They had guts, those great mariners from the Age of Discovery. Though some are viewed today with a degree of controversy, the likes of Columbus, Vespucci, ­Cortés and Magellan still hold reputations as bastions of courage and exploration.

How they did it—setting out on uncharted waters aboard creaking wooden sailing vessels, minds abuzz with apprehension of what might lie ahead, suppressing the lingering fear that they might never see land again—will always fascinate me. 

Few of us today will ever experience anything approaching that level of long-term anxiety afloat, thanks in large measure to today’s sophisticated marine electronics. They can tell you where you are, where you’re going, when you’ll get there, what’s lies underwater, what might get in your way, and where and when storms might strike. ­Today’s marine electronics can also recognize and route you around obstacles, and even drive the boat for you. 

Most importantly, when used properly by experienced captains, electronics can make you safer. Of course, electronics do not ­negate the need for prudent ­seamanship. You still must stay alert and be aware of your surroundings, remain at the wheel, and maintain a lookout and safe speed. But electronics can complement your seamanship skills, particularly in ­challenging conditions. 

One important caveat: Don’t wait until things take a turn for the worse to learn your electronics. Using your devices and interpreting displays should become second nature. This calls for practice and regular refresher sessions when conditions are pleasant to help ensure that you’re ready to effectively use and have confidence in the technology when the real need arises, as described in these five challenging situations in which marine electronics allowed me to pilot the boat with greater safely.

Moonless Passage

Recommended Electronics: Radar With MARPA, Chart Plotter, AIS, Night-Vision or Thermal-Imaging Camera

You can often prepare yourself for a long nighttime cruise in advance, as I did recently while running 35 miles offshore in the predawn hours for a day of mahi fishing off the coast of Southern California.

Before leaving the dock, I took the time to make sure that the electronics I had planned to use—radar, chart plotter, AIS and night-vision camera—were functioning properly. You might use instead a thermal-imaging camera from a company such as FLIR, but in this case, I relied on my SiOnyx ­Nightwave system, which shows the water and objects ahead in a full-color, stable and daylike image on my multifunction display.

Why, you might ask, would I want night vision when I have radar, or vice versa? For me, it boils down to detecting high-profile hazards with radar, while also seeing low-­lying objects that radar can’t detect such as lobster-pot buoys or flotsam such as wood pallets and timbers. 

My Mini Automatic Radar ­Plotting Aid allows me to automatically track targets on my radar to ­determine their threat level, course, closest point of approach, and time of closest approach.  

Some radar systems, such as those from Furuno, Garmin and Simrad, make tracking targets even easier with Doppler technology, which senses the relative motion of returns. Furuno’s Target Analyzer system, for example, automatically changes the color of targets to help you identify when they are hazardous. Green echoes are targets that stay stationary or are moving away from you, while red echoes are hazardous targets that are moving toward your vessel. Echoes ­dynamically change colors as ­targets approach or get farther away from your vessel.

An Automatic Identification System offers some redundancy, showing vessels equipped with AIS and confirming their location and identity on both the chart plotter and radar. However, many boats do not broadcast AIS signals, and so I use it only to augment but not ­replace radar. 

My chart plotter provides me with the course and distance to my destination, as well as my current position, offering a sense of place, which I might otherwise lose on a moonless night. 

One important tip for using your electronics at night: Dim the screens or use night mode to help preserve your night vision. Bright displays destroy my primary night-time navigational tool: my vision.

Poof! It’s Foggy!

Recommended ­Electronics: Radar With MARPA, Chart Plotter, AIS, Autopilot, VHF with PA Function and Loudspeaker

I tend to avoid boating in fog, but at least once a season, I get caught as pea soup sweeps quickly across coastal waters. When it happens after dark, it tests my navigational skills like no other condition. Without the right electronics, it can leave boaters wondering whether to try to make safe harbor or stay put. Either choice can turn into catastrophe.  

The problem I have with thick fog is its disorienting nature. Without the ability to see my surroundings, I can’t stay on a prescribed course. Try it sometime. Even with a good compass, you will drift off course more quickly than you can imagine, then meander endlessly as you seek to correct, and then overcorrect. That’s why I added autopilot to my list of recommended electronics. It keeps me on course while I use essentially the same electronics in much the same way I use them for nighttime navigation.  

Another additional piece of electronics is a VHF radio with (and this is important) a PA function wired to a loudspeaker. As part of the PA feature, some VHFs, such as the Standard Horizon Matrix, have a foghorn function, and it can set for underway or at anchor. While underway, it emits a loud, prolonged blast at 2-minute intervals. In anchor mode, the foghorn signal repeats every minute. 

This not only alerts other boats in the vicinity to my presence, but the PA system also has a listen-back feature that helps me hear the sound of other boats approaching my position, so I can prepare to take evasive action if necessary to avoid a collision.

Shallow Threats

Recommended Electronics: Chart Plotter With Auto-Routing, Electronic Chart App, Echo Sounder

The ocean floor is dynamic, especially in shallow nearshore waters where powerful storms, waves and currents shove about ­bottom mud and sand, unexpectedly piling up shoals. These can catch even local veteran boaters by surprise, especially after a big storm. It happened to me a few years ago when the north side of the main channel at the mouth of the Los Angeles River silted up after a winter storm. Fortunately, my boat did not fetch up, but I did drag the lower unit through the mud for about 50 yards. These days, I stay up to speed on silting with the Navionics Boating app on my mobile phone.

