What Type of Sonar Does Your Boat Need?

If you’re searching for the right type of sonar for your boat, it pays dividends to have the correct one. Here are several types of sonar for your boat.

The trends in recreational sonar and underwater visibility have been clustered around high definition imaging. This lets you differentiate between fish species, multi-beam transducers that scan down and all around your boat, and waterproof cameras that bring the action from down under right to your console. With all this new technology, the fish really don’t stand a chance. Which type of sonar will you choose for your boat?

Furuno DFF3D Sonar

Furuno nabbed an award in the fish finder category at the 2018 National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) conference. The winner? Their DFF3D Multi-Beam Sonar. With a compact multi-beam pocket transducer (non-protruding, therefore protected), the revolutionary DFF3D is perfect for both deep and wide water columns. It delivers side scan detection of 650 feet and down scan ability to 1,000 feet.

Fish targets are shown in 3D and the sonar offers four customizable display modes. You’ll see a real-time water column echo that sweeps 120 degrees port and starboard. The triple (middle, left, right) and single (under the boat) beams can display simultaneously on one screen. Angle and width are selectable so you can focus on the structures to either side of the vessel and determine which way schools of fish are moving.

The DFF3D is high tech but simple so you don’t need to be a sonar aficionado to understand what you’re viewing, and it even works at speed. Use it to create your own bathymetric charts or go treasure hunting for wrecks. The black box module costs $2,095 (without transducer or MFD). furuno.com

Raymarine Element Series with HyperVision

Raymarine makes it elemental with their new Element Sonar Series that delivers dramatically improved high-resolution imagery at close range (to 100 feet in depth or distance) with the HyperVision feature. Using a 1.2 MHz frequency, the sonar delivers shorter range but better resolution.

Raymarine also introduced the Element-compatible HV100 multi-beam transducer that does DownVision, SideVision and RealVision 3D in both HyperVision as well as 350 kHz CHIRP (compressed high-intensity radiated pulse) sonar that ranges up to 600 feet. It also has traditional 200 kHz CHIRP sonar and a water temperature sensor for high-speed bottom tracking up to 900 feet deep. Transducers are available as a transom or through-hull mount. The sonar and GPS sensors are contained in the multi-functional display. Installation is as simple as mounting the display and transducer, connecting to power, and routing the transducer cable to the screen.

Element isn’t a touchscreen product. It’s button-controlled, which is better when working with wet or dirty hands. Element HV models, which include the HV100 transducer and charts, run from $880 (7-inch model) to $2,330 (12-inch model) with sizes and price points in between. raymarine.com

Garmin PanOptix PS51-TH Transducer

Garmin’s Panoptix LiveScope real-time scanning sonar has been a disruptive technology. It delivers both scanning and live sonar with crisp images of bottom structures, bait and fish up to 200 feet below your boat. Garmin has added their Panoptix PS51-TH multi-beam through-hull transducer for forward-looking sonar.

The PS51-TH features a standard two-inch, stainless steel, thru-hull mount that displays depth and temperature data and is compatible with all Panoptix-capable Garmin chartplotters. See bottom structure as you prepare to anchor, keep divers in sight as they descend the anchor rode or check out the fish swimming in front of your boat. You can actually watch your lure as it sinks and watch as fish attack it. MSRP $1,499.99; garmin.com

Lowrance HDS MultiFunction Displays

Lowrance introduced HDS Live, a new line of real-time sonar/plotter displays with CHIRP, side scan and down scan active imaging. Add their new LiveSight real-time sonar for super clear details forward or down. Include their Genesis Live Charting feature to create custom fishing charts to keep or share.

On the HDS 12- and 16-inch models, you can also add LiveCast that integrates with your smartphone. Display Google Earth on one unit and sonar information on the other. Or simultaneously fish and stream your favorite sports team.

The LiveSight transducer eliminates the need for multiple transducers and includes three mounting brackets for ultimate flexibility. HDS Live displays range in size from 7 to 16 inches and retail for $949 to $4,499, respectively. lowrance.com

Aqua-Vu Multi-Vu HDPro

When sonar just isn’t enough, check out the live fish action below with a high definition camera. Aqua-Vu, the Minnesota-based maker of underwater cameras, introduced their Multi-Vu Pro system that adds an underwater video to sonar or to an LCD TV screen via IP67 waterproof connectors.

Complete with a high-definition Aqua-Vu XD camera (with 75-feet of cable and a 120-degree field of view) the Multi-Vu Pro system features both analog (RCA) and digital HD (HDMI) video compatibility. It works with select MFD models from Garmin, Raymarine, and Lowrance. Also included is a 12-volt power cable for connection to an auxiliary power source such as an onboard battery.

