May 17, 2013
Exposure’s X2 searchlight endorsed by the Norwegian Sea Rescue Association
The Norwegian Sea Rescue Association (NSRA), Redningsselskapet, has recommended the British made Exposure Marine X2 search light for the professional and recreational marine market, by adding it to their existing range of recommended safety equipment. The NSRA, Norway’s equivalent to the British based RNLI, a voluntary, membership-based organisation that aims to save lives and protect the environment, runs a fleet of high speed rescue craft based at 57 stations along the Norwegian coast. The X2 is to be used and tested throughout the fleet. Operating in near arctic conditions, man overboard (MOB) and rescue situations become ever more life threatening due to the cold. The NSRA chose the X2 due to its MOB related features, including a brilliant 700 lumens searchlight, as well as its high-powered SOS and Strobe facility easily visible from over
May 17, 2013
Deck-Guard Announces Debut of Solar-powered Bird Repeller for Use on Boats.
Deck-Guard, llc. announced the launch of their new ultrasonic, solar-powered bird repeller for use on boats. “Ask yourself this question…As a boat owner, how much time do you spend cleaning your boat of bird droppings?” asks George Telheiro, CEO of Deck-Guard, llc. “Wouldn’t you rather be spending that time enjoying your boat? Absolutely! That’s what Deck-Guard offers the pleasure boater.” Masts, spreaders, canvas covers, radars, and railings on boats provide perfect perches for birds. Bird droppings can stain canvas covers and other surfaces and can be difficult to clean. Gulls, cormorants, pelicans and pigeons commonly use boats to land on. If neglected, bird droppings can stain
April 25, 2013
Raymarine Dragonfly Delivers Amazing Views Of The Underwater World
Share your underwater images for the chance to win Dragonfly prizes. Raymarine’s innovative and award-winning DragonflyTM is the latest high-technology sonar that has to be seen to be believed. Now available internationally through marine retailers and dealers, all boaters want to get their hands on the compact, stand-alone, high clarity colour screen sonar and GPS chartplotter. Dragonfly’s technology provides two independent channels enabling the ultimate in fish targeting through its CHIRP ClearPulse technology, with amazing
April 5, 2013
Garmin GPSMAP 8000 MFD and GPSMAP 8500 Black Box Series Integrates the Look and Feel of a Glass Helm
Garmin International recently announced the GPSMAP 8000 Glass Helm series, their newest flagship series of multi-function devices. Introducing a true glass helm appearance into the boating industry, the GPSMAP 8000 Glass Helm series boasts powerful new features and a revamped user-interface with a streamlined design that can make any helm look custom-built. Offering an 8-inch SVGA, 12-inch and 15-inch XGA multi-touch, pinch-to-zoom multi-function display, the GPSMAP 8000 MFD series boasts a lower profile than previous multi-function models.
March 27, 2013
Edson Introduces New Carbon Vortex Wheel
Edson’s latest addition to their custom sailboat wheel offerings is the new carbon, teak, and holly Vortex Wheel. It features elegant design details of alternating wood and composite materials that will serve as a stylish centerpiece to any racing or cruising yacht. The advanced design also boasts a lightweight structure that will add to the featherlight touch that the most demanding skippers require. A further hint of sophistication can even be added by including the name of the yacht on the wheel hub. This wheel is available in a range of diameters and can be made suite various wheel shaft sizes.
February 27, 2013
Delorme inReach App Extends Smartphone Capabilities
New Earthmate app from DeLorme transforms your smartphone or tablet into a two-way text-messaging global communications device and GPS viewer, with the latest terrain and road details. While your average smartphone is great in places where people drink lattes (the 10% of the world that has cell phone coverage), with inReach you’re connected everywhere. Whether you’re crossing Antarctica or the Sahara, you’ll have reliable coverage on the other 90% of the earth.
January 31, 2013
Blue Sea USB Charger
With the rapid proliferation of smart phones and portable electronics that all need to be recharged, the engineers at Blue Sea have created a simple dash-mounted 12-volt fitting that has two separate USB receptacles for recharging. It is also available in a standard cigarette lighter adapter plug for boats with that fitting available.
January 31, 2013
Navionics SonarCharts
Navionics has greatly improved the resolution of its electronic charting of underwater landforms with new high-definition data that draws true bottom contour lines. Created by integrating existing hydrographic data with sonar logs received from the extensive Navionics user community, these new SonarCharts provide up-to-date detail with a level of accuracy not previously available. This new software is compatible with Platinum+ cartography packages for iPad and iPhone at retail prices of $5.00 and $10.00 respectively.
September 13, 2012
Jefa Autopilot AP-1&2
This new pilot from Denmark is now carried by Rekord Marine. The Jefa AP is a well-engineered autopilot that uses a three-dimensional integral (fluxgate style) compass and is independent of a GPS link or chartplotter. The AP models are suitable for both tiller and wheel-steered vessels, and are ideal for boats up to 45’. They are easily DIY-installed and very price competitive. Suggested retail for the 12-volt system with autopilot and separate rudder feedback is $2,559.