In addition to US government National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration charts, the Navionics app includes a layer of crowdsourced updates from others boaters. When this layer is switched on, it provides ­updates from other boaters on subjects such as new shoal areas that might not yet have made it into the official chart update, as well as points of interest and navigation aids. The app also integrates information shared by the ActiveCaptain Community, including ­navigational hazards. 

In addition, I have discovered that a chart plotter with auto-routing, as featured on the new Simrad NSS 4 series, can quickly guide me around dangerous shoals and reefs, as well as other hazards. I just plug in my destination as a waypoint, and the ­system redraws the safest way to get there via a series of waypoints.

Sometimes you just have to slow down and feel your way, ­especially when navigating backwaters and rivers. That’s when an echo sounder is helpful. I watch the depth carefully to make sure I am in the deepest part of the channel. If the bottom starts to come up, either I change course or ­reverse out and try another path.

First-Time Visit

Recommended Electronics: Radar, Chart Plotter With Satellite Overlay and Tide Chart, VHF Radio

Occasionally I will venture to new waters north or south of my home port of Long Beach, California, and I sometimes find entering and negotiating a new inlet and port—particularly a large one—­somewhat challenging.

I have discovered that radar and a chart plotter—used side by side or as a radar chart overlay—gives me a good idea of how to safely enter the inlet, particularly at night. ­During the day, when I can see clearly, I sometimes use the 3D feature in course-up mode. Rather than viewing the chart from overhead, this lays out the inlet channel like a highway and can prove intuitive to read, providing greater ­navigational safety.

Another helpful feature on the chart plotter is the satellite mode that overlays satellite imagery and can show helpful landmarks when exploring new ports. You can zoom in for more detail or zoom out to gain greater context with any of these views.

Standing off and hailing the port master or harbor patrol on the VHF radio is a good idea if you’re unsure about the safety of an inlet. Such was the case on one spring day as I considered entering California’s Oceanside Harbor, which tends to shoal at its mouth. During low tide, big Pacific swells rise up and crest at this inlet. More than one vessel has met its demise here. 

I called the harbor patrol on VHF Channel 16, and we switched to talk on Channel 22a. The harbor patrol advised me to hold off until the tide rose, so I checked the tide chart on my chart plotter, which indicated high tide later in the ­afternoon. I waited until then and found a much safer passage into the harbor. 

Read Next: Marine Electronics for Nighttime Safety

Escaping the Storm

Recommended Electronics: Chart Plotter With SiriusXM Marine, Radar, VHF Radio

A day of fishing off Key West, Florida, started bright, clear and hot. But by early afternoon, a line of anvil-shaped clouds and an ­occasional muted boom of thunder in the distance gave me pause for concern.

Fortunately for us, we had the ­SiriusXM Marine Offshore overlay feature on our chart plotter. With it, we could see on the display a line of major thunderstorms taking shape and tracking quickly in our direction. The SiriusXM Marine Offshore also showed a growing number of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, accompanied by high winds and waves.

A severe-weather warning from the Coast Guard on the VHF radio confirmed the reports, as did our radar, which picked up the returns of heavy rain in the distance. The fishing had been good, but thanks to our marine electronics, we knew for safety’s sake that the time had come to head back to port.

As we raced ahead of the ­tempest, I thought of the great mariners from the Age of Discovery and wondered if they could have imagined the tools that ­everyday boaters like me now have to stay safe. I doubt it. But then, I have little idea what new electronic devices the next season might bring and how they might help me stay even safer.

The post Marine Electronics That Make Boating Safer appeared first on Boating Mag.

Multifunction displays continue to advance in processing speed, system integration, enhanced control capabilities, and ease of use. The latest to emerge in this marine-tech revolution is the Simrad NSS 4 series of premium chart-plotter and fish-finder displays for cruising and sport-fishing boats.

Available in 10-, 12- and 16-inch screen sizes, the NSS 4 MFDs feature an all-new Qualcomm 8-core processor, enabling smoother page transitions, faster auto-routing and, ultimately, easier use with lightning-­fast transitions. The NSS 4 series also features a trio of hybrid control options—touchscreen, rotary dial and keypad—providing choices in accessing and controlling functions via the optimized user interface. An updated glass-to-edge design ­delivers a premium look to the helm.

Simrad NSS 4 models offer built-in dual-channel 1 kW chirp sonar, as well as support for ­Active Imaging HD sonar. With this unique new feature, anglers for the first time can track as many as four sonar sources on a ­single split-screen display. The new MFDs also feature integrated C-Map, Discover X and Reveal X electronic charting. NSS 4 displays offer plug-and-play networking with Simrad radar systems, Simrad S3100 and S5100 sonar modules, and also network with and control the latest trolling motors, including Rhodan and Simrad’s new Recon.

Read Next: Simrad NSX Ultrawide MFDs

NSS 4 boasts extensive support for third-party technology and devices, including ­multiple IP cameras, CZone digital switching, RGBW LED ­lighting, marine audio systems, ­SiriusXM, and more. In addition, the NSS 4 displays seamlessly integrate with Mercury outboards and other propulsion systems with features such as onscreen cruise control, active trim, and ­autopilot. What’s more, the new displays integrate with other popular engine brands such as Honda and Suzuki, offering features including fuel management and fault diagnostic tools.

The NSS 4 series MFDs starts at $2,599. To learn more, visit simrad-yachting.com.  

The post Simrad NSS 4 appeared first on Boating Mag.

