Marine Electronics 2015 Marine Electronics

2015 Marine Electronics

Technology Marches On - New marine electronics for 2015

By Randy Vance

March 16, 2015

The More Things Change, the Faster They Change In the world of marine electronics, change comes rapidly and this represents good news for offshore captains and anglers. Navigation, fish finding, communication and collision avoidance have never been easier as the electronics available to us continually improve. Technology continues to advance at an amazing pace, and of all the new developments for 2015, here are some of the most powerful advances. Richard Gibson

Simrad ForwardScan

It was only a matter of time before recreational anglers turned their sonar transducer forward, scanning the water ahead to paint fish, obstacles or increasingly shallow waters. Just one more tool in the trick bag of a safe navigator, forward-scanning sonar will eventually find its way to the helm of all boats but particularly those who ply shifting shoals and inlets. Hazardous shallows are identified early, giving skippers ample opportunity to adjust course. Courtesy Simrad

DigiMed

When the unthinkable happens and you’re 100 miles from emergency assistance, DigiMed gives nearly immediate access to medical help in the lowest bandwidth satellite coverage. The system can be programmed to link to the user’s own health care provider or to DigiDoc medical providers. Three DigiMed kits are available and all provide direct face-to-face contact with medical practitioners, giving them the ability to guide essential health care. DigiMed communications systems have saved lives and limbs when timely evacuation was impossible. Courtesy DigiMed

DeLorme inReach and Roffs

DeLorme’s device is one of the newer GPS-based satellite communicators that allow two-way messaging, a reliable locater for emergency response, and now Roffs sea temp data. “Our clients send us a -satellite text we receive via email,” said Mitch Roffer. “When we receive it, we can respond with updated coordinates.” The two-way communication enables Roffs to update their information in real time as well. Courtesy DeLorme

Furuno NavNet TZtouch2

Furuno has simplified the user experience by refining the multifunction-display interface to make it even more intuitive. RezBoost is Furuno’s proprietary signal-processing protocol that produces fish targets and images that are four to eight times sharper on the same transducer, which is a new — and powerful — integrated dual-frequency model (50/200 kHz at 600 kW/1 kW, respectively). The result is better target separation and clearing structure images. Also new on board is an internal 56-channel GPS receiver, a truly integrated product. Courtesy Furuno

Fusion 650 and 750 Series Marine Stereos

Fusion was one of the first to create a watertight dock for MP3 devices and smartphones, and it has kept up with changes in connections and dimensions, offering extremely versatile systems. Bluetooth capable, these Fusions integrate Pandora’s thumbs-up or down functions, and they can be operated via smartphones with an app. Waterproof to IPX5, they can take three minutes of a 6.3 mm water jet from 360 degrees without harm. If you’re ready to upgrade, they fit the same footprint as the 500/600 models. They support four separate audio zones and a DVD dock that turns your NMEA 2000 multifunction display into a video center. Courtesy Fusion

Standard Horizon GX1300 Eclipse

This Class-D DSC VHF has been re-engineered to IPX8 submersible waterproof standards, meaning that should your radio be required for a DSC distress call, it will continue transmitting until its antenna is submerged or its power source fails. When linked to your GPS via NMEA 0183 connections, it transmits your position and allows search-and-rescue operators to poll your position without verbal updates. It has a three-year warranty and an after-warranty flat repair rate of $65. Courtesy Standard Horizon

FLIR Ocean Scout

FLIR has improved their handheld infrared-imaging device by incorporating a new high-resolution LCD screen, giving a clearer image at targets near and far, up to 600 meters. The Ocean Scout 240 has a 240-by-180 pixel image and features a 340-by-240 pixel screen, plus a video feed for a multifunction display. Courtesy FLIR

McMurdo’s SmartFind S20

Here’s an AIS-based personal-locater beacon that gives skippers the most precise contact point for a man overboard. Any in-range AIS device can pick up the signal, greatly increasing chances for rescue and often reducing rescue times. This aid to crew-overboard recovery grows more and more valuable as visibility decreases and separation from the victim increases. The unit can be attached to the oral inflation tube of an inflatable PFD; upon inflation, a lanyard is pulled to deploy the antenna and activate the beacon. Courtesy McMurdo

ICOM M424G

The new M424G is a Class-D DSC radio with active noise-canceling technology proven to remove background noise in transmissions, clarifying communication. With an integrated GPS, the system gives a DSC-position fix without the hassle of making NMEA 0183 connections. Add all the same great features to a second station with an optional CommandMicIV with its own loudspeaker in the handset. Courtesy ICOM

GoFree

Until now, a multifunction display’s Wi-Fi capabilities were limited to connecting smartphones and tablets as remote monitors. Navico, makers of Simrad, Lowrance and B&G navigation gear, has just released the latest firmware update for its Wi-Fi capable NSS evo2 and NSO evo2 multifunction displays. With this update, your multifunction display logs into your local area network, automatically polling Navico’s websites for firmware updates. But that’s just a start. Now, with GoFree, Simrad users can browse the GoFree website for full charts and mapping updates. The firmware enables direct and automatic upload of recorded sonar records for developing into social maps as soon as your multifunction display comes into range of a friendly Wi-Fi signal. Your system and GoFree can now download crowd-sourced charts as well, offering incredible detail for your favorite fishing spots, never before available. Courtesy GoFree

Raymarine CHIRP CP570

A new family of CHIRP sonars from Raymarine spans the needs of both commercial and recreational offshore fishermen. The commercial grade CP570 has two sonar channels, 4kW of power and improved automatic sensitivity for ultimate hands-off clarity. The CP470 boasts 2 kW of power and enhanced sensitivity for the competitive offshore angler. Courtesy Raymarine

Intellian GX60 and GX100

For some, the luxury of offshore fishing comes only with the capability of broadband connectivity. Intellian continues to enhance its satellite constellation, building the speed and availability of communications and television coverage. The new GX60 (60 cm dome) and GX100 (1 meter dome) antennae and terminals are ready for today’s satellite coverage but can also capitalize on expanded coverage when available. Simple kits enable GX expansion in minutes via firmware capabilities, avoiding expensive, time-consuming hardware reconfigurations. Courtesy Intellian

Garmin Panoptix

Not content with simply looking forward, Garmin introduced Panoptix at the Miami International Boat Show. Its multidirection transducer covers the hemisphere around the boat in real time, looking forward, back, left and right. This is an adaptation of offshore commercial sonar, designed at the moment for inshore anglers. We think it’s only a matter of time before offshore versions are available. LiveVu gives a near-live video moving image of the water ahead, showing fish swimming in and out of range or letting an angler track his lure back to the water. RealVu 3D Down paints a real-time image of the bottom structure below. The detail is astonishing. Courtesy Panoptix

Water Wolf

Never has it been so easy to watch fish in your baits. For that matter, never has it been so easy to catch on video the actual bite. Wire Water Wolf into your rig between the Bimini and the leader, then wait for the action. Water Wolf shoots 720-pixel video and stores up to 60 minutes of it on an SD card. Watch the fish swim into your spread, bite, and the Water Wolf stays in perfect orientation to capture the fish’s actions. Courtesy Water Wolf

KVH

A new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) voice configuration by KVH promises better quality phone calls via satellite by giving priority to voice over data when broadband data is in heavy use. Undoubtedly most valuable for commercial vessels, the system will find favor with long-range pelagic skippers and mothership operations. Courtesy KVH