

The EPIRBs and beacons also have Return Link Service, which receives a signal from the satellite network and alerts the user that a call for help has successfully gone out and been received by authorities.

The street price for the ResQLink AIS PLB is just under $500; the price for an automatic GlobalFix V5 is around $930, and the manual version goes for less than $800. Online, you will find the McMurdo SmartFind 8, Category 2, for about $600. Category 1 EPIRBs automatically release from their bracket when submerged, while Category 2 devices need to be manually activated.

Read Next: Electronic Life Insurance: Essential Boat Safety Kit Technologies

Let’s Set Sail

One result of the trend toward smaller, easier-to-handle headsails has been the adoption of bowsprits and furling off-the-wind sails for cruising sailboats. While continuous-line furlers have been in use for some time, Facnor is making the trimmer’s job all that much easier with its electric motorized flying sail furlers. 

The FXe Code Sail Electric Furler is compact and relatively simple to set up, with a power connection to a deck plug. A radio controller is an option, letting you move about while operating the furler. It can furl a 1,500-square-foot code zero in 45 seconds. 

And speaking of flying sails, North Sails has introduced an Easy Furling Gennaker that’s designed for downwind cruising. 

The gennaker is constructed of lightweight nylon spinnaker cloth and is built to be stowed and deployed using a top-down furler. Still, the sail is cut full, allowing it to be used for running off the wind. It is the deepest wind angle furling sail in the North cruising lineup. It’s available in a variety of colors and includes an internal luff cord for reliable furling. Prices vary by boat. 

Dinner, Anyone?

Just in time for barbecue season, Magma has introduced its Crossover Series grill. Want steak? There’s a grill top for that. Pizza? There’s a pizza top. There’s also a griddle top and a plancha top to suit various culinary needs. All are propane-powered. And, of course, there are more boating accessories, carrying bags, mounting hardware and spare parts available to keep the various cooking platforms in top condition.

An owner starts with a single- (around $500) or double-burner firebox ($700) and adds from there. A grill top goes for around $400, the plancha is $100, and the pizza top is $400.

What else is there to say but, “Bon appetit, matey.”

Keep In Touch

If your sailing adventures take you out of cellular-phone range, you can still communicate with friends and family—and, in an emergency, rescue authorities—with Garmin’s inReach Mini Marine Bundle, which includes all the cables and mounting hardware you need to be on your way. The inReach Mini can network with other onboard boating accessories such as a Garmin smartwatch and chart plotter, and you can use it to update weather forecasts, send and receive texts, and let others track your voyage.

If things go wrong, it will send SOS messages to authorities, all across the Iridium satellite network. The inReach Mini’s rechargeable battery can last up to 90 hours in tracking mode with 10-minute updates, and up to 24 days in 30-minute tracking power-save mode. It’s listed online for around $400. A service subscription is extra.

Read Next: It’s Time to Rethink Your Ditch Kit

Also helping you to stay in touch with the world back home is Raymarine’s YachtSense Link, a marine router that will let you network onboard gear such as your Axiom chart plotter, phone, tablet and laptop. Combine the router with Raymarine’s mobile app, and you’ll be able to monitor onboard devices such as pumps, batteries and lighting, and you can monitor your sailboat by setting up a geofence. Online prices start at about $1,200.

How We Doin’, Coach?

Some sailors take a set-it-and-forget-it approach to sail trim. Others will endlessly fiddle with sheets, vang, backstay and traveler, with one eye on the speedo and the other watching for puffs that might add a little more speed over ground. If you fall in the latter camp, Sailmon has you covered with its Max Mini, an onboard tracker that records your every tack and jibe, and, back home, replays your voyage with lots of data to see just how sharp you were at the wheel.

With the Mini paired to your phone, you can monitor your speed, heading and angle of heel, and later analyze what had you going fast so that next time, you can minimize what had you stuck in the slow lane. You can also share data with the larger Sailmon community in the spirit of friendly competition. Think of the Mini as your own personal performance coach, whose services will run you a one-time cost of right around $500.

Keep It Simple

One doesn’t have to own a boat very long to discover that mooring and dock lines left in salt water quickly become home to barnacles, slime, shells and a host of other messy creatures. Some ingenious thinker at Boatasy, a Slovenian company that focuses on mooring and dock equipment, looked the problem square in the eye and came up with a solution: the Ropecleaner. This simple device has a handle affixed to a stainless-steel spiral. To use it, you wind a mooring or dock line around the spiral, and then simply pull the tool along the rope, cleaning as you go. The Ropecleaner is available online for about $40.

Keep It Clean

Sailors keen on leaving disposable plastic water bottles behind and relying instead on their boat’s water tanks can keep the potable water system clean by using the water-treatment tablets developed by Aquamarine Water Solutions. One Aquatab treats four gallons of water. Drop the required number of tabs into the tank, wait 30 minutes, and you can be certain the water is safe to drink. The company says that Aquatabs protect against giardia cysts, bacteria and viruses, and the tablets have a shelf life of two years. A 100-tablet jar sells for right around $30.