View sonar images side-by-side with real-time underwater video and confirm fish species as well as vivid detail and layout of the structure. It’s like spying on the fish in their living room. MSRP $699; aquavu.com

With today’s sonar systems, you can go fishing with the guys and not miss March Madness. You can fish from your warm icehouse and watch the bait in the frigid waters on your TV. You can minimize the holes cut into your hull with multi-function transducers that do double and triple duty with one installation. Seriously, what’s not to like?

By Zuzana Prochazka, Southern Boating June 2019

Situational Awareness

Three great ways to enhance your situational awareness

Situational awareness is the state of knowing what’s going on around you. In essence, it’s a combination of observation and orientation that can help you make better decisions and possibly save your bacon if things go really sideways.

Decades ago, GPS and digital cartography went a long way to improve our situational awareness of where we were on the planet. (For anyone who still remembers dead reckoning or celestial navigation, you know what I mean.) But understanding the environment and our place in it can always be improved. Here are three ways to better grasp exactly what’s ahead, behind, below, in the dark, and in heavy rain to take the stress out of boating.

SiOnyx Aurora Night Vision Camera

Running in low-light situations can be a challenge. Going fishing before the sun is up, entering a strange harbor at night or managing a man-overboard situation are tense moments when a night vision camera comes in handy.

Night vision technology works on either heat or light. Thermal cameras focus on heat sources but they don’t penetrate glass, so you can’t use them from inside a pilothouse. Other cameras amplify ambient light with differing degrees of success. A new take on night vision is the SiOnyx Aurora, a camera with an ultra-low-light infrared sensor that provides color vision in the dark. (You can use it in the monochrome mode as well, but the color really helps orient you.)

Weighing just under eight ounces and sized for easy onehanded operation, the $800 Aurora has three modes: Daylight, Twilight and Night. The first two amplify visible light while the Night mode uses an infrared sensor. The Aurora must be focused manually (due to the low light nature) and would benefit from a continuous zoom rather than a stepped click zoom. Backlighting on the function icons would be handy, too, as you switch between video, stills, and settings. Why use a flashlight to blow your night
vision just to change the mode?

You can pair the Aurora with iOS and Android devices to watch real-time images on their screens or record for later, and you can also control the camera from your phone. Waterproof to IP67 standards, the Aurora has a built-in GPS, compass and Wi-Fi capabilities and takes nice stills and video in bright sunlight. Best of all, you don’t need to step outside to use it because it works through the glass. Understanding what’s out there in the dark just got a whole lot easier.

sioynx.com

Simrad Halo 4 Radar

Nothing delivers magical “sight” like radar that sees through fog, darkness, and rain. Although radar isn’t new, there have been so many improvements on the basic concept that today’s systems almost seem like a bit of voodoo.

Take Simrad’s new Halo 4 that has a 64-nautical-mile range and simultaneously shows you what’s 20 feet ahead (with a 4-foot open array antenna). This solid-state pulse compression radar has a Dual Range mode so you can split the screen to view weather and vessels in the distance and upcoming channel markers at the same time. It can pick up a piling even as you nearly poke it with your pulpit because it has no “main bang” that blind spot created for in-close navigation due to the time delay between when each pulse starts and ends.

The VelocityTrack feature is a motion-tracking Doppler upgrade so you can watch storm cells, and the beam sharpening capability provides enhanced separation between small or distant targets. You can find birds with this radar, and where there are birds, there are fish.

A brushless motor and helical gear train ensure a fast, quiet operation so the updates are frequent and there’s no overhead buzzing. The Halo 4 is ready to go in fewer than 30 seconds from a cold start (versus the normal two minutes), and its emissions are so low that it’s been dubbed “huggable”. I’m not going to hug it, but I’m just saying you could.

simrad-yachting.com

Raymarine ClearCruise AugmentedReality (AR)

If you’ve ever strained your eyes searching for that buoy on the horizon and then tried to match it back to what you see on your chartplotter, ClearCruise AR is for you.

Supported by Raymarine’s CAM210 HD cameras and Axiom multifunction displays (MFDs), this augmented reality overlays navigation markers, automatic identification (AIS) traffic, and user-entered waypoints onto real-time high-definition video. At a glimpse, you know exactly which ship is heading your way and where to find channel markers leading to the harbor.

Color-coded labels provide identification, status and risk assessment for AIS targets and clearly show the number and color of that buoy bobbing in the hazy sun ahead. The AR200 video stabilization module includes a GPS/GNSS sensor and an attitude heading reference sensor (AHRS) so the labels move with your boat for easy heads-up recognition. The camera and stabilization module add about $1,200 to an Axiom MFD running Raymarine’s LightHouse 3.7 software, but once you’ve seen ClearView AR, you’ll wonder how you got along without it.

raymarine.com

By Zuzana Prochazka, Southern Boating January 2019

Boating with Drones

Drones add a unique tool to the boating lifestyle.

