Electronics+Navigations

FLIR, Hall Spars Win Awards

by David Schmidt, Posted November 19, 2009

Few honors have more prestige in the marine equipment field than the DAME Awards, which are decided at the METS trade show in Amsterdam in mid-November. The entries represent some of the most forward-thinking advances in marine aftermarket equipment. They are also a litmus test for the health of the industry: the more innovative products on show, the more effort is being put into R&D and product

MN30

by David Schmidt, Posted August 5, 2009

Spend enough time sailing and you’ll eventually lose your masthead anemometer. Sometimes big winds or storms will take them out; seabirds also think they’re a handy place to perch. When it breaks or needs replacing, wouldn’t it be nice to simply remove the old anemometer and screw in the new one, no wires or connectors involved? For years, Tacktick has been making high-quality, wireless,

McMurdo Fast Find

by David Schmidt, Posted August 5, 2009

McMurdo has introduced two new Fast Find emergency personal-locator beacons that broadcast on both 121.5 and 406 MHz. Once activated, the units broadcast for 24 hours. Both come loaded with an SOS LED light that flashes the Morse code SOS pattern. According to McMurdo, most emergency signals that are broadcast on the 406 MHz signal are “heard” within 3 to 45 minutes; it then takes 3 additional

Navigation Gear

by Sail Staff, Posted June 15, 2009

Despite challenging economic conditions, the range and quality of new electronic product introductions has exceeded expectations. That’s good news for sailors, because there are lots of exciting choices out there for those who want to outfit a new boat or upgrade existing equipment.Lowrance have upped the ante in the battle for supremacy in multifunction navigation

Puckster

by Sail Staff, Posted May 15, 2009

If you sail on a small boat without electronics, you may appreciate having some basic speed and heading data to help dial in your tactics and sail trim. Velocitek’s new Speedpuck is a handheld GPS receiver that displays your course and speed over ground and allows you to record—and later download—the data so you can compare your performance against other boats. This clever device also displays

Look, Ma, No Hands!

by David Schmidt, Posted April 14, 2009

If you’re a high-adrenaline sailor, V.I.O.’s new Point of View (POV) video camera is perfect for documenting your onboard adventures. The package includes the recorder, a wireless remote, the camera head (which has a 100-degree field of view), various wires, mounting accessories, and a 1GB memory card (larger cards are available). It is waterproof and shock resistant, so even

Shine On (Then Recharge)

by David Schmidt, Posted March 10, 2009

Energy-conscious sailors worldwide are exchanging their incandescent bulbs for LED lights. LEDs work well in many applications, but some sailors find the beam they cast is too diffused to clearly spot distant objects. Pelican’s Stealthlite Rechargeable 2460 uses a rechargeable NiMH battery pack to power its strong, focused LED beam. It should allow you to spot buoys or

Channel Surfing

by Sail Staff, Posted February 6, 2009

When I started sailing, 50 years ago, electronic gear was a rarity. In fact, a knotmeter was the only electronic device aboard the first boat I sailed on. Obviously, things have evolved a lot since then. An onboard TV was once the sole province of the wealthy, but now they’re becoming increasingly common, even on fairly small boats. Some cruisers hate the idea, while others can’t do without

Remote Monitor

by Sail Staff, Posted December 18, 2007

SeaCAS’s new Rendez-vous Tender Information System uses AIS and radio-communications technology to create a private wireless network that allows you to monitor the location and condition (bilge and fuel levels, battery voltage, and oil pressure) of your tender from up to 20 miles away (farther if the signal can be mirrored off other yachts/tenders on your network). The system also allows a tender

Forward Thinking

by Sail Staff, Posted December 18, 2007

Being able to look ahead under water is a great advantage when you’re entering unknown waters. EchoPilot’s new Forward-Looking Sonar (FLS) Platinum Series can see 660 feet ahead and 330 feet down, while it simultaneously displays bottom depth and boat speed. The system displays objects with stronger echoes in different colors from those with weak signals. The Platinum Series is available either