Roll With It

Big boat, small boat, powerboat or sailboat: Look below or search the lockers, and one piece of kit that you’ll find in just about any vessel afloat is a boat hook. After all, they come in handy in so many ways, besides the obvious work of picking up a mooring or dock line. I’ve used them to pole out a jib, retrieve innumerable hats, fetch an escaped halyard, and, on several occasions, with a fishing net taped to the handle, to feebly try to pluck lost items from the depths.

As handy and ubiquitous as boat hooks are, though, whenever I’m at a boat show—and I go to a lot of them—I always marvel at the number of people walking around with one or more boat hooks in hand, or, later in the day, hanging out with their boat hook in a restaurant or bar. Even a telescoping boat hook looks awkward ashore. And then there’s the question of where to stow the thing at sea. No matter their size, boat hooks often seem to be in the way when they’re not in use.

For that dilemma, PYI offers a solution: the Revolve boat hook. When not in use, the boat hook rolls up into roughly a 4-inch cylinder that weighs just under a pound. Unrolled, it’s 75 inches long, and it has a push/pull pressure rating of 66 pounds. The boat hook is made from Rolatube structural composite material, technology that’s used in a variety of industries, from aerospace to nuclear power plants. 

Rolled up, the boat hook is easy to store, but better yet, at a boat show, you can buy one for about $120, stick it in a handbag or backpack, and then take it to the bar without looking like you just came from a boat show.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Products in this story were nominated for or received Innovation Awards or other notable awards during 2022 trade and boat shows, including Metstrade, the Miami International Boat Show, the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference, and the Newport International Boat Show.

The post Gear Up for Sailing Season With These Helpful Boating Accessories appeared first on Cruising World.

Welcome to the third-annual Best Elex Awards, which honor innovative marine electronics and technology products that have been reviewed and approved by the editorial team behind the four leading titles in marine media: Boating, Yachting, Cruising World and Salt Water Sportsman. At the first of the year, the nominees were evaluated by our team of eight judges, including the editors-in-chief and electronics editors of the aforementioned brands. In the end, seven products set themselves apart. And the winners are:

• Editors’ Choice: KVH TracNet
• Leading Edge Technology: Simrad Halo 2000/3000
• Best in Navigation: Garmin Navionics+
• Best Integrated System: Lowrance HDS Pro w/ Active Imaging/ActiveTarget 2
• Most Innovative for Fishing: Furuno TZtouch3 w/ CHIRP Side-Scan Technology
• Best in Sonar: Garmin LiveScope XR
• Best in Entertainment: Kicker KMXL

Editors’ Choice: KVH TracNet Hybrid Antennas

What the Judges Said: “The most impressive feature is the antennas’ ability to seamlessly jump between cellular, Wi-Fi and VSAT networks, all with the lowest-cost routing and user experience in mind.” —David Schmidt, electronics editor, Yachting

Two of our eight judges gave KVH’s TracNet system perfect scores. And what’s not to like? This new system for onboard connectivity just might be as seamless as the internet setup in your home. And it doesn’t require an assortment of disparate parts, complicated connections and multiple bills. TracNet combines satellite, cellular and Wi-Fi under one dome. The system features automatic switching to keep boats connected using the best communication option at all times—without the need for hands-on tuning. The H30 ($18,995), H60 ($27,995) and H90 ($44,995) antennas match boats of 30, 60 and 90 feet, respectively. Paired to a belowdecks unit using an Ethernet power-over-coaxial cable, the H90 can deliver VSAT download speeds as fast as 40 Mbps (with Elite service). Boaters can also expect support for 5G/LTE cellular service where available, as well as the ability to add user-supplied SIM cards for local service. TracNet connects to shore-based Wi-Fi using an integrated bridge for additional speed.

Leading Edge Technology: Simrad Halo 2000/3000

What the Judges Said: “Veteran anglers have long sworn by power-hungry magnetron radars, scorning the advent of pulse-compression radars, for finding flocks of seabirds. But now there’s a pulse-compression radar that may change some minds.” —Jim Hendricks, electronics editor, Salt Water Sportsman and Boating

All the judges commented on the Simrad Halo 3000 Bird+ mode, labeling it innovative and a problem solver. In that mode, the open-array radar focuses all its juice toward finding birds for fishermen. It can reach out to 8 nautical miles, while other pulse-compression units might see flyers at 3 miles. Halo 3000 is available in 4- and 6-foot arrays, and delivers 130 watts for seeing out to 96 nautical miles. Its smaller sister, Halo 2000, is available in 3-, 4- and 6-foot arrays, and offers 50 watts of power for visibility to 72 nautical miles. Both arrays are equipped with ZoneTrack, which allows captains to track up to 50 vessels. Dangerous Target Alerts highlight the range, bearing and heading of other vessels. VelocityTrack shows color-coded targets to help identify threats. Halo 2000 starts at $6,399; the 3000 starts at $8,499.