Raymarine released a new app that attracts anglers and photographers alike—the Axiom integration for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), or drones. The UAV app runs in the new LightHouse 3 operating software through the Axiom or Axiom Pro multifunction navigation display just as the radar, sonar and chart plotter apps operate.

The interface is a preconfigured split screen—on one side the nautical chart and on the other, a live video display from the drone. The map side shows the position of the boat along with its course, speed, heading, depth, and all the features you’d normally see on an electronic chart.

As soon as the UAV leaves the deck, the chart shows the drone’s position and its relation to the boat. A “rubber band” line on the chart connects the drone icon with the boat icon, so even if it’s flown far away or beyond the range of the chart on the display, a simple zoom adjust reveals its position. In turn, the drone icon communicates its direction, speed, height, and which way the camera is pointing. The camera display side of the screen provides real-time video from the drone’s camera.

Fun and Fishing

Jim McGowan of FLIR Maritime/Raymarine says that many boaters use drones for fun when fishing or cruising but that operating them from a boat can be challenging. Consequently, FLIR Maritime/Raymarine looks for ways to make the technology and process easier with automation.

Parent company FLIR Systems has a technical partnership in place with UAV manufacturer Dà-Jiang Innovations (DJI) to make a line of airborne thermal cameras to attach to larger DJI drones. The DJI Zenmuse XT2, for example, pairs with FLIR’s Tau2 thermal sensor and 4K visual camera for commercial applications to inspect power lines, pipelines, and solar panel grids. The system is becoming more prevalent with law enforcement as well as the U.S. Coast Guard and search-and-rescue operations. FLIR and Raymarine’s engineers discussed how those systems could apply to the maritime industry which led to the UAV integration, but McGowan adds, “There were a lot of unique things we had to do to make it work well in the maritime environment.”

Competitive fishing tournaments, in particular, are where they’ve focused efforts to make drone operation more automated due to most tournaments’ catch-and-release rules. “They have to have photographic evidence of their catch and the gear they were using, so the drone is another tool in their toolbox for capturing whatever photo or video they need,” says McGowan and adds that video of the big catch provides a unique perspective.

“That’s where a lot of the automation work we’re doing comes in. You can launch a drone and fly it and orbit it, but a lot of time you’re short-handed, especially when you get a big fish on the line and everyone’s running around like crazy trying to help, and the last thing [you want] is to have someone flying the drone to keep the action in frame.” Raymarine is trying to automate that process according to McGowan. “You can hit a button and get the drone in the air. The drone knows where the boat is, the drone knows where to point the camera and tend to itself to get the footage you’re looking for.”

Safe Return

For anyone who’s flown a drone, one advantageous feature is Return to Home (RTH). On land, the drone establishes its starting point and when the battery runs low or it goes out of sight, the RTH feature brings the drone back to its starting location automatically. But that becomes harder on a boat. “One of the big challenges is getting the drone back on board because the ‘home’ is moving,” says McGowan. Addressing that problem, Raymarine is in the process of developing the UAV integration with a two-way data link. “The drone sends its telemetry back to the boat and the boat sends data back to the drone so the drone knows where the boat is and where to return to,” explains McGowan.

“It knows the safety parameters around the boat’s environment, so if you have masts and outriggers and antennas and fishing tackle up in the air, the drone knows what the safe sphere is around the boat and how close it can approach. The way it’s going to work in this first cut [of the software] is when the drone returns to the boat, it will basically hit the edge of that safe envelope and hover and wait for you to recover it.” At that point, the operator takes over via the controller. The motion of the vessel can make the recovery dramatic, especially with smaller drones, so unless you have a boat with a big foredeck or sunpads, catching it out of the air is probably the most efficient method right now. Phase two of the software hopes to include ways to improve that recovery process.

Besides tournament fishing, practical advantages of having a drone are finding schools of fish or looking out for reefs and shoals. Imagine cruising in The Bahamas, where the bottom changes rapidly, scouting out an anchorage to get a feel for what the conditions are going to be like. The number of possibilities where drones and the UAV app can aid in the maritime environment are seemingly endless.

By Steve Davis, Southern Boating July 2018

Prestige 630

A French Revolution: the Prestige 630
Exciting performance, owner privacy, and impressive cruising range

While the Prestige 630 motoryacht may be the smallest of the French builder’s yacht line with an LOA of nearly 63 feet, she’s no little sister. Instead, she’s a tour de force as the company’s newest model to enter the water. By teaming with Volvo Penta, Prestige used cutting-edge hull engineering from J&J Design to position the twin 725-horsepower power plants in the ideal place for high performance.

How did they do it? The two Volvo Penta D11 engines are connected to the IPS 950 pod drives via jackshafts—a big difference, since in most configurations the engines are located directly above the pod drives. “This is a planing hull and the jackshafts allowed us to move the engines further forward and not put as much weight on the back, yet still use the IPS pods,” explained Adrien Berton, product manager for Prestige. “The jackshafts transmit that power to pods, and it allows us to get the maximum speed of 28 knots, which is about as fast as our customers want to go.”