As recently as this past winter, solid-state batteries were touted as future tech poised to move electric propulsion rapidly forward. Jumping ahead a year, Honda ­announced limited production of these new-generation batteries sometime early in 2025. But, Boating had already tested solid-state batteries in the Electric Legacy, a classic runabout replica collaboration between Elco and Lancer Craft. So, what did we discover about this technology and how it might benefit you?

What Is a Solid-State Battery?

In most batteries, be they lead-acid or lithium, liquid electrolyte facilitates energy transfer between cathode, anode, and electrical equipment. ­Solid-state ­batteries still employ lithium, but the electrolyte is an ultra-thin solid coating. “The US government has been using solid state for 20 years,” says Tom Calef, founder and CEO of Solid State Marine. “The issue has been manufacturing. If that nano-thickness coating isn’t the same every time, you’ll have one cell that stores 100 watt-hours, and the next has only 10.” With those challenges overcome, Calef says his company now offers solid-state marine batteries at competitive prices in voltages and sizes common for marine applications.

What’s Better About Solid State?

Solid electrolyte coatings make solid-state batteries about half the weight of today’s lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries for the same stored power. There is a bigger advantage though. “It takes a lot less energy to push through a solid material than it does a liquid,” Calef says. That reduced electrical resistance pushes power ­considerably faster from solid-state batteries into electric motors, while generating less heat in the exchange. 

That’s a game-changer: It gives electric-boat motors—and other high-draw marine electrical accessories—all the amps they need. This is especially critical when an electric-powered boat is climbing on plane. An analogy might be running your gas-powered boat with undersize lines or clogged fuel filters. Switching to solid-state batteries is like refitting the entire fuel system and tripling the flow. By starting with much lower resistance, solid-state batteries also continue to provide required amps through their entire capacity even as battery voltage drops and resistance climbs, Calef says, increasing usable watt-hours. Another fuel analogy? It’s like having a pickup tube 20 percent too short on your fuel tank but then getting a new one that goes all the way to the bottom.

Electric Propulsion Benefits

I assumed that an electric Lancer Craft might barely top 25 mph. Replacing gas-powered batteries with wet lithium ­batteries adds some 800 pounds to the original designed weight. That’s hard for a 20-foot runabout to overcome. Instead, the eight solid-state batteries—at 103 pounds each, plus Elco’s 205-pound motor and equipment—weigh 10 percent less than the GM small block, transmission, and full fuel tank. Less weight and more watts result in impressive hole shots and 35 mph top speed, albeit with less range than gas.

What About Other Applications?

In any application, solid-state batteries roughly double conventional LiFePO4 battery run time for the same weight. Both options—solid-state and LiFePO4—offer bigger gains when consolidating battery banks. In one example aboard a 32-foot SeaVee charter boat, Capt. Tristan Raynes replaced three 12-volt AGM 31 series batteries powering his Seakeeper 2. Just one fully charged 27 series battery from Solid State Marine rated at 210 amp-hours lasts an entire charter; in the past, with the three AGM batteries, he needed to run the SeaVee’s twin 300 hp Mercury Verado outboards continuously to power the Seakeeper 2. The boat’s aging LiFePO4 trolling-motor batteries were also ripe for upgrade. Raynes’ Minn Kota 36-volt trolling motor required three conventional LiFePO4 batteries, which didn’t always last all day. Now, just one 31-series solid-state battery increases run time by 20 percent. Today’s newest LiFePO4 batteries offer similar consolidation. “I replaced six batteries with just two and took 400 pounds off the boat and added capacity,” Raynes says.

Longevity and Charging

Calef expects similar lifespans for both solid-state and conventional lithium batteries, retaining 95 percent capacity after 1,500 cycles and 75 percent after 2,500 total cycles. That’s a full discharge every day for seven years. Most ­off-the-shelf lithium-battery AC chargers are compatible with Solid State Marine batteries; Calef mentions NOCO and Victron as examples. 

Calef also sees safety gains. Though today’s conventional LiFePO4 marine batteries have enjoyed a remarkable safety record to date, it is conceivable that a pierced LiFePO4 battery could ooze electrolyte that could create shorts and overheat the cells, potentially causing a thermal chain reaction. The solid electrolyte in a solid-state battery won’t leak, thus preventing a short if pierced. Of course, large power sources are problematic around seawater, and salt water contacting lithium directly in any battery type creates volatile hydrogen gas.

Calef sees boat systems moving steadily toward lithium. “In so many applications, lithium technologies are dramatically better in storing electrical energy than lead,” he says. “With solid-state batteries, we’re bringing more of the benefit of lithium to the ­boating market.”

The post Solid-State Batteries for Boaters appeared first on Boating Mag.

Be it Garmin LiveScope, Lowrance Active Target 2 or Humminbird Mega Live 2, live sonar seems to have popped up on bass boats overnight, but saltwater anglers have not adopted it in similar numbers—at least not yet.

Live sonar—perhaps more ­popularly known as forward-­facing sonar, or FFS—shows you what is in the sonar cone in real time, has a near ­180-degree ­coverage, and everything in that arc is instantly painted. Movements of fish are displayed as they occur, much like medical ultrasound imaging. 

In shallower water, landscape images offer ­outstanding ­situational awareness of all the water in and beyond ­casting range. Forward-fishing ­orientation of the transducer is often used in deeper water, and downward-­facing sonar is most effective in bottomfishing.