Best in Navigation: Garmin Navionics+

What the Judges Said: “The big excitement for me is that Garmin has finally combined two excellent products into a single, intuitive interface. Throw in automatic daily updates, and the end user is the real winner here.” —Andrew Parkinson, editor-in-chief, Cruising World

When Garmin purchased marine-chart powerhouse Navionics about six years ago, boaters loved the idea of the two joining forces and the prospect of new navigational tools. And while the evolution took a little time, the process has come full circle with Garmin Navionics+. The all-in-one mapping solution features advanced autorouting, depth-range shading, vibrant colors, a streamlined interface, combined coastal and inland content plus a one-year subscription to daily chart updates through the ActiveCaptain app. Boaters can upgrade to Garmin Navionics Vision+ to add high-resolution relief shading, high-res satellite imagery, aerial photos and more. The charts come preloaded on a variety of new Garmin chart plotters and can be purchased online. Starting prices range from $149.99 to $249.99.

Best Integrated System: Lowrance HDS Pro w/Active Imaging/ActiveTarget 2

What the Judges Said: “HDS Pro delivers full ­networking with bow-to-stern boat control as well as compatibility with Lowrance’s latest live sonar—ActiveTarget 2—and the second generation of Active Imaging. That’s a lot of capability in one package.” —Chris Woodward, editor, Best Marine Electronics and Technology

How many features can you fit into one new multifunction display? If you ask Lowrance, the list appears to be near endless. With its latest system, Lowrance launches the HDS Pro line of multifunction displays, as well as increases the functionality of its side- and down-scan imaging and live sonar. The 1 kW-capable HDS Pro units also deliver full control of trolling motors, autopilots, engines, radar, communications and Power-Pole shallow-water anchors. The MFDs are available with 9-, 10-, 12- or 16-inch SolarMAX IPS HD touchscreens and cost $2,199 to $4,999. The ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar module and transducer cost $1,649; the module alone costs $799, and the transducer alone costs $1,099. Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducers for Lowrance Ghost trolling motors or transoms cost $399 to $449.

Most Innovative for Fishing: Furuno TZtouch3 w/Chirp Side-Scan Technology

What the Judges Said: “Low-frequency side-scan sonar opens this more-traditional freshwater and inshore-­saltwater product category to offshore fishermen, enabling them to spot fish hundreds of feet away.” —Randy Vance, editor-at-large, Fishing and Marine Group

Side-scan sonar helps anglers see under docks and into submerged trees and weeds, right? Yes, but that’s not all it can do, and offshore fishermen have long wanted a piece of the action. With Furuno’s latest software update, TZtouch3 users can see structure and fish 750 feet or more off each side of their vessels. Cruisers too can leverage that to find a safe path through coral reefs. To reach that distance, Furuno scans the water at a lower frequency (220 to 240 kHz) than other side-scan sonar brands. While lower-frequency chirps don’t deliver the same crisp returns as higher-frequency transmissions, this new technology aids anglers hoping to find new bottom structure, and yachtsman and sailors hoping to avoid hazards. The software update is free; the transducer costs $900.

Best in Sonar: Garmin LiveScope XR

What the Judges Said: “Everyone likes a product that can address multiple tasks well, and Garmin’s LiveScope XR does just that. With a single transducer, the user has the ability to adjust the system to see forward, out to the sides or directly beneath a vessel’s hull.” —Patrick Sciacca, editor-in-chief, Yachting

Like side-scan sonar, live sonar initially catered to freshwater and inshore boaters and anglers. But with LiveScope XR, Garmin delivers real-time videolike sonar from lakes out to blue water. In fresh water, LiveScope XR can see up to 500 feet in front of or below the boat; in salt water, that range is 350 feet. The system offers image clarity at close and long ranges simultaneously. The LVS62 transducer can be pointed forward or down manually or turned sideways with the included Perspective Mode Mount. The system includes a GLS 10 black box that mounts beneath a console. With a free software update, the transducer (sold separately) can be added to an existing LiveScope black box. The full system costs $2,999.99; the LVS62 alone costs $2,499.99.

Best in Entertainment: Kicker KMXL

What the Judges Said: “Kicker is truly working hard to deliver great sound in the audio-unfriendly environment that is a boat.” —Kevin Falvey, editor-in-chief, Boating

Innovative was the adjective most commonly used by our judges to describe Kicker’s latest speakers. The company’s tangential center-cone geometry—also dubbed horn-loaded technology—makes waves among wakeboarders who use uber-powerful tower speakers to push sound to the cockpit and to the rider. But the new Kicker KMXL speakers deliver that same technology to every boater. Kicker says the new coaxials—in 6 ½- and 8-inch sizes as well as 6 by 9 inches—deliver increased performance with optimal sensitivity, power handling and sonic accuracy. The speakers cost $649.99 to $869.99 per pair

The post Best Marine Electronics and Technology Awards 2023 appeared first on Cruising World.

The National Marine Electronics Association named 20 product awards at its annual conference recently in Anaheim, California. NMEA members voted online for Product of Excellence Awards in 18 categories, and a panel of independent judges, including Salt Water Sportsman and Boating editor Jim Hendricks, determined the NMEA Technology Award and Best New Product.

Airmar’s BoatSmart System took home top technology honors. SmartBoat is a sensor-management system, a multi-network protocol gateway. Multiple analog sensors of nearly any type can directly connect to the SmartBoat module, where the data is converted to NMEA 2000 and delivered to the network and MFDs, eliminating the need for additional modules and/or NMEA 2000 cables and hubs. The embedded, wirelessly accessed (via Bluetooth) browser-based interface allows boaters to configure and control each sensor. The unit then communicates directly with your MFDs or other onboard networks via Wi-Fi. Retail pricing starts at $699.