When the 630 was launched at the 2016 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, she was introduced as the latest yacht from Camillo Garroni Carbonara, chief architect and designer of Garroni Design in Genoa, Italy. The 630 is just
one of many yachts the firm has designed for Prestige, a brand under the French builder Groupe Beneteau.

“The 630 is built on the west coast of France in Prestige’s main factory, which is over 35,000 square meters in size,” Berton said. “It comes over on the deck of a cargo ship fully rigged and assembled, so the dealer gets the yacht delivered
with everything ready to go.”

With a cruising range of 305 nautical miles at 24 knots, the Prestige 630 can easily run from South Florida to The Bahamas and back without refueling. Berton said the typical Prestige 630 owner has yachting experience and will operate the vessel on his own, without the help of guests or a hired first mate. Joystick operation around the docks and at low speeds make the vessel easier for an owner to maneuver. The addition of a Seakeeper 9 stabilizer keeps boat motion to a minimum for guest comfort, especially when riding atop the flybridge deck and its second helm. The flybridge is configured with a two-person helm seat to port, a large L-shaped couch that converts to a sunpad, and a starboard galley with grill, refrigerator and sink.

A substantial hardtop with a unique center slide-out section provides room for electronics and throws generous shade for guests or opens to the skies. “The 630 offers space for the owner and guests, not only on the flybridge but throughout the yacht,” Berton explained. “For example, off the swim platform—which hydraulically lowers below the water for easy re-boarding and can carry a dinghy up to 800 pounds—there is a crew cabin via a port-side door in the transom. Now the boat is probably going to be owner-operator so this could be for extra guests to sleep, or to carry spare parts.”

Moving from the swim platform to the main deck is easy via a starboard-side staircase into the cockpit, which features a transom couch and dining table. Forward of the cockpit in the main salon through a sliding-glass door is the port-side galley. Again, space and generous storage is a major theme. It has a full complement of appliances—refrigerator, dishwasher, four-burner stove, oven, and microwave—as well as a wine cooler.

Clean sightlines up to the starboard-side main helm station allow for excellent visibility throughout, and huge windows let in an abundance of natural light. The sunshine illuminates the Wenge wood joinery and white oak flooring. Immediately forward of the galley is the salon with a port-side settee, love seat and chair. A hi-low table converts for dining. The helm station is fully tricked out with three Raymarine 165 multifunctional display screens offering a high-tech view into all the ship’s systems. The steering wheel and Volvo Penta throttles and shifters are in a good position to the pilot’s right, along with the joystick for easy operation.

Wipers keep the big two-panel windshield clear during inclement weather. All guest cabins are on the lower deck, and the privacy of the master cabin is assured with the starboard-side staircase amidships in the salon. The centerline suite has a king-size bed, flat-screen TV, large hanging closet, work station, and ensuite head with shower. Fusion audio controls for the entertainment system allow for complete control from the master stateroom.

The VIP and guest cabins are forward of the helm in the bow and down a staircase that offers an area for a washer and dryer, if desired. The VIP is farthest forward with a queen-size bed on the centerline and ensuite head and stand-up shower, while the guest cabin to port features twin bunks that can slide together to make a double bed. There’s also a dayhead and shower that is shared with the guest cabin.

“The abundance of natural light throughout the boat means the captain can also see outside very easily,” Berton added. “We have always focused on safety and easy operation for the crew. Another area where that is an example is at the flybridge helm station. When running the boat on the upper deck at the helm, the captain can look through the port-side staircase all the way down to the swim platform.”

Finding places to relax in the sun is easy. In addition to the swim platform and two large sunpads on the flybridge deck, there’s another huge lounge seating-sunpad arrangement on the bow. By raising or lowering backrests, the pads can be set up for seating and sunbathing for four people or more, which is ideal when at anchor or under operation at low speeds.

“Our customers take ownership of the Prestige 630 to enjoy their families and friends,” Berton said. “The safety, comfort features and performance allow for the owner and his guests the ability to go to The Bahamas, the Caribbean and Cuba. The owner can operate the boat alone and will, perhaps, only ask for
extra help when washing the boat in the marina.”

By Doug Thompson, Southern Boating August 2017

The Internet of Boats

The Internet of Things (IoT): By now, you’ve probably heard of it and know it’s a thing. This concept of hyper-interconnectivity and information sharing between everyday items such as washing machines, refrigerators, lamps, wearable items, engines, roads, bridges, and more is looming on the horizon. What it means is still a mystery, but one thing’s for sure: It will impact our lives in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, and that includes boating connectivity.