Rich Kale is about as hardcore an angler as can be. Based in ­Punta Gorda, Florida, he fishes the waters of Charlotte Harbor, Peace River and the Myakka River almost every day. If Kale is spied on the water, anglers get as close to him as they dare. He’s an influential angler and is likely responsible for leading many tarpon fishermen away from ­casting ladyfish and crabs in favor of DOA Bait Busters. He installed Lowrance’s Active Target sonar last year and found it so ­incredibly effective, his salty friends ­began installing live sonar as well.

Read Next: Using Live Sonar to Catch More Fish

Kale counts his tarpon bites and hookups, not his landings. He reports that his bites went up tenfold after he started using Active Target. While the Boca Grande Pass is most famous for its dense tarpon schools and even denser angling fleet, Kale eschews the crowds, using his sonar in the wide-open areas of the harbor and up in the Peace River.

“In open water, I don’t cast ­until I pick them up on ­sonar,” he says. “I can count the ­number of fish in pods, see which way they are moving and how deep they are. It’s easy to put a bait in front of them, and I can see if the fish are interested in it or not. People think it can’t work well in salt water due to the water density, but after using it, if ­somebody told me I couldn’t have it anymore, I’d take up bowling.”

The density of salt water does reduce the range of FFS by up to 40 percent. Live sonar uses a very high frequency and ping rate to give the instant picture on the screen. The higher the sonar frequency, the more detailed the image, but the saltwater density reduces signal clarity by resisting high-frequency returns.

That’s not a problem in fresh water, and FFS is such an ­effective tool for bass fishermen that none are competitive without it. It has changed the pace of bass ­tournament fishing. Anglers don’t waste a cast on waters that aren’t showing fish on FFS. For nationally televised tournaments, the use of live sonar has taken away much of the visual appeal of ­fishing. The anglers just stare at their ­sonar ­displays until they see a fish. Tournament directors have begun to limit the use of FFS, in part because it’s boring to watch.

Another drawback for ­saltwater anglers is the awkward mounting of the transducer, according to Garmin’s David Dunn. LiveScope XR is Garmin’s most powerful FFS.

Live sonar has to be mounted on a trolling-motor shaft or a stalk attached to the gunwale, and it is difficult to deploy and retract, especially in rough seas. Garmin doesn’t offer mounting stalks and directs its customers to OEM makers—and there are several of them.

“For fresh water, we make our trolling motors capable of having a transducer mounted on the motor shaft, but then the direction of the motor determines what you can see,” Dunn says.

Matthew Laster, integrated ­systems director, fishing systems for Navico and Lowrance, agrees on the convenience factor but has another spin on slow adoption rates. “Freshwater bass anglers are highly publicized and televised. Saltwater fishing doesn’t have near as much visibility to spread the word.”

Ed Zyack is a Florida charter captain and has been fishing the waters for decades, and doing so as a Humminbird promoter. “Mega Live is a great tool,” he says. “I had several charter guys on the west coast [of Florida] using it, and it was so effective that they wouldn’t talk about it.” It was the antithesis of great sponsorship marketing…until the closely guarded secret got out and spread like wildfire in August.

Hummingbird recently introduced Mega Live 2—an ­upgraded version with more image clarity in both auto and manual adjustable modes. “It is an enormous improvement in saltwater ­capability,” Zyack says. “You can just turn it on, and it takes very little adjustment to optimize the ­image.”

One thing all our experts agreed on is that saltwater anglers are among the fiercest ­proponents of angling tradition and are ­highly suspicious of new techniques. But live sonar is changing their minds.

The post Live Sonar for Saltwater Fishing appeared first on Boating Mag.

In the not so distant past, boat owners had a much different audio experience on the water than while driving in the tow vehicle they used to launch it. In the auto, they had high expectations of crystal-clear sound, while on the water, most didn’t expect to even hear their music while the engine was running—and certainly not while underway.

Now, thanks to technological advancements, marine stereos have bridged the gap to bring quality sound on board. Enter Hertz Marine Audio, a relative newcomer to the boating industry that’s putting out some of the ­highest-quality marine stereo components available. Here’s how the company is trying to up the game.

From Cars to Boats

Hertz is owned by ­Elletromedia, an Italian audio company that’s been around since the 1970s and started making high-quality Hertz stereo systems for cars in 1998. After developing a reputation in the automotive ­market, Hertz started making marine stereos in 2016 and have been making inroads into the US market in recent years, both as an ­aftermarket upgrade and appearing as OEM offerings in boat lines such as Tige, Yamaha, and Sea Pro. The goal has been to bring the same high-quality sound that most people associate with their cars to the water.

Capri Source Unit

The Capri Source unit is designed to broadcast high-resolution audio throughout the speaker system on the boat. Its multizone functionality allows you to set up to four independent audio zones on your boat, where listeners can set the volume levels to their liking. So the speakers in the bow, stern, tower and cabin can all be set to different levels by ­different listeners. The Capri’s remote units also have the exact same ­controls as the primary source unit, so the user can go through the same intuitive commands, whether at the helm or the swim platform or lounging belowdecks. Hertz also offers a “black box solution,” where the software can be integrated into your boat’s primary MFD at the helm, eliminating the need for the primary source unit if helm real estate is at a premium for mounting on the dash.

HTX Tower Speakers

The HTX line of tower speakers is built with a sturdy ­UV-resistant cannister that has an IP65 rating (protecting against water and dust) to withstand the harsh marine environment. What ­really sets these speakers apart is Hertz’s common motor technology, which allows Hertz to use a smaller cannister to produce high-quality sound at a high volume. It also ­produces ­excellent clarity.

“We solved the oldest challenge in boating stereos,” says Brian Power, VP of the Hertz Marine Division. “You used to have to choose between ­high-output and high-sound quality. Now you can have both.”