Maretron won best new product with its WSO200 Ultrasonic Weather Station. Maretron’s product description reads: “Maretron’s outdoor weather station measures wind speed and direction, air temperature, barometric pressure, and relative humidity. The wind measurement is performed using ultrasonic sensors, which means there are no moving parts to wear out or to get caught in the rigging. The WSO200 accurately measures wind speed and direction under tilt of up to 30 degrees, making it ideal for sail as well as power conditions. When used with Maretron’s SSC300 compass and a display such as Maretron’s N2KView vessel-monitoring system, or Maretron’s DSM570 color graphics displays, the user can view both apparent and true wind speed and direction as well as dew point and wind chill factor. The WSO200 mounts on a 1″-14 Standard Marine Mount.” The relatively compact WSO200 is about the same diameter as a teacup saucer and carries a suggested retail price of $595.

2022 Product of Excellence Award Winners were:

• Marine VHF—ICOM M510
• Radar—Furuno DRS4DNXT
• Satellite Communications Antenna—KVH TracPhone V30
• Multifunction Display—Garmin GPSMAP 8616xsv
• Multimedia Entertainment—Fusion Apollo MS-RA770
• NMEA 2000 Sensor—Furuno SCX20 Satellite Compass
• Marine PC Software—Nobeltec TimeZero Professional
• Marine Apps-Utility—Garmin ActiveCaptain
• Marine Specialty—Furuno CSH8LMK2 Omni Sonar
• Satellite TV Antenna—KVH TracVision UHD7
• Fishfinder—Furuno DFF3D Multi-Beam 3D Fishfinder
• Marine Camera—Teledyne/FLIR M364C
• AIS—Vesper Marine Cortex M1
• Autopilot—Garmin Reactor 40
• Remote Monitoring—GOST Apparition
• Safety Device—Garmin GPSMAP 86sci Handheld
• Commercial—Furuno FAR2228NXTBB IMO Radar
• Wi-Fi/Cellular Device—KVH TracPhone LTE-1

Garmin and Actisense were named NMEA Manufacturers of the Year — a distinction voted on by the association’s members and based on demonstrating superior support of their products to those who install and service them in the field.

The post National Marine Electronics Association Announces Annual Awards appeared first on Cruising World.

Fourteen to 18 knots of southerly breeze flowed across Puget Sound on a gorgeous day this past summer. My friend Jonathan had invited me to go daysailing aboard Dark Star, his Riptide 44. We hoisted the square-top main and jib, and sailed uphill from Seattle’s Shilshole Bay Marina past West Point Lighthouse. Glancing at the angle to Port Madison, where we were headed, Jonathan decided that we should hoist the spinnaker. Perfect!

We were soon ripping toward Port Madison at 11 to 12 knots. Then we noticed a container ship plying the southbound Vessel Traffic System lane. Given that our hands were full of sheets and steering wheels, I was relieved to glance at the chart plotter and see—via the boat’s Automatic Identification System—that the ship was passing clear east of us.

While AIS has been keeping sailors safe since 2008, newer technologies, including more-capable AIS Class B transmitters and updated hardware, are making AIS safer, more intuitive and more robust. 

Better still, upcoming ­regulatory changes to the way AIS interfaces with the rest of the electronic-communications ecosystem are poised to make cruising safer and even more data-rich.

What’s coming next started back in 2002, when the International Maritime Organization began requiring most internationally bound commercial vessels to employ Class A AIS transmitters. This equipment dynamically broadcasts vessel AIS information (such as vessel name, position, course, speed and Maritime Mobile Service Identity) on two dedicated AIS channels: VHF channels 87B and 88B. The information is broadcast every two to 10 seconds, based on vessel speed, at 2 or 12.5 watts. Class A AIS operates on the self-organized time-division multiple access (SOTDMA) channel-sharing scheme, which is coordinated within the AIS transmission hierarchy. 

In 2006, the AIS standards committee announced specifications for Class B AIS transmitters, which were aimed primarily at recreational mariners. These became commercially available in 2008. Class B AIS also broadcasts on the same two channels, but at 2 watts and a static reporting rate of once every 30 seconds, using the carrier sense time division multiple access (CSTDMA) scheme. Hence the designation Class B/CS.

While the acronyms are alphabet soup, the important bit is that SOTDMA transmitters pre-announce the AIS channel time slots that they intend to employ and then broadcast accordingly, whereas CSTDMA systems “politely” listen for open slots. If an opening doesn’t exist when a CSTDMA transmission is timed to transpire, it retries 10 random times and then waits—in 30-second increments—for a window. In crowded waters, this scheme can sometimes equate to several skipped transmissions. While this is irrelevant for a sloop that’s sailing at 5 knots and can still listen for incoming AIS signals, it’s a bigger concern aboard rides that can cruise in the low to mid-20s, or faster.