Always stretching the boundaries, marine electronics’ firms are developing a specific subset of the concept that could be called the Internet of Boats, and it’s all coming together in your multifunction display (MFD).

The cost of connectivity is decreasing as broadband Internet becomes widely available. Today, most devices are integrated with multiple data-gathering sensors and WiFi capabilities so they can capture and share information. It’s more than just about connecting people to people; it’s connecting things to things. Anything with an on/off switch and an Internet connection can become a part of the IoT, so think what that means on your boat. Lights, pumps, engines, security and navigation equipment can communicate with each other and also with entities off the boat. Sounds like the Internet of Boats.

Data sharing means engine and boat builders, accessory suppliers, dealers, service providers, and cruisers can have access to more information. Therefore boats, engines, and equipment can be built with less complexity so more cost effectively, and everything has the possibility of becoming more efficient, secure, social, and definitely user-friendly. For the cruiser, this may translate to increased confidence that your engines are healthy, that you have the latest navigation software and that the response time to fix problems will be shorter. That means you have a more supported adventure every time you untie the dock lines.

Yamaha partnered with Garmin to power its CL7TM multi-touch display.

Your boat can talk to you as well as to a dealer or a search-and-rescue provider. You can set geofencing boundaries so you know where your vessel is at all times. Your engines can remind you of scheduled maintenance or warn of impending problems. Digital switching systems like CZone can send reports on bilge pump cycles and battery levels. You can unlock enhanced features like Doppler radar on existing MFDs with remote software access keys without your boat needing to go in the shop or you having to purchase additional expensive hardware.

None of this is really new, but what is different is the recognition of the power of the sum and the importance it’s bringing to the MFD. The MFD is evolving as the single point of convergence and problem solving aboard. Engines, radar, charting, and digital switching for onboard accessories are now brought into the MFD for both control and diagnostics. You can turn on your lights and stereo, check the weather, view remote cameras, review alarms, get engine diagnostics, and navigate—all from the MFD. This wealth of information hasn’t gone unnoticed by electronics manufacturers like Navico (makers of Simrad, B&G, Lowrance), Garmin, Furuno, and Raymarine, who understand that he who owns the “glass” owns the data and thereby basically controls not only the boat but also the value chain and the ultimate cruiser experience.

Challenges remain. First, boating is a relatively small industry with few consumer dollars at stake, so it won’t lead the IoT revolution. But to not take notice of it would be a mistake, even in our application. Second, data is great but unless someone can monetize it, nobody will have the incentive to pursue its development. Simrad is working to share information with engine manufacturers who in turn, can build engines better and faster so they’re willing to pay Simrad for it. Charter companies are in on both sides since they can gather more data to share because of the volume of users. They can also benefit from the distilled data coming back to better predict maintenance requirements so that their boats are always ready to go out and produce revenue.

Third, onboard sensors can generate vast amounts of data, but that won’t make boating better unless someone figures out how to turn it into real information to build stronger, cheaper, cleaner, friendlier, and more efficient products. Marine electronics firms get this. Finally, although much of this happens behind the scenes, an intuitive user interface is critical so that cruisers want to get involved and enable the process. You already see MFDs mimicking the functionality of personal electronics like smartphones and tablets with pinch-to-zoom touchscreens and swipe commands. Expect to see more app-driven functionality to pop up on your chart plotter soon.

If you think all this will make boating efficient, fun and more like the rest of our lives, you’re probably right. If you think future boating will become more complex, interdependent and possibly invasive, you’re probably right. Either way, it’s all most likely to happen right on your MFD, so upgrading electronics in the future will get you more than just new charts. The waters are still murky, but whatever it means, it’s coming. Boating will not be the same, and neither will your MFD.

— By Zuzana Prochazka, Southern Boating Magazine April 2017

NMEA 2015: Keep Up With The Tech Revolution.

Cutting edge radar, sonar, apps and more… The 2015 National Marine Electronics Association Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland, celebrated the industry’s pioneering products. Here’s a snapshot of this year’s most notable marine technological innovations.

Simrad’s Halo radar sees almost everything.

Simrad’s new Halo radar clearly demonstrates the rapid migration of advanced technology into our world of marine electronics. Its combination of pulse compression, beam-sharping technology, a rare earth gallium nitride microwave amplifier, and sophisticated FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) has created a radar that easily sees a seagull floating in the water 60 feet away from your boat and can separate two distant abutting boats all while using a miserly 25 watts of power. This open array system (3′, 4′, 6′) is capable of true dual range displays and is packaged in a sleek pedestal design that has unique side-mounted blue LED accent lighting controllable from the MFD. A wide variety of easy-to-use operational modes from Bird Finder to Weather make it one of the easiest radars to use and among the most technically advanced recreational boating radar available. The Halo radar received the annual NMEA Technology Award at the conference. simrad-yachting.com