Power noted that the HTX speakers produce loud and clear audio—both for the people in the boat, as well as those “off axis,” ­either on the sandbar or enjoying watersports ­behind the boat.

HMS Subwoofer

The HMS subwoofer is ­designed to overcome one of the biggest challenges of open-space audio: getting a clear and consistent bass sound in an open setting. The HMS subwoofers can handle 500W of continuous power and don’t need to be housed in a dedicated enclosure to produce a high-quality bass sound throughout the boat.

HMX Cockpit Speakers

The HMX coaxial cockpit speakers offer ­s­imilar high-quality casing and large 1.4-inch-diameter tweeter. The tweeter provides sound ­dispersion throughout the boat, covering a broader area and providing a nice tonal quality throughout the boat, while still handling low-end frequency.

Read Next: Installing a Marine Stereo In Your Boat

Venezia V6 Amplifier

The Venezia V6 is a six-channel marine ­amplifier that boosts the quality and fidelity of the speaker output, a necessity in an open-air boat setting. The die-cast aluminum casing withstands marine conditions and ­electromagnetic interference from the other onboard electronic components. Its plug-and-play ­input and output ­connectors make it easy to sync with the other stereo ­components.

What do you get when you put all the Hertz components together? According to Power, “You get a concert-capable product producing sound like you’re in an amphitheater.”

The post Hertz Marine Audio Systems Offer High-Quality Sound appeared first on Boating Mag.

Scanstrut ROKK Charge Pro

$61.95; westmarine.com

USB and USB-C connections can be vulnerable to corrosion in moist and salty air if they aren’t protected. Scanstrut makes an entire series of ports with water-resistant covers that keep them dry when not in use. In fact, a new series, the ROKK Charge Pro, is also water-resistant when cords are in place.

The SC-Multi-F2 Flip Pro Duo has plenty of versatility, with USB and USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket. The unit mounts in dual 1-inch-diameter holes and requires a 10-amp fuse. With a 12- or 24-volt supply to the charging socket, power is also jumped to the USB ports. At 12 volts’ input, the Flip Pro can charge two phones at 36 watts each. When not in use, the cover snaps tightly over the ports, forming an IPX4 waterproof seal.

• Overall Dimensions: 0.78″ x 3.15″ x 1.73″
• Footprint Dimensions: 3.15″ x 1.73″
• Cutting Dimensions: Dual 1.25″ holes, 1.5″ on center  
• Waterproof Rating: IPX4 (splashing water)
• Voltage Input: 12/24
• Fuse: 10 amp
• Output 12 Volts: 36 watts x 2
• Output 24 Volts: 60 watts x 2

Mounting Tips: Install using existing 12-volt outlet plug and wire. Mask the second hole to avoid chipping and tear-out, secure template over existing hole, and drill with a 1-inch step drill bit.

Scanstrut Flip Pro Series

$68.95; amazon.com

The ROKK Charge Pro remains waterproof while in use thanks to the cap that closes over the dual parallel USB plugs. The SC-USB-2 is equipped with USB-A and USB-C ports. It can charge two devices at 36 watts on 12 volts with 60 watts’ output. It takes only a single 1 ¹/₈-inch-diameter hole to mount the device, and it requires a 10-amp fuse in the power line. When connected, and with the lid closed, the device is IPX6 waterproof.

• Overall Dimensions: 1.14″ x 1.53″ x 3.7″
• Footprint Dimensions: 1.53″ x 3.7″
• Cutting Dimensions: 1.125″ hole 
• Waterproof Rating: IPX 6 closed (sprayed stream)
• Voltage Input: 12/24
• Fuse: 10 amp
• Output 12 Volts: 36 watts
• Output 24 Volts: 60 watts

Mounting Tips: Be sure of clearance behind the bulkhead. Mask the drill area to reduce chipping. Drill with a 1-inch step drill bit.

Scanstrut Edge

$124.80; amazon.com

Scanstrut spans the Atlantic, with headquarters in America and the UK. They make brackets, mounts, and struts for everything from smartphones and radar to topside chart-plotter pods and iPads/tablets.

The Scanstrut Edge is a waterproof, wireless, inductive charger on a swivel pedestal designed to be mounted to the dash or bulkhead. Mounting it requires two screws and a power-cord hole, all hidden by the device once it is installed. Spring-loaded “jaws” expand to accept the phone and hold it securely while inductive 10-watt charging begins. The pedestal allows the phone to be tilted 60 degrees or swiveled from vertical to landscape mode, enhancing viewing—a particularly useful feature when the phone is used for navigation.

As an alternative, Scanstrut’s Active ($149.99, westmarine.com) wireless charger mounts only the flat clamping portion to any bulkhead. We find them mounted on dashboard bow-seating areas or compartments and cubbies, where phones are less likely to be viewed and used in place but still quickly available. Both mounts are sleek and complement the looks of dash panels and other bulkheads; mounting several avoids the need for crews to swap and share.

• Overall Dimensions: 2.9″ x 8.17″
• Footprint Dimensions: 2.16″ diameter
• Cutting Dimensions: Three ¹/₈” screw holes, one ¹/₄” power-line hole
• Waterproof Rating: IPX6 (sprayed stream)
• Voltage Input: 12/24
• Fuse: 10 amp
• Output 12 Volts: 10 watts
• Output 24 Volts: 10 watts

Mounting Tips: Be sure that the mounting area allows for 60-degree tilt and 90-degree vertical rotation to landscape orientation. Also be sure that the mounting charger and holder won’t block the view of other items on the dash. Attach the template to the surface-mount area, and mark holes with an awl. Operate drill in reverse through the gelcoat to prevent chipping, then drill normally to finish. 