Class B/SO transmitters arrived in 2013, offering several advantages. They use the SOTDMA scheme and report their AIS information once every five to 30 seconds at 2 or 5 watts of power. While Class B/SO transmitters were initially aimed at non-SOLAS-class vessels, their bolstered transmission power increases their range, and their SOTDMA channel-sharing scheme helps ensure that more transmissions will be heard by other AIS users in busy waters.

“Everything we make now is on the newer platform,” says Jim McGowan, Raymarine’s Americas marketing manager, referring to Class B/SO technology. Other leading manufacturers do the same.

Another recent and positive change has been the integration of AIS within some VHF radios. “I’m pleased that regular VHF manufacturers are putting AIS on radios—it costs nothing, and look at the benefits,” says Jorge Arroyo, a US Coast Guard program analyst who helps develop AIS regulations and standards. He says we eventually might see VHF radios with listen-only AIS receivers for less than $200. 

In 2019, Vesper Marine unveiled its revolutionary Cortex safety and communications platform. It put AIS, cellular, Digital Selective Calling, VHF and Wi-Fi communications onto a single, user-friendly software-based platform that combines with a belowdecks black-box processor (with a built-in Class B/SO transmitter), one or more handsets, and two smartphone apps. Cortex users get smartphone-­style operations instead of clunky VHF radios buttons and knobs. The system has a touchscreen, six hard buttons, and an iPod-like rotary wheel and central selector. “We were keen to simplify the experience and make it safer to use,” says Carl Omundsen, Vesper’s chief product officer and company co-founder.

Garmin acquired Vesper in January, largely to acquire Cortex. “We have no plans to change the current product,” says Dave Dunn, Garmin’s senior director of marine sales. 

While crystal balls are in short supply (must be the microprocessor shortage), it’s fair to say that other manufacturers will emulate Cortex’s smartphone-esque user interface. It’s also fair to say that the sheer volume of AIS transmissions will increase in coming years as more users adopt the technology for more applications.

In addition to collision avoidance, AIS is also used for critical jobs such as alerting crews and nearby vessels of man-overboard and life-raft scenarios, marking fishing gear, and advising mariners of navigable dangers. The Coast Guard and other international agencies regularly employ AIS to electronically augment aids to navigation, and to electronically mark other points of navigational interest. There are currently more than 500 electronic AIS aids to navigation in the United States, Arroyo says, and they’re supplemented with at least another 100 during hurricane season, for things such as ­reopening ports after storms. 

“The USCG has them all over, on both coasts,” says Jeff Robbins, Vesper Marine’s CEO and co-founder. 

These electronic aids to navigation can also use AIS to transmit Application Specific Messages, which can automatically appear on navigation displays. For example, ASMs can deliver local notices to mariners information or be used to cordon off dredging areas. 

While these are all smart ways of using AIS capabilities, VHF maritime channels 87B and 88B have only so much bandwidth. To address this issue, international bodies, including the Coast Guard, have been working to create the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES). This two-way ­communications system, once operational, will allow ships, satellites, and shore stations to transmit and receive high-speed data in a sort of super-AIS data ecosystem. 

In this brave new world, which is expected to begin unfurling between 2025 and 2035, users will be able to buy a single VDES box that will bundle multiple communication frequencies (similar to how smartphones juggle Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth frequencies). 

“The goal with VDES is to move traffic off AIS so that AIS is only for collision avoidance,” Arroyo says. “All other traffic will be moved to VDES channels.” 

VDES will have four structural components: AIS, VDE Satellite, VDE Terrestrial and ASM channels. VDES will collectively occupy 18 frequencies: two for long-range (satellite) AIS, two for regular AIS, two for ASMs, six satellite uplink channels and six satellite downlink channels. 

“The AIS frequencies will remain for government data. The others are open,” Arroyo says.  “Real-time weather could be the killer app.” His hope is that ships will be able to broadcast their real-time weather information and create mesh networks that repeat this data across to shore stations and to satellites. 

While VDES promises to carry a lot of data, today’s AIS equipment will continue to operate safely long after VDES rolls out. “VDES is in the stratosphere, but it will trickle down,” Dunn says. 

And Cortex is already built to receive and decode eight channels in parallel. “We are currently using five, so there are three in reserve,” Omundsen says. “In 10 years, no one will know or care about AIS—it will just be cool functionality, along with VHF, DSC and VDES.” 

As with most communications technologies, VDES is internationally regulated, but the features are evolving faster than the regulations do. This means that AIS will be rolled into a bigger communication platform, and its safety margins should improve as other communications are moved to separate frequencies. 

And if Arroyo’s “killer app” concept of relaying real-time weather is realized, this data could possibly be helpful to government agencies for weather forecasts and modeling.  

While these upsides are big, the downsides are minimal. Existing AIS transmitters and listen-only receivers will continue to provide collision-­avoidance awareness, so there will be no immediate need to upgrade hardware. VDES boxes won’t be free, of course, but—given that they will likely be software-based platforms (like Cortex)—they should come ready for future upgrades.

So, if you’re in the market for a new AIS setup, consider a Class B/SO transmitter. If you’re an early adopter, Cortex will put you ahead of the pack right now.

If your AIS and VHF radio equipment is contemporary, just continue watching this space. The future of VDES looks bright.