June 27, 2012
Tactical Flashlight – TEAL XF3000
This impressive LED flashlight is powered by three Lithium-Ion batteries, each producing 3.7 volts (not AAA as reported earlier). These are rechargeable batteries and the light kit includes the charger. The light can be reduced in size and weight by unscrewing one battery in its case and it will work well with the remaining two batteries. We liked the brilliance of the three-battery set-up best. The suggested retail price is just under $200 for the whole kit.
June 26, 2012
Tactical Flashlight – TEAL XF3000 – Correction
We introduced the Teal Tactical Flashlight last month but made a mistake in its technical description. This impressive LED flashlight is actually powered by three Lithium-Ion batteries, each producing 3.7 volts (not AAA as reported earlier). These are rechargeable batteries and the light kit includes the charger. The light can be reduced in size and weight by unscrewing one battery in its case and it will work well with the remaining two batteries. We liked the brilliance of the three-battery set-up best. The suggested retail price is just under $200 for the whole kit.
May 8, 2012
ICOM “New Look” Marine Electronics
Though ICOM has been a well-regarded manufacturer of marine electronics for many years, they were a bit late to the market with fully integrated products. Not any longer! ICOM recently announced a “new look” family of marine electronics that meets the competitive offerings and goes a step further. We were first impressed with the new M92D hand-held marine VHF radio. It now has a fully functioning GPS receiver built in and continuously shows the current Lat/Long in the screen to the left of the radio channel setting.
May 8, 2012
Cobra Two-Way (GMRS) Radios
GMRS radios – often called civilian pattern – are ideal companions to marine VHF radios. Popular for many years, Cobra has introduced a new pair that impressed us and our boating companions. We have always used these products for communication between dinghy and “mother” ship or between buddy boaters who want to talk freely without using priority VHF channels. These are called “civilian” because their use requires no license and range is limited to about fifteen miles or so.
April 10, 2012
Keep an Eye on Things with Gost™ “Mini Ball” Cameras
GOST™ (Global Ocean Security Technologies – formerly Paradox Marine) has introduced several new models of its GOST Mini Ball Camera. The camera is now available in PAL, reverse image (NTSC and PAL) and also in wide angle with a 2.8 mm lens for enhanced security and surveillance on board. Measuring only 2.4 inches (61mm) in diameter, this rugged, marine grade, water – resistant and tamper proof analogue camera – just slightly larger then a golf ball – can be mounted discreetly inside or out – and it won’t detract from a boat or yacht’s decor or ambience.
March 9, 2012
Digital Yacht Puts A Wireless “Wi-Fi” Hot Spot On Your Boat
Wireless is the “buzz” in marine electronics with more and more applications available for wireless devices such as iPhones and iPads. With lots of onboard systems using legacy NMEA 0183 data, Digital Yacht America has devised a NMEA to WiFi adaptor – a small black box unit which converts traditional NMEA navigation and instrument data into a wireless TCP/IP feed. Essentially, it creates a local WiFi hot spot on board your boat which your mobile device can access. Many software applications allow data to be read through an individual TCP/IP port (e.g., iNAVx for the iPhone/iPad) or SmarterTrack 2011 PC navigation software.
October 18, 2011
Mobile Devices Link You to Your Boat from Anywhere On The Planet
Over the past two years, we have featured a number of articles focusing on the functional and performance benefits available through the universal NMEA 2000 protocols developed to enable a wide range of devices to all communicate with each other using one language. Separate from that, there is now a rapidly growing interest in using mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers in place of notebooks and desktop computers because they offer connectivity on the go using easily carried equipment. Also, the “cool factor” is very high!
October 17, 2011
Garmin® Debuts GDL™ 40 Cellular Marine Weather Receiver
Garmin International Inc. announced the GDL 40 – an affordable marine weather solution that brings on-demand graphical weather and radar data directly to a compatible NMEA 2000 Garmin chartplotter. The GDL 40 is the first and only cellular marine weather receiver on the market today. “For the first time, using the GDL 40, mariners will be able to purchase vital weather data on-demand when they need it most,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales.
August 23, 2011
Social Navigation – The Next Dimension for Marine Electronics
In early May, a news story came out that identified the most valuable company in the world. Which company do you think it was? Maybe General Motors…Shell Oil, or IBM? No wait…it must be Microsoft! Well no, but you’re getting closer. Apple has overtaken Google as the world’s most valuable brand. A new study by global brands agency Millward Brown says Apple is now worth $153-billion, according to the annual BrandZ study of the world’s top 100 brands. It’s incredible how quickly things can change.
March 10, 2011
Introducing the new Oceanview Apollo II Xi Camera Systems
Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida USA, OceanView manufactures a full line of 9 Night-Vision Cameras utilizing state-of-the-art camera sensors such as Thermal Imaging, Ultra-Low-Light and Color. OceanView allows your journey into total darkness, low-light conditions, torrential rain, some fog, smoke and even intense sun to become a safe and cautious one. Oceanviews industry leading 3 year warranty underscores the reliability of OceanView’s night-vision cameras and our dedication to customers.