Raymarine Dragonfly 4DV CHIRP down view fish finder

In just a handful of years CHIRP sounders have evolved from expensive technology once only available to oceanographic institutions to fish finders for under $200 that produce nearly photographic images of the bottom surface. The Raymarine 4DV is a perfect example. Use their free Wi-Fish app (iOS 7+ and Android) to record, pause, rewind, and share your sonar images through its Wi-Fi. The 4DV—with transducer good for depths up to 600’—sports large, sealed membrane switches with intuitive menus and has IPX6 and IPX7 waterproof ratings. An included ball mounting system compatible with aftermarket solutions like Ram Mounts makes it easy to mount nearly anywhere from a kayak (with the optional 12V battery pack) to a center console. raymarine.com

Garmin Panoptix Down sonar

Until the Panoptix system appeared, recreational boat sonar was always a historical product showing what happened in the past—behind your boat. With the Panoptix’s multibeam transducer, fishermen can use three views. See fish swimming around under the boat in real time and at what depth with LiveVü Down. Watch your lure drop and see the fish strike it in real time. The extremely wide-angle 120-degree beam makes it quick and easy to tell if fish are present. Change to RealVü 3D and the system shows you a 3D map of the bottom structure and fish targets. The RealVü 3D Historical shows a rolling graphical model of the bottom structure and fish targets as you move. Record, play back and capture screenshots of both RealVü displays. Panoptix transducers are designed to work with most boats and have all the electronics built into them. They are connected to compatible MFDs with a Garmin network cable and no sounder module is required. garmin.com

The Signal K project taking NMEA to the cloud.

Two presentations by the Signal K project were the most attended at the conference. Signal K is a unique, open source software project whose purpose is to make a boat’s NMEA data easily accessible to app developers. Your boat’s N2K/0183 network data is sent to a NMEA certified gateway, which parses the data into the Signal K format in a human readable format. For example, the “DepthBelowTransducer” data is sent to a computer running the free Signal K software for storage that connects to a Wi-Fi router. This allows your boat to securely connect to apps, other boats, the internet, do sharing, logging, and crowd sourcing of data, use social applications like the new ActiveCaptain “Locations” app that supports Signal K, and more. The first Signal K gateway product, the Digital Yacht “iKommunicate,” was announced at the conference—many more hardware products and apps are in development. Hardware, apps and Signal K software will be available very early in 2016. signalk.org

Flir’s AX8 monitors your engine’s temperatures.

Flir introduced this small AX8 thermal and visual camera as an industrial grade, temperature monitoring camera. Raymarine now supports it in their new Lighthouse 15 software release for engine room use. Despite its small size it has lots of capabilities. Up to six locations in the camera’s view can be selected, defined and monitored for temperatures that range from 14 to 302 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, one spot could provide the temperature of an exhaust elbow, and another the transmission or battery bank. Alarm levels can be configured for any of the selected locations, and up to eight cameras can be connected via Ethernet cables. Find potential engine problems before they become big ones. flir.com

Icom 506 AIS VHF does it all.

It’s hard to believe there is some ability that the M506 AIS radio doesn’t already have. It’s NMEA 2000 ready saving the installation time and effort required to do the venerable and much slower NMEA 0183 interfacing. It receives AIS information with the same antenna, has active noise canceling technology, last call playback, foghorn modes, two-way hailing, supports remote command mics, and has an external speaker connection. You can even add a class B AIS transponder to the system. The extensive functions are menu driven with the aid of four soft keys and a five-button function array. Easily read a wide array of data with backlighting. I don’t know what more you could add to this comprehensive unit with a very competitive price and IPX8 waterproofing rating. icomamerica.com

Lumishore’s EOS lights the way.

Lumishore provides the underwater wow factor with its new EOS series of underwater lighting that uses a mix of two-way DMX512 (Digital Multiplexing) and RDM (Remote Device Management) technologies originally developed for professional stage lighting. Add to this plug-and-play system sound to light capabilities, and Wi-Fi interfaces for your mobile devices. This color-changing system uses long-life Phillips high-intensity LEDs with a variety of modes that control strobe effects to attract fish and bait, brightness, sound synchronization with the lighting, lots of preset functions, programmable light scenes, and more. The low profile controller with its color display is easy to use and comes with a sun cover. Set the lighting mood for a cockpit dinner or have a rocking party. lumishore.com

By Bill Bishop, Southern Boating Magazine December 2015

Pump Up the Volume

Pump Up the Volume With Hi-Tech Audio.

Music is a huge part of boating and fun on the water, and today’s latest electronics make it easier than ever to enjoy tunes on your boat. Whether you’re into rock or Bach, hip-hop or Handel, there are ways to trick out your vessel with receivers, speakers and amplifiers that greatly improve sound quality and the functionality of the system.

