Electronics

Garmin Has the Swiss-Army-Knife of Hand-Held GPSs: The GPSMAP 86sci

By George Day on March 20, 2025 Cruising Life, Electronics, Gear

In the last few years as I’ve been making offshore trips as crew for my friends, whether back and forth to the Caribbean from New England or across the Atlantic, it seems that a lot of the crew aboard show up with their own hand-held GPSs and an InReach or a satphone. This is a “just-in-case” level of preparation by sailors who have in fact been on boats that were hit by lightning or suffered a battery bank collapse that meant built-in marine electronics were no longer working or reliable. Garmin has long been a leader in hand-held GPSs and…

Volvo Hybrid IPS Drives Enhance Performance and Fuel Efficiency

By George Day on March 14, 2025 Cruising Life, Electronics, Engine Room

Volvo Penta has been working on electric propulsion and hybrid diesel-electric systems for a decades. The diesel-electric system coupkled to IPS drives is now available for commercial and recreational use and provides an elegant and proven technology that will allow boats to run silent and carbon free. The electric motor in the system fits between the main engine and the IPS pod and is engaged with a clutch. The motors run off a bank of lithium-ion batteries that can be sized for each boat’s specific tasks and requirements. “A hybrid provides a flexible solution, one that maintains the high efficiency…

Zipwake Dynamic Trim Tabs Dampen Pitch and Roll

By George Day on December 20, 2024 Advertise, Annapolis Boat Show, Cruising Life, Electronics, Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, Miami Boat Show, Newport Boat Show, Palm Beach Boat Show

Most of the modern fast cruisers that run at planing speeds have trim tabs that are adjusted manually to level the boat off and make it run more comfortably and efficiently. Adjusting trim tabs takes practice and skill and affects trim slowly, not dynamically. Swedish inventor Niclas Olofsson, who has a PhD in hydrodynamics had a better idea. In 1994, while on a business trip to Fremantle, Australia, the boat builder he was calling on had a problem. The Chinese company that had ordered several small fast ferry boats had rejected the products because the ferries could not reach the…

Protect Your Boat and Gear from a Lightning Strike

By George Day on August 29, 2024 Cruising Life, Electronics

Of all the natural phenomena that we run into out on the water, lightning may be the most worrisome. A direct strike can blow a thru-hull right off the boat creating a gaping hole, it can fry your electrical panel and battery bank and it can start a fire. Even near misses can create a mess inside marine electronics and the autopilot, or in the alternator and starter motor on your engine, or it can blow up an inverter-charger. Lightning works in mysterious ways so you can never predict where it will go and what damage it can do. That…

Skyhawk Oversea Provides Efficient Monitoring systems for Your Boat

By George Day on August 1, 2024 Cruising Life, Electronics, Gear

Since its founding in 2019, Skyhawk has become a leader in wireless, battery-operated, cellular-connected monitoring devices. Last year, the company came out with its Oversea models designed for boats and they earned both an Innovation Award at the 2024 Miami Boat Show and a place on the NNMA’s Top 100 New Products list for 2024. Oversea monitors keep an eye on all the important aspects of a boat that has been left untended for a length of time. Monitors have specific responsibilities, so you can mix and match them as you deem necessary. You can have monitors for your battery…

Furuno Unveils MFDs Using AI for Routes

By Peter Janssen on April 7, 2024 Electronics

Furuno has unveiled a new series of MFDs that feature AI-assisted routing to take you on the best, safest and most direct path to your destination. And if an obstacle appears along the way, Furuno’s AI Routing will create a new route around it in real time. The new AI feature is part of Furuno’s new NavNet TZtouchXL series of multi-function devices designed for the helm of cruising powerboats. The AI routing uses Furuno’s new TZ maps to create routes along channels and to inlets and marina entrances using the draft of your boat, chart data and other safety parameters.…

Heading Offshore? Rent an EPIRB from BoatUS

By co_admin on March 26, 2024 Cruising Life, Electronics

There’s no doubt that an EPIRB could save your life if you have a problem while cruising offshore. But new ones are expensive. BoatUS now offers an affordable program where you can rent one for $65 a week, plus $25 for shipping. Read about it here: SPRINGFIELD, Va., March 25, 2024 – The majority of the nation’s nearly 12 million recreational boaters don’t often travel far offshore, beyond cellular or VHF range. But for those who only do on a rare occasion, having an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is important, allowing you to summon rescuers if there’s a…

C-MAP Updates Charts for North America

By Peter Janssen on March 4, 2024 Cruising Life, Electronics

C-MAP just announced that it has updated its charts for North American with enhanced images and more detailed information. Founded in 1985, C-MAP has become a leader in digital marine cartography and cloud-based mapping. Its C-MAP App makes planning and navigating simple and easy. It’s made for your smart phone, tablet or personal computer, and you can personalize a chart with the layers you want and view it any time you want in the palm of your hand. You also can check the weather, create your own route, or rely on C-MAP’s Autorouting to do it for you. Now, the…

Simrad Unveils New ULTRAWIDE Displays

By Peter Janssen on January 15, 2024 Electronics

Simrad just introduced its new NSX ULTRAWIDE MFD that it says is the world’s first ultramarine display with all the features. Simrad says the new display has all the benefits of dual screens in one place, and is 63 percent wider than previous models. The NSX ULTRAWIDE results in an elevated-dash look that offers easier, faster and more efficient installation for OEM or existing boat owners with fewer cables and less set up. It is available in 12-inch and 15-inch screen sizes. The ULTRAWIDE will make its first appearance at the Düsseldorf show, starting Jan. 20, and in the U.S.…

Best New Electronics: NMEA Awards

By Peter Janssen on September 26, 2023 Electronics

The National Marine Electronics Association just named this year’s award winners at its annual conference in Orlando. The awards were chosen by NMEA members who voted online in 17 categories for Product of Excellence Awards, while a panel of judges named winners of the NMEA Technology Award and Best New Product Award. The Best New Product Award celebrates a new product that was introduced at the conference and that the judges thought was best in innovation, benefit to boaters, practicality and value. The winner: Furuno’s FCV800 fishfinder, which the judges said was “a real powerhouse of a standalone fishfinder.” The…

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