January 13, 2011
The Next Step – Your Sounder
The display you choose may dictate the depth sounders that you can connect. This is because many sounder transponders use an Ethernet connection to deliver a video signal – not just digital depth numbers. We interviewed Ken Harrison at Summerhill CA and also Roy Shipley at CMC Electronics. They both stressed that most sounders and all the broadband systems require Ethernet connections.
January 12, 2011
Comfort and Efficiency with an Autopilot
I don't know about you, but I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy – when I'm driving the boat, I like to drive the boat! I keep a sharp lookout for other vessels, bouys and markers, but also for any kind of debris in the water. I want to be able to take evasive action if I need to and as a general rule, I'm driving a power boat and traveling at speed, not just cruising.
January 11, 2011
Shopping for Radar
Across Canada, boat show season will be starting soon with major shows in Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal and Halifax plus smaller shows across the country. The fastest pace of development and new product introductions is in marine electronics and the changes in recreational boat radar are among the most dramatic.
June 28, 2010
New VHF Radio Offers AIS and GPS Functions
Probably the very first piece of electronic equipment that a boater should get, if they are going out on a large body of water, is a VHF Radio. The Coast Guard monitors VHF, so do many police forces and a wide range of other boaters; private citizens also monitor VHF Channel 16. Most marinas have a radio on in their office, too. The VHF is a vital piece of safety equipment and next to life jackets, the best thing to have in the event of a breakdown or a problem. So, it makes perfect sense that the time-honoured and proven VHF radio should see its capabilities expand as new technologies come out.
June 17, 2010
Dramatic Advances in Small Boat Radar
If your boat does not have a radar system and if you venture out long enough to get caught in darkness, or in weather like fog or rain, a radar system is a very important safety investment. If you have radar, but it is an older system, consider upgrading to the new technologies. The performance improvements are simply amazing.
November 15, 2009
Astra Metal Sextant
The Astra IIIB has somewhat revolutionized celestial navigation. Never before has such a high quality, accurate metal sextant been available at such a low price. Over 18,000 sextants of this model have been sold in the US alone in the past 20 years; far more than any other serious sextant. Its popularity has spread throughout the rest of the world as well, making it the the most recognized (and supported) sextant worldwide.
November 15, 2009
Perko’s New LED Nav Lamps Unite Modern Design With Performance
Bringing marine lighting into the 21st century, Perko introduces its new Stealth line of state-of-the-art LED Navigation Lamps. Providing a contemporary look, the attractive Stealth Series includes the lowest profile surface-mounted lights on the market.
November 15, 2009
Davis Hand Bearing Compass
Using this precision marine hand bearing compass, you can quickly obtain magnetic bearings from on shore or on water. Obtain a bearing simply by aligning front and rear sights on an object and reading off bearing.
November 15, 2009
Nexus Compass
A very stable compass with a memory ring to help you maintain your course, the Model 85 Regatta is suitable for both power and sail vessels. Flush mounted with a flat bottom plate, this compass maintains a small footprint and eliminates the needs for large cutout holes when mounting.
November 15, 2009
Davis Windex
The Windex 10 Sport wind vane is for small keelboats, sport boats and dinghies. Windex's continue to offer exceptional performance and the best value of any wind indicator worldwide. The secret is in the sapphire jewel suspension bearing, large fin-low inertia van, and easy-to-read, fully adjustable tacking tab system.
November 15, 2009
Standard Horizon VHF
The HX850S is the only floating VHF handheld radio on the market with a built-in 12-channel GPS receiver that allows the radio to transmit a DSC call with your coordinates. It’s perfect for a ditch bag or other offshore boating applications.
November 15, 2009
Powerkey’s Advanced Keypad Provides Simple Custom Control Functions
To meet a range of versatile applications, Digital Switching Systems launches the ultimate human interface device, the new PowerKey Pro Keypad. Serving as a stand-alone equipment controller or a power management system controller, this keypad offers an easily re-programmed, multi-button configuration to provide unique customization of electrical control functions.
November 15, 2009
Cobra’s Bluetooth Handset Wins Dame Award At Marine Equipment Trade Show
Committed to transforming marine communication, Cobra Marine, a division of Cobra Electronics, won a prestigious DAME award at the 2008 Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) in Amsterdam, Netherlands for its MR F300 BT revolutionary waterproof handset with Bluetooth® wireless technology for cellular phones.
November 15, 2009
Clarion’s CMD6 Watertight Marine CD/Tuner/Multimedia Controller
Kickback, relax and enjoy the crystal clear sound that resonates out of this high-powered, 200W multimedia controller as you cruise. Includes an AM/FM tuner that’s Sirius/XM satellite ready, a CD player and a USB port that offers full content, full speed iPod control as well as the ability to play your favorite music on MP3 players and flash drives.