Most boats have some type of audio/entertainment system already in place, and the question becomes whether you need to replace or simply enhance what you already have. If your current stereo receiver is pre-Bluetooth or doesn’t have an AUX input or USB connection, then it makes a lot of sense to upgrade to a new stereo receiver head unit. Why? Because most of today’s entry-level stereo receivers can still play AM/FM radio while offering Bluetooth/USB/AUX capability. That’s a huge benefit because now the music on your smartphone or iPad can be easily routed through the receiver and played on board.

Having those three connection options from your smartphone to the receiver—Bluetooth/USB/AUX—removes a lot of the headaches of getting the music off your phone so it can play through your boat’s speakers. While a USB connection is a great way to go because you can charge your phone while it delivers the music to the receiver, there are cases where the receiver does not support an Apple or Android product. So if you can connect to the receiver via Bluetooth or the 3.5mm AUX input—the headphone jack on your phone—you can get around any compatibility issues.

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One affordable option for upgrading your receiver is Prospec Electronics Milennia PRV21, which offers AM/FM radio and Bluetooth/USB/AUX—all for $179.95. The compact device measures 6″ x 4″ x 2½”; the receiver has a waterproof faceplate and is UV resistant. A green backlit LCD screen makes viewing what’s playing on the receiver easy.

For larger boats, the big push is for integration and control of individual vessel components onto a multifunction display. FUSION Entertainment’s new FUSION-Link™ is now available on multifunction displays from B&G, Furuno, Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, Murphy Instruments, Raymarine, and Simrad. This allows for easy control of the entertainment system using the split screens on your MFD.

FUSION’s True-Marine™ product line includes stereos with iPod/iPhone and DVD/CD system integration. FUSION-Link™ technology provides access, control and communication with multifunction displays, remotes and popular smartphones or tablets running the company’s app.

“The basic components in the FUSION setup are the stereo and speakers and away you go,” says Matt Champneys, owner of Rock the Boat Audio, an online marine stereo retailer. “A multi-zone system is popular on bigger boats; some stereos can manage up to four zones. For two zones, the receiver has a 2-ohm stable amplifier and you can wire up eight speakers to it. You put four speakers in each zone and they are powered by the head unit. If you want better sound then you can add additional amplifiers.”

For smaller boats with limited space on the dash, there’s the FUSION Ultimate Stereo Pack, a new bundled marine stereo package. It features the ultra-compact FUSION MS-RA205 stereo, the MS-UNIDOCK Universal Media Device Dock, Bluetooth, and a DIN sized mounting plate. It retails for $399.

The MS-RA205 delivers AM/FM radio, is SiriusXM ready, receives marine VHF and features multi-zone control that allows for the adjustment of volume, balance and subwoofer in areas throughout the boat independently or in relation to one another. The system’s UNI-Dock supports a wide array of smartphones, media players and USB devices, including Apple products, while keeping them powered and safe from saltwater.

Now, if you want to stay old school and just use your existing stereo receiver that delivers AM/FM radio to speakers on the boat, you can add an amplifier or upgrade your speakers easily. Aquatic AV’s digital 2-channel Shockwave Technology marine amplifier is rugged and waterproof, and helps boost sound in both 4-ohm and 2-ohm speaker configurations. It is specially designed with low-noise circuitry to produce high-quality, true sound reproduction from any source and retails for $399.

For a speaker upgrade, Prospec offers eight Milennia speaker models with a range of sizes and colors. The Milennia MILSPK352BG speaker delivers powerful sound in a small size. Built for use in wet conditions, it’s a complementary speaker to a larger system or can stand on its own. It measures 37/8″, while the cutout is 3¼”.

“Replacing speakers or adding an amplifier is a do-it-yourself job for the most part,” Champneys said. “The hardest part is running and fishing the wires throughout the boat and getting the speakers to fit in the cutouts. But it’s not rocket science, and there are marine audio installers that can do the job for you.”

Finally, Sonos is a wireless audio system that allows you to stream music directly from your iPhone or smartphone. With Sonos there isn’t a receiver—you control and stream your music wirelessly from the Sonos app on your phone to Sonos speakers placed throughout the boat. The speakers have to be wired for 110-volt power and there are many configuration options.

INFORMATION:

aquaticav.com

fusionelectronics.com

prospecelectronics.com

rocktheboataudio.com

sonos.com

By Doug Thompson, Southern Boating November 2014

Pursuit DC 325

From Pursuit Boats comes the Dual Console DC 325, a sport-utility vehicle on the water in which versatility is the name of the game. Combining the luxury of a family cruiser with the durability of a rugged fishing boat, the DC 325 provides features for any venture. Rod-holders, dedicated storage spaces, and a unique ladder system allow owners to switch between fishing and diving with ease.