Read Next: How To Install a Marine Wireless Cell Phone Booster Aboard Your Boat

Peak Design Phone Cases

Varies; amazon.com

Peak Design’s expertise is in camera cases, packs, tripods and camera slings, plus modular-style phone cases and chargers, all of which barely scratch the surface of their accessorizing prowess. Modular accessories allow the owner to move phones from boat to bike to car to desktop to bedside, securing phones while charging them. Cases are available for most popular phones, and magnetic inductive bases work with or without Peak Design cases.

Peak phone cases (from $40) have a shallow, metal-rimmed socket on the back, which engages with the retractable teeth of various mounts. Buttons on either side of the square-mount base release the phone. While engaged, the case holds the phone firmly, even in sudden stops, unexpected potholes, and rough water. Charging bases (from $40) connect to the boat’s 12- or 24-volt power system with USB-C/USB-A cables for inductive charging. Mounting bases (from $40) with 1-inch balls to connect to clamping mounts from Peak Design or suction-cup mounts by makers such as RAM Mounts. Silicone-rubber pipe straps offer another handy option to mount a phone at the helm on a rail or grab bar.

Adhesive dash mounts are also available. Though Peak Design’s adhesive base is flexible to conform to contoured surfaces, we found them more reliable on flat surfaces. 

• Overall Dimensions: Varies
• Footprint Dimensions: 1″ to 3″
• Cutting Dimensions: NA
• Waterproof Rating: NA
• Voltage Input: 12/24
• Output 12 Volts: 15 watts
• Output 24 Volts: 15 watts

Mounting Tips: Adhesive mounting is tricky. Follow the instructions, and don’t use the mount for 24 hours. Suction-cup mounts need a perfectly clean, flat surface. If possible, use a rubber gasket under the pipe-clamp mounts. Mount devices where they aren’t likely to be brushed against.

The post Phone Charging and Mounting Systems for Boats appeared first on Boating Mag.

In the simplest of terms, an AC generator supplies power directly to a 120-volt circuit to run AC accessories throughout a boat, as well as charge the boat’s batteries (through an AC-to-­DC charger). A DC generator, on the other hand, directly charges the boat’s batteries, which can, in turn, provide 120-volt power via an onboard DC-to-AC electrical inverter system.

One important ­caveat: Inverters are generally more limited in the AC power that they can supply versus a more robust AC generator. Accordingly, this generally limits the primary market for DC ­generators to boats less than about 55 feet in length overall.

That said, a DC generator can eliminate much of the complicated AC shore-power rigging and provide a seamless transition between the DC and AC systems, says Chad Godwin, OEM sales ­director for Fischer Panda, which currently offers two diesel-powered DC generators, as well as a full line of AC generators. The 12-volt AGT5 delivers 12 volts at 272 amps and is rated at 5 kW; the AGT6 produces 24/48 volts at 192/96.5 amps and is rated at 5.5 kW. The company also builds custom DC generators for boatbuilders.

Lending impetus to the development of DC generators is the growing use of marine lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) house batteries, which are lighter in weight, provide greater storage capacity, and recharge faster than traditional lead-acid AGM batteries. “A diesel-powered DC generator represents a near-perfect complement, providing faster, quieter, safer, and more-effective low-rpm charging than most outboard engines can deliver,” Godwin contends.

DC generators also weigh less, require less space, and consume less fuel than AC ­generators. “The AGT generators can weigh 50 percent less than a comparable AC generator and are up to 30 percent smaller in size,” Godwin says. “Because you don’t have to continuously run a DC generator to power AC accessories, it consumes less fuel than an AC generator.”

In many ways, ­Fischer Panda’s DC generators are an answer to ­Navico’s ­Fathom e-Power ­system. Instead of a marine ­generator, Fathom uses high-output alternators in select Mercury outboards to supply DC power to charge a bank of LiFePO4 house batteries. However, outboards need to rev at fairly high rpm to ensure that the battery system can keep up with heavier-­load accessories such as an air conditioner. The Fischer Panda AGT6 8.8 hp generator provides an ­effective alternative when using outboards at low rpm such as when slow-trolling. Of course, the Fischer ­Panda DC generators require that most boats have a separate diesel-fuel system. 

Like the Fathom ­system, Fischer Panda’s AGT generators also have an ­automatic feature that monitors a boat’s battery bank and turns on and off in auto mode to keep ­batteries ­correctly charged. 

These water-cooled ­generators are also ­extremely quiet, ­registering just 66 dB(A) for the AGT6 when measured at a distance of 7 meters, according to Fischer Panda. These lower sound levels, combined with ­intermittent usage, mean you could conceivably run the generator in a mooring or in an anchorage without unduly annoying your ­neighboring boaters.

Read Next: AGM vs. Lithium Batteries

The diesel-fuel requirement for the AGT system presents both benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, diesel exhaust minimizes those dangerous carbon-monoxide fumes associated with gasoline exhaust. On the downside, as pointed out earlier, a fuel tank dedicated to diesel fuel will be needed aboard almost any outboard-­powered boat equipped with this generator system.

Fischer Panda is currently supplying DC generators to four boatbuilders for outboard-powered models within each of their ­lineups. This includes the new ­Regal 50 SAV, which features the factory-installed DC generator system that it has dubbed “LivePower.”