David Schmidt is CW’s electronics editor and occasionally writes on other gear topics.

Antenna Matters

“AIS works only as well as its antenna system,” says Raymarine’s Jim ­McGowan, adding that it’s best to invest in an antenna designed for AIS. “Running a dedicated antenna is better” than employing an AIS/VHF splitter. ­McGowan points to ­Digital Antenna, Glomex and Shakespeare as good places to start shopping. 

Vendor List

• Digital Antenna; call for pricing
• Garmin; from $700
• Glomex; from $90
• Raymarine; from $600
• Shakespeare; call for pricing
• Vesper Marine; call for pricing

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Welcome to the second-annual Best Elex Awards, which honors standout marine electronics products that have been reviewed and approved by the editorial team behind the four leading titles in marine media: Boating, Yachting, Cruising World and Salt Water Sportsman. Over the course of two months, the nominees were evaluated by our team of seven judges, including the editors-in-chief and electronics editors of the aforementioned brands. In the end, six products set themselves apart. And the winners are:

• Editors’ Choice: Raymarine Cyclone
• Leading Edge Technology: Garmin SurroundView
• Best Integrated System: Raymarine YachtSense
• Most Innovative for Sailing: Balmar Battery Monitoring
• Most Innovative for Power: Yamaha Battery Management System
• Best in Entertainment: Garmin Apollo

Editors’ Choice: Raymarine Cyclone

What the judges said: “While the open-array grabs your attention first, the Raymarine Cyclone radar backs up its stylish design with a high level of functionality that includes excellent target definition, great power, Doppler target tracking, an advanced dual-range feature, highly effective bird mode, a high-RPM setting and more.” 

The next-level design and the ability to weather the toughest conditions stood out to the judges as premier features of Raymarine’s Cyclone. This radar series sports a radical look that resembles an aircraft wing, a relatively thin array design made possible by using dielectric radar technology. But there’s much more to highlight. Advanced post-processing removes sea and rain clutter and replicates chart-like radar images. Anglers should appreciate the enhanced bird mode, which is surprisingly effective since Cyclone is a chirp-pulse-compression, solid-state radar versus a high-powered magnetron. The Cyclone also fits a wider range of vessels because of its size. The smallest version — a 3-foot open array — measures only 13.2 inches tall and weighs 51 pounds. Because of Cyclone’s low-profile, it can perform at wind speeds up to 100 knots, compared with 70 knots for competitors — important for 70 mph offshore boats. Cyclone is also available in 4- or 6-foot arrays and with a 55-watt (equivalent to a 6 kW magnetron) or 110-watt (12 kW-equivalent) pedestal. The array spins at variable speeds from 6 to 60 rpm; at its fastest, the radar gives captains immediate awareness of their surroundings. Cyclones also come with three-color Doppler technology, a 96-mile range, and RangeFusion, which combines short- and long-range pulses into a single image. Prices range from $6,999.99 to $9,749.99. 

Leading Edge Technology: Garmin Surround View

What the judges said: “Surround View allows the captain more confidence while docking, even if there’s no second crew member (and, maybe, even if there is) to eyeball the blind distance between the swim platform and the bulkhead or between the anchor chute and the boat tied up just ahead.”

Docking can be a harrowing experience, but Garmin’s Surround View Camera System minimizes that anxiety and boosts boater confidence. The judging panel agreed that this product is a game-changer when it comes to giving captains a clear view of their surroundings in crowded marinas and harbors. One look at Surround View’s 360-degree bird’s-eye imagery shows you the innovation. The judges applauded Garmin for taking docking awareness to a new level. How does it do this? The system uses six flush-mounted 1080p cameras mounted at the bow, aft, and amidships port and starboard. Surround View then creates a full overhead stitched image with 360-degree, real-time video, and feeds it directly to compatible Garmin chart plotters or multifunction displays. Captains can view one or two cameras simultaneously with the bird’s-eye image, and even zoom in and pan around with individual camera views. Surround View also provides a number of augmented-reality features, including a visual bumper and distance markers. Available as an OEM option on new boats only.

Best Integrated System: Raymarine YachtSense

What the judges said: “Raymarine has come up with a system of electric control Legos, if you will, that allows builders to jump into the digital-switching era using off-the-shelf modules that can be expanded as necessary.”

Simple. Easy. Redundancy. Scalable and customizable: All of the judges characterized Raymarine’s YachtSense digital-switching system as a remarkably common-sense approach to cleanly managing ship’s systems such as lighting, pumps, windlasses, entertainment systems, generators and air conditioning. Each YachtSense system begins with master and power-supply modules; additional multichannel signal modules can be added based on needs — like colored-coded Legos. In addition, YachtSense delivers electrical redundancy. The master module features an integrated keypad for manual override, as well as an LCD screen for system diagnostics. And perhaps best yet: YachtSense offers a scalable and customizable design that’s suitable for boats as small as 35 feet. Captains monitor and control YachtSense with a Raymarine Axiom touchscreen multifunction display. Pricing varies depending on the number of integrated systems and scope of the installation.