A doublewide seat is at the helm, guest seating in the cockpit and wraparound seating in the open bow. The cockpit features a Bluetooth-compatible speaker system, as well as an entertainment center with a hot/cold sink and optional electric grill. Coolers can be found beneath the aft-facing seats. Below and starboard is the head, with a lounge area and additional equipment storage to port. Powering the DC 325 are twin Yamaha 300s. Several electronics options for Raymarine navigation and equipment are available.

The DC 325 is constructed with a fully integrated fiberglass hardtop, tempered glass windshield system, and hand-laminated hull. The Pursuit Protection plan provides a five-year Hull and Deck Structural warranty, a five-year Blister Free warranty, and a two-year Limited warranty.

Pursuit’s new Dual Console combines sportiness and luxury with double the comfort.

Specifications:

LOA: 34′ 6″
Beam: 10′ 10″
Draft: 2′ 8″ (motors down)
Weight: 11,775 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 300/30 U.S. gals.
MSRP: inquire
pursuitboats.com

By Daniel Wagner, Southern Exposure

Navionics new apps

Navionics celebrates 30 years in business this year, but instead of resting on its laurels, the company has taken steps to incorporate bold new innovations into its navigation technology. Gone are the days of navigating via paper charts, and if mapping companies like Navionics have their way, soon we’ll navigate using smartphones and tablets, which will not only sync with plotters but also transmit updated chart data continuously in real time to make boating safer for everyone.

At the Miami International Boat Show in February, Navionics founder and president Giuseppe Carnevali discussed its crowd-sourcing initiative that seeks to improve ICW chart data from Maine to Florida. The ICW’s bottom contours can shift as a result of hurricane seasons, strong tidal fluctuations, changing currents, and other acts of nature, as well as manmade changes such as construction and dredging. To address inaccuracies, Navionics conducts its own surveys with privately funded teams, and leverages its customers with a combination of two technologies: SonarCharts and Community Edits.

Navionics SonarCharts allow mariners to record and share their sonar logs while cruising, fishing or just motoring around. Collected data is uploaded to a massive repository of charting data where complex algorithms select the most reliable soundings and scrub them against other data collected in the area, producing an up-to-date chart. In addition, Navionics’ app allows users to contribute improvements using Community Edits. Stumble upon a wreck, a spill or some other hazard not currently available on your chart, and with a few taps you can add a marker and notes to instantly share it with the entire Navionics community. These edits also become part of the overall data collection effort, which should result in enhanced content and peace of mind for recreational boat owners, the company claims.

“We have a community of customers numbering around 3 million,” says Carnevali. “About 100,000 of them are actively contributing to Community Edits. That’s a lot, especially if you consider that Wikipedia, for example, has something like 0.01 percent of users contributing to the content. Our participation is orders of magnitude higher.”

Thanks to the input of this community, Navionics’ ICW charts will feature up-to-date commanding depths, vertical and horizontal bridge clearances, accurate speed limits, vertical overhead cable clearance, updated coastlines, and improved shoal presentation, plus daily improvements to bottom contours, suggested routes and the Magenta line. And with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) ceasing to produce paper charts as of April 2014, Navionics hopes to lead a mapping revolution both for and by the boat owner.

In some countries electronic charts are already considered legal replacements for paper charts, and apps are eclipsing the web in terms of mobile data usage, so bringing the two technologies together makes a lot of sense. Using the company’s GoFree Wireless protocol, the revamped Navionics Boating app interfaces wirelessly with Raymarine and Navico-brand chartplotters (Simrad, Lowrance, B&G) and can download new charts that blend with the user’s existing chart collection, thereby ensuring all chart data is as current as possible. It’s useful off the water as well—routes, tracks and waypoints remain available on the user’s mobile device even after being downloaded to the plotter.

According to Carnevali, in 2013 Navionics’ app was accessed about 40 million times. This high level of usage led Navionics to believe that mobile apps represent the latest “disruptive technology” that stands to revolutionize the way boating enthusiasts enjoy their time on and off the water. But Carnevali stresses that the medium cannot be the message—that content must evolve to take full advantage of modern devices, and not merely be repackaged.

Navionics founder and president Giuseppe Carnevali.

“When a new technology becomes available—a disruptive technology—people tend to do, for some time, the same old thing but on the new technology,” he explains. “When TV first came out, it was basically radio plus an image. It wasn’t really TV the way we know it now. When smartphones first came out they did things the same way it was being done on the web. Now with apps, [smartphones] are evolving into something very different. The same has been happening with nautical charts. From paper to raster to vector to mobile. The world is changing. It makes me happy that we initiated that.”

Download Navionics’ new app for free to view the worldwide chart coverage available for purchase from the iTunes App Store and Google Play for Apple and Android mobile devices. Boat owners who already own the previous version, Marine & Lakes, will get all the new features of Navionics Boating for free the next time they update their app. navionics.com

By Brian Hartz, Southern Boating May 2014