The post The Benefits of Direct-Current Marine Generators appeared first on Boating Mag.

If you want to boat more safely at night, night-vision technology can help minimize your odds of getting off course or missing a hidden ­aid-to-navigation post or piece of flotsam. There are two basic technologies to open night eyes. Let’s see what those are.

As Far As the Eye Can See

Light is electromagnetic energy measured in nanometers. The human eye can see wavelengths between 380 nm, beginning at violet and bordering on ultraviolet, and 700 nm, which is red and bordering on invisible infrared. The shorter wavelengths of violet and blue range from 380 nm to about 500 nm. They are weaker and are the first to fade from human visibility in low light. From 500 nm to 600 nm—the end of blue to the beginning of red—the waves are longer and stronger, and are last to fade from visibility. Past 700 nm, the waves are long, strong and invisible. But you can feel them—they emit infrared heat.

Feeling the Heat

Optics such as those offered by X Vision and FLIR sense infrared light waves and can detect temperature differences of less than 1 degree. It is the IR devices’ sensitivity to minute temperature changes from one object to another that allows them to project highly detailed images on an IR sensor. 

Modern Night Vision

Newer night-vision technology such as the Sionyx Aurora Pro ($849) captures available light from 380 nm UV to nearly 1,100 nm infrared, amplifies it, and projects it onto a digital sensor rather than the old-school phosphorous-charged sensor that rendered the green imaging we see in war movies. The digital sensor yields an image that is closer to photographic and shockingly detailed with no apparent light, and it fills in a lack of color with infrared imaging. It can transmit near-real-time imaging to external displays via a micro HDMI cable or to a smart device via Wi-Fi. It doubles as a still or video camera in dark or daylight and stores images on a microSD card. Should you want to mount such a device, look for the standard 1/4-by-20-inch threaded tripod socket. 

Infrared Scopes

FLIR is the longest-running brand in marine infrared technology for mariners, but there are other companies in the market too, such as X Vision, which makes scopes and binoculars. I like the TB 300 binocular for its crisp IR image, its ability to change the color gradient for visual preferences, and for its 16x zoom. Image hotspots can be illuminated in contrasting colors for helpful detail at a glance. It can detect temperature differences of 0.05 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a detection range of 1,500 yards, with strong detail to 500 yards, rendering outstanding clarity with a 16x zoom. A laser range ­finder works to 1,500 yards and gives better situational awareness in the dark, when depth ­perception is weakest. ­Wi-FI ­connectivity allows ­displaying ­images on a smart device.

Read Next: Help for Boaters to See in the Dark

 Ship-Mounted Devices

Fixed-mounted devices are valued for their stability and hands-free use on larger vessels. On smaller vessels, chop jostles the camera, and unless it is optically stabilized, the image can jump around on the display. Sionyx’s Nightwave camera ($1,895, westmarine.com) can be mounted upright or upside down and the image flipped with the software. It isn’t stabilized per se, but its method of upsizing the image to a display softens the effect of the chop. In IR devices, be sure to choose one with image ­stabilization—an important but costly upgrade—or stick with the flexibility of handhelds.

Night-vision technology is widely available, and ­growing ­competition makes it more ­affordable every day.

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As forward-facing sonar, aka live sonar, from brands such as Garmin and Lowrance takes over freshwater bass fishing, some anglers forget that the company that introduced this technology was Humminbird. Now Humminbird has stepped up its game with a new generation of FFS—Mega Live 2—along with a new series of compatible multifunction displays.

Mega Live 2 features enhanced clarity and a more stable view versus the previous Humminbird forward-facing-sonar ­system. It offers improved real-time lure tracking, enhanced target ­separation, and optimized color choices. You can call up any one of 15 vibrant color palettes, each designed to improve visibility in varying water and light conditions.

“With Mega Live 2, Humminbird’s ­live-imaging technology now exceeds angler expectations, delivering the ­clarity, detail, bait tracking, and target separation needed to make the most of every cast,” says Braeden Harris, Humminbird brand manager.  

Mega Live 2 offers three viewing modes—Down, Forward, and Landscape—to allow anglers to scan different areas around the boat. The TargetBoost function in Mega Live 2 boosts brightness and contrast, making suspended fish and bait stand out more clearly in open water. Mega Live 2 sonar operates on a single frequency in the 1 MHz range, and is compatible with Humminbird’s Apex, Solis G3 and the latest series, Xplore.

Read Next: Humminbird Mega Live Hand Control

Boasting the best features of Humminbird’s Helix series, the new Xplore series of MFDs integrates seamlessly with Mega Live 2. Xplore displays feature a simpler user interface, Cross Touch control, improved waypoint management, and built-in Lakemaster and Coastmaster with mapping of 13,000 US and ­Canadian lakes, 170 million acres of coastal waters, and SmartStrike for real-time fish ­activity predictions.

A powerful quad-core processor and customizable side buttons allow anglers to quickly access critical features. Available in 9-, 10- and 12-inch ­models, Xplore integrates with the ­One-Boat Network for control of systems such as compatible Minn Kota trolling motors, as well as Mega Live 2. Xplore starts at $1,299.99; Mega Live 2 sonar starts at $1,499.99; humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com.

The post Humminbird Mega Live 2 and Xplore MFDs appeared first on Boating Mag.