Most Innovative for Sailing: Balmar SG230/235 Battery Monitor

What the judges said: “Balmar’s SC230/235 battery monitors give boaters significant insight into the real-time health and state of charge of their battery banks from a variety of dedicated or wireless displays.”

The fact that captains can access battery information with Balmar’s monitors by using an app on a smartphone creates tremendous appeal for sailors who don’t always want to run a chart plotter to check their power supply. The judges also liked the products’ ability to monitor lithium batteries, which is unique to the market. But don’t consider this just a sailboat win; powerboaters also appreciate the SG230 and SG235. With NMEA 2000 networking capability, the monitors can push accurate information on a deep-cycle house bank—such as state of charge and voltage—to any multifunction display. Over time, these smart monitors actually learn from the batteries, allowing the SG230/235 to examine a broader parameter called state of health. Captains can then see how their battery bank ages over time. The SG230 comes with a color display and costs $329; the SG235, without display, costs $239.

Most Innovative for Power: Yamaha Battery Management System

What the judges said: “Yamaha’s new battery management system simplifies rigging, saves money, reduces weight and facilitates easier service of multi-outboard-powered boats, proving once again that less is more.”

Yes, the judges noted a theme throughout this year’s new products: a focus on making everyone’s life—from the boater to the builder—easier. Yamaha even has a philosophy tied to this trend called CommandBlue, designed to deliver products that are easier to use and create greater satisfaction and confidence on the water. The judges felt that Yamaha’s Battery Management System delivered. The most impressive feature they noted was the system’s ability to start up to five outboards with just two starter batteries (without the system, each engine would need a starter battery). The BMS constantly monitors and charges all batteries but it prioritizes the starting batteries, ensuring their readiness. Boaters can then add more house batteries to power their ever-growing list of accessories. Captains can also turn on or off the batteries from up to 15 feet away using a key fob or they can use a console-mounted switch. The estimated retail price for the system is $2,200. Note that BMS is only compatible with Yamaha’s digital-electronic-control outboards on vessels that employ Yamaha’s Helm Master EX.

Read Next: More Marine Electronics

Best in Entertainment: Fusion Apollo Series Amplifiers

What the judges said: “More impressive than a moonshot, Apollo amps ease installation and setup of marine audio amplifiers.”

Most amplifiers must be manually tuned, often by a dealer or technician, so that they can produce clear, quality sound. But Fusion’s new Apollo Series Amplifiers eliminate all that. The judges felt that tune-free functionality was ground-breaking. Here’s how it works: Captains wirelessly connect to their mobile device and open the Fusion-Link app. There, they select the relevant audio profile for their vessel. The amps, enclosed in white, powder-coated-aluminum casings, exclusively pair with Fusion Digital Signal Processing enabled stereos. They feature 150 W RMS per channel and a high-power mode, and come in 1-, 4-, 6- and 8-channel options. Prices range from $179.99 to $949.99.

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Welcome to the inaugural Best Elex Awards, which honors standout marine electronics products that have been reviewed and approved by the editorial team behind the four leading titles in marine media: Boating, Yachting, Cruising World and Salt Water Sportsman. Over the course of two months, the nominees were evaluated by our team of eight judges, including the editors-in-chief and electronics editors of the aforementioned brands. In the end, seven products set themselves apart. And the winners are:

• Editors’ Choice: Raymarine Axiom+
• Leading Edge Technology: Furuno NavNet TZTouch3 9F
• Best Integrated System: Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv
• Most Innovative for Sailing: Airmar DST 810
• Best in Entertainment: Rockford Fosgate 12-inch Color Optix M2 Subwoofers
• Most Innovative for Power: Dometic Optimus Outboard Electric Steering Actuator
• Best in Communication: Standard Horizon GX2400 Matrix

Editors’ Choice: Raymarine Axiom+

Raymarine’s Axiom+ multifunction displays replace the company’s original Axiom line in 7-, 9-, and 12-inch-display models. The plus units integrate a quad-core processor, multi-channel sonar views (including RealVision 3D), and augmented-reality navigation, and include up to 16 GB of onboard data storage. All displays employ in-plane switching for better, brighter viewing along with the company’s HydroTough treatment to repel water and oils. Axiom+ models start at $749.

What the judges said: “These units have more memory than your mother-in-law. They run a multitude of apps, using an intuitive GUI ripped from a smart TV, and, thanks to WiFi, no pulling radar cable through pipework. What’s not to like?”

Leading Edge Technology: Furuno NavNet TZTouch3 9F

Furuno responded to customer requests for a smaller version of its TZTouch3 technology, introduced last February, by delivering the 9F, a 9-inch IPS display for tighter helms and second stations. The hybrid-control TZT9F features a quad-core processor, 256 GB memory card built into the system, a built-in 1kW, single-channel TruEcho CHIRP Fish Finder, and a traditional 50/200kHz RezBoost Fish Finder. The MFD comes with a PIN-code lock feature and is also compatible with a wide array of Furuno peripherals, including radar, autopilot, VHF, and black-box sonars. The TZT9F costs $2,995.

