The latest in marine power and electronics continues to improve.
The continued improvement of marine products is a benefit for mariners. Sure, there might be a little bit of the smartphone syndrome where you feel you should get the latest gadget even if it’s not tested, but most have extensive testing, and some improvements are done through software updates. It’s always fun to have the latest fishfinder or nav screen, or in some cases, the horsepower of a new engine that is perfect for your boat. Here are a few that have come on the scene.
POWER
Volvo Penta has been busy this year and added, among other products, the Twin Forward Drive package. Developed for larger water sport boats, the matched 400-hp engines have patented DuoProp twin counter-rotating propellers that provide more thrust, straight tracking, and faster acceleration. One of the main features is safety in that the forward-facing propellers are away from the swim platform. The Water Sport Control feature allows for an adjustable angle of thrust to customize the wake for surfing or wakeboarding on the fly. volvopenta.com
Suzuki Marine launched two additions to its outboard motor lineup for 2023 with its DF350AMD and the DF300BMD V6 four-stroke engines. Both models utilize contra-rotating twin props and are the first Suzuki outboards to offer advanced integrated steering, which allows for drive-by-wire control with more streamlined rigging for a clean, uncluttered motor well. The outboards are designed to enhance durability, increase top-speed performance, and improve fuel and gear lubrication efficiency through a unique dual-louver air intake system, dual fuel injectors, variable valve timing with a self-adjusting timing chain, and an offset driveshaft. suzukimarine.com
Seakeeper continues its quest to eliminate boat roll out at sea with the introduction of the Seakeeper 4 and 4.5 models. Designed for boats 38-44 feet and 40-46 feet respectively, the Seakeeper 4 runs on DC power for boats without a generator, and the 4.5 delivers 50 percent more stabilizing power than the Seakeeper 3 and runs on AC power for boats equipped with a generator. Both models are smaller—the Seakeeper 4 can fit in the same space as the Seakeeper 3, and the 4.5 is 30 percent smaller than the current Seakeeper 5 and 6 models. Boaters now have the option to have a Seakeeper on board whether they have a generator or not. seakeeper.com
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Flux Marine is introducing a new electric outboard, and it went through the paces at Highfield Boats’ dealer event this past summer. It was a soft launch to get feedback from the dealers and the press, but the engine performed admirably. The 70-hp equivalent outboard was super-quiet with no sound at idle but had a nice whir at speed. The acceleration was instant and got up to speed, about 22 mph, in seconds. We reached 35 mph without blinking an eye. The engine has a completely closed loop cooling system, so there is no winterization and no maintenance, and because there’s a through-hub exhaust, the bullet and propeller nose are smaller which allows for larger blades. An active battery management system is recognized by Garmin, Simrad, and other chartplotters. The engine is available in 40-hp, 70-hp, and 100-hp equivalents. fluxmarine.com
Honda Marine introduced the all-new BF350 outboard, the first Honda V8 motor commercially available, at this year’s IBEX show. Honda’s most powerful and technologically advanced outboard targets boats 25 feet or longer and offers a list of innovations, such as a broader, flatter torque curve, smoother power delivery throughout the operating range, improved ergonomic controls, and greater reliability and fuel efficiency. Honda’s iST (Intelligent Shift and Throttle) drive-by-wire system delivers effortless shift and throttle control along with plug-and-play installation of the Optimus 360 joystick system by Dometic. marine.honda.com
ELECTRONICS
A winner in the 2023 IBEX Innovation Award for Propulsion Parts, Volvo Penta’s Joystick Driving is a unique innovation by integrating shift, throttle, and steering into one joystick. When the joystick is pushed forward, the gear engages and the acceleration is proportional to the angle of the joystick. When released, it will remain at that speed. When pulled back, the throttle reduces and the boat will stop. It can also make course corrections with the autopilot by turning the joystick a couple of degrees. Along with assisted docking, just let your fingers take control. volvopenta.com
Garmin is introducing the GPSMAP 9227, the industry’s largest touchscreen chartplotter at 27 inches. That’s big for a glass helm display, but what really makes it is the integrated 4K resolution with edge-to-edge clarity and the new BlueNet gigabit network. The IPS display offers a wider degree of viewing angle and can even be viewed while wearing polarized sunglasses. By adding a Garmin GSD sonar module, Panoptix transducer or LiveScope sonar, anglers can also see fish and sonar targets in 4K. The GPSMAP 9227 delivers Garmin’s fastest map drawing and Auto Guidance+ routing. garmin.com
TIMEZERO, in its latest release of TZ iBoat, introduced TZ MAPS, a revolutionary marine chart format that offers the most navigation data in one program. TZ Maps has coverage for Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and Pacific and includes both vector data and raster maps (scanned and georeferenced paper charts). TIMEZERO developed color palettes to make the display easier to read as well as see more land, coastline, and infrastructure details. High-resolution satellite photos and bathymetry are also a standard part of the package. mytimezero.com
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Syntec Industries is trying a new approach to electronic control with the Murano Multifunction Display by Gussi Italia. Murano glass is known for its quality and color range and it’s been put to use directly on the boat’s steering wheel. The first of its kind, the Murano is a touchscreen display that can be installed conveniently on the center cap of select wheels, and in combination with the Power Wings Sport controls (the paddles behind the wheel at the driver’s fingertips), the driver can take control of most any electronic feature on the boat, such as speed, cruise control, ballast control, audio, volume, and more. Connection to a rear camera ensures safety for passengers and surfers alike and helps focus your attention where it belongs. syntecind.com
Furuno took another big step with its fishfinders with the introduction of the FCV-600 and the FCV-800 color LCD Sounders. Utilizing the power of Furuno’s TruEcho CHIRP technology, the 600 (5.7-inch screen) and the 800 (8.4-inch screen) can utilize a broadband transducer for a wider range of frequencies to see greater detail and target separation. With the new Color Range Expansion, reefs, structure, fish, and the seabed are easily distinguishable. Another feature is the wireless connectivity, so a second display can show the echoes and nav data so anglers can see what’s below from the bow or the stern. The FCV-800 can combine the TurEcho CHIRP and traditional Continuous Wave transducers to see CHIRP targets, utilize the ACCU-FISH size assessment and Bottom Discrimination functions. furuno.com
-by Jeremy Peters
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