Humminbird Mega Live 2 and Xplore MFDs

Humminbird’s new Xplore displays feature Cross Touch control, improved waypoint management, Lakemaster and Coastmaster mapping, and a simpler user interface. A powerful quad-core processor and customizable side buttons allow anglers to quickly access critical features. Available in 9-, 10- and 12-inch models, Xplore offers seamless integration with the One-Boat Network for control of systems such as compatible Minn Kota trolling motors, as well as the new Humminbird Mega Live 2 forward-facing sonar system featuring improved clarity, target separation, stability and lure tracking. Mega Live 2 also features 15 color palettes to enhance fish detection. Xplore starts at $1,299.99; Mega Live starts at $1,499.99; humminbird​.johnsonoutdoors.com

Shakespeare Comm-Light VHF Antenna

Here’s something truly new in VHF antennas—the Comm-Light illuminated CL-6 antenna from Shakespeare Marine. Lighting includes the full RGB spectrum and pulsating modes with adjustable patterns and speeds to give your boat a colorful flair and enhance the visibility of your vessel at night. It also includes multiple presets. Easy to install, the 6.5-foot, 6-decible antenna mounts on a standard ratchet mount (1-inch diameter—14 threads per inch) and includes a 15-foot RG-58 coax cable with a PL-259 connector. There’s also 25-foot 12-volt power cable for the lighting system, which is controlled via the Shakespeare Comm-Light mobile app. $269.99; shakespeare-marine.com

Koden Sirius 12 Stabilized Binoculars

Koden has entered the gyrostabilized binoculars market with the new Sirius 12 featuring electronic stabilization. These compact yet ruggedly built binoculars are manufactured in Japan using quality optics and internal electronic components. Powerful 12x magnification is ideal for spotting boats, dangerous obstacles, breaking fish, diving birds, weed lines and more. The Sirius 12’s built-in six-axis electronic gyro-sensor isolates the binoculars from the rocking and rolling motion of the boat. The IPX7-waterproof binoculars feature an easy-to-grip textured surface and an oil-repellent coating to protect the eyepiece and objective ­lenses. One AA alkaline battery provides 12 hours of operation. $699; si-tex.com/koden  

FLIR Ocean Scout Pro Scope

The Scout Pro handheld thermal-imaging scope provides a 500-meter detection range and a 32-degree field of view to enhance nighttime boating ­safety. A one-finger button controls zoom, brightness, standby and more. It records photos and videos, and integrates a wireless app to manage and transfer files. It sports an IP67 rating, and the battery lasts for six hours on a single charge. Viewing palettes include White Hot that displays warmer objects in white and cooler objects in black. A Grayscale palette creates images with realistic details. The Black Hot palette displays warmer objects as black and cooler objects as white. Sepia applies a golden hue to the White Hot palette for reduced eye fatigue. $2,395; flir.com

Siren 3 Connected Boat System

Siren Marine’s compact new Siren 3 Connected Boat security, monitoring, control and maintenance system is designed for small to midsize outboard-­powered boats, such as bay boats and flats skiffs. The Siren Connected Boat app allows boating anglers to monitor and control onboard systems from anywhere and at any time. Siren 3 supports up to six wireless sensors through SirenWave, a proprietary communication protocol that brings a fast, reliable and secure connection. It also features a new internal-­antenna design, which reduces the amount of space needed on smaller boats. It can connect to the NMEA 2000 network and the Yamaha CommandLink network through mechanical engines 300 hp and down. It will be available in spring 2025. Starting at $299; sirenmarine.com

Furuno TZTouch XL MFDs

Furuno’s new TZtouchXL series includes five sizes with unique new features. Boating anglers have the ability to purchase and download the new TZ Maps electronic charts for the areas and the data format they desire directly from the MFD with an internet connection. They can also make their own updates to charted objects. The charts include BathyVision with bottom-contour resolution three times more detailed than other bathymetric charts. When networked with a Furuno DRS radar, TZtouchXL MFDs offer Risk Visualizer, with a 360-degree representation of potential collision risks, and AI Avoidance Route that provides safe routing around those hazards. The 10-inch TZT10X and 13-inch TZT13X incorporate multitouch with Furuno’s RotoKey control knob and dedicated soft-touch keys. The all-glass 16-inch TZT16X, 22-inch TZT22X and 24-inch TZT24X boast super-wide touchscreen displays. $2,595 to $11,995; furunousa.com        

Garmin Marine Cameras

Garmin’s new GC 245 and GC 255 marine cameras features on-screen distance markers and guidance lines to provide enhanced visibility from the helm during low-speed maneuvers, such as docking in close quarters. Both full HD cameras deliver multiple views—including standard, wide-angle FishEye and overhead Bird’s Eye view—directly to a compatible Garmin multifunction display. Each utilizes digital zoom to take a closer look at a specific area of interest or pan around the field of view to focus on anything within sight. Rugged and weatherproof, these cameras have an IPX7 waterproof rating. $699.99 for the surface-mount GC 245, $999.99 for the flush-mount GC 255; garmin.com/marine.com

Recon Trolling Motors From Lowrance and Simrad

New saltwater trolling motors from Lowrance and Simrad share the same model name—Recon—and possess the same design, including a brushless motor that operates on either 24 to 36 volts and produces 90 and 115 pounds of thrust, respectively. These manually deployed, electric-steered trolling motors boast a unique joystick remote called Freesteer. Incorporating a color LCD display, the remote is lightweight and wearable, providing 360 degrees of manual steering, as well as activation of automatic functions, including GPS-guided virtual anchoring.  system that holds boats within a 3-foot radius. Available in 54-, 60-, and 72-inch shaft lengths. Starting at $3,499; lowrance.com or simrad-yachting.com

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