What the judges said: “This smaller version of the TZTouch3 delivers so many of the best features of its bigger brothers. The edge-swiping interface, in particular, puts all of your most-important functions within quick reach. The built-in 1 kW chirp that’s frequency agile is a big plus for anglers, as is the ability to lock the MFD with a passcode.”

Best Integrated System: Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv

Garmin’s new GPSMAP 1243xsv multifunction display surpasses its predecessor, the 1242, with edge-to-edge glass, an IPS display, higher resolution, better scanning sonar and more. Garmin says it has now brought those premium features—indicative of its 8600 series—to mid-level consumers. The 1kW chirp unit incorporates all of Garmin’s sonar capabilities such as LiveScope, SideVu, and ClearVu. The 1243 can be flush-mounted in the same space as a 1242 with a retrofit kit. The 1243xsv costs $2,899.

What the judges said: “Garmin’s new 1243xsv combines popular, SideVu, ClearVu and chirp sonar all in one device with no black boxes. In addition, they’ve upgraded the screen for brighter, sharper resolution and made the device networkable to integrate with NMEA 2000 connected engines and all other Garmin products.”

Most Innovative for Sailing: Airmar DST 810

Airmar’s DST810 Smart Multisensor makes calibrating accurate speed a simple process. The unit features an integrated attitude sensor, as well, for logging heel and trim data. With the free CAST app, boaters won’t need expensive PC software to provide heel-compensated speed across multiple heel angles and speed ranges. The 5 Hz output delivers unrivaled speed for making quick decisions on the water. The sensor, which also measures depth and water temperature—to a tenth of a degree—accommodates hull angles of up to 22 degrees and costs $399.

What the judges said: “Airmar sensors are used extensively by sailing instruments, which means the new sensor can easily replace older ones. The ability to self-calibrate and ‘see’ down to the bottom when measuring depth is a great benefit, especially for sailboats that often have curved hull forms. The ability to correct for heel and calibrate speed accordingly is of great value to racing sailors, but also to navigation, since speed through the water is used to calculate current, true wind speed and other critical sailing data.”

Best in Entertainment: Rockford Fosgate 12-inch Color Optix M2 Subwoofers

Rockford Fosgate has introduced 12-inch Color Optix Subwoofers for its M2 line of Element Ready sound technology. The subwoofers come in two types — infinite baffle, which provides more strength in the cone — and sealed options for smaller enclosures. Available in black, white, black with stainless insert or white with stainless insert, the subs can be customized by connecting an optional Color Optix Controller and RF Connect App that allows selection of various light colors and patterns. The 12-inch M2s cost $449.

What the judges said: “The M2 subwoofer’s customizable LED colors let users personalize their audio experience. With the ability to pump out up to 1600 watts of power, a lack of volume should never be an issue.”

Most Innovative for Power: Dometic Optimus Outboard Electric Steering Actuator

Dometic’s Optimus Outboard Electric Steering Actuator delivers full power-steering functionality with auto-adjustable parameters to any conventional outboard. The actuator, electronic helm display and harness install quickly without the need for hoses, oil or purging. The system also integrates with joystick control, SeaStation (position hold), SeaWays (Dometic autopilot), and third-party autopilots. This actuator employs a compact brushless DC motor and a unique roller screw that produces enough power to push even the heaviest outboards. Two engines require two actuators; triple- or quad-outboard setups also employ two actuators with additional tie-bars. Price for a single-engine system is $5,700, about 15 percent higher than equivalent electro-hydraulic systems.

What the judges said: “The new Optimus electric steering system brings marine-steering technology into the 21st century.”

Best in Communication: Standard Horizon GX2400 Matrix

Standard Horizon’s GX2400 Matrix VHF radio replaces earlier GX220 products; it offers an internal, 66-channel WAAS GPS receiver; NMEA 2000 networkability; a wireless (or wired) full-functioning, second-station RAM mic; and an AIS receiver. Anglers can employ the voice scrambler to send encrypted messages to fishing buddies. The fixed-mount radio costs $449.99.

Read Next: More Top Marine Electronics for Cruising

What the judges said: “Standard Horizon’s GX2400 is a feature-heavy VHF base-station radio that delivers mic expandability and NMEA 2000 compatibility at a budget-conscious price point.”

The post Best Electronics Awards 2021 appeared first on Cruising World.

Driven by MotionScope Doppler technology, the GMR Fantom 18 is a 40-watt, solid-state dome radar that includes a new perk: A target-size setting, which assists in differentiating real targets from noise. Major highlights include pulse compression, which enhances detection and maximizes energy, along with dynamic auto-gain and sea-filter settings, low power ­consumption and instant start-ups.

Price: $1,999.99

Contact: garmin.com/newmarine

See the complete 2020 Marine Electronics Guide

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The GMR Fantom 126 is Garmin’s most powerful ­solid-state, open-array radar, utilizing 120 watts of power. Employing MotionScope Doppler technology, users can detect and highlight moving targets in different colors to avoid collisions, track the weather or find flocks of birds. Pulse-compression technology allows for maximum target identification while also displaying high-resolution imagery. And let’s not forget the new True Echo Trails feature, which leaves a tell-tale trail from moving targets.

Price: $8,499.99

Contact: garmin.com/newmarine

See the complete 2020 Marine Electronics Guide

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