Front & Side-scanning Sonar, new Thermal Cameras, and Remote Monitoring Apps increase confidence and comfort.

Upgrades to your boat’s electronics can really improve the boating experience for you and your crew. From what we’ve seen at this past winter’s boat shows and the manufacturer’s training seminars we’ve attended, the new electronics this season ratchet up the vivid visuals, bells and whistles and ease of use while also delivering another welcome benefit not generally associated with cutting-edge electronics:  lower price points.

We’ve been specifying, installing and servicing boat electronics systems for more than a decade; and most of us have been around boats (and boat electronics) since we could tie our own boat shoes. With all modesty, we’ve seen more than our fair share of fishfinders, multi-function displays, transducers and radar towers. As such, we’ve become experts at helping our customers make decisions about the right systems for their needs and then installing those systems so they keep operating with efficiency and accuracy.

The advice we’re giving customers this season:  if you’ve been putting off electronics upgrades, now is the time to pull the trigger. It seems that every manufacturer has rolled out new offerings which deliver cutting-edge technology priced to be more affordable than ever. Here are some of the new offerings we think boat owners should consider to greatly enhance the enjoyment and performance they get from their marine electronics systems:

Garmin PanOptix™ All-seeing Sonar – if you are an angler or diver, Garmin’s latest front- and side-seeing sonar is the next best thing to being on the bottom. Unlike most recreational sonar which display a history of what’s been scanned, PanOptix provides real-time views all around your boat in vivid 3-D. In LiveVu mode, you can actually see your lure or bait and watch as the fish attack it. In RealVu 3D Forward, you get detailed views of the seabed, structure and schooling fish before you arrive on top of it.  Whether cruising or fishing, PanOptix transducers are available in Forward and Down configurations with mounting styles to suit your boating needs.

Simrad NSS evo3 – the latest multifunction display from Simrad is packed with features which will satisfy even the most demanding sportfishing enthusiast. The wide-screen, SolarMAX™ HD displays in this line deliver exceptional clarity and wide viewing angles. The built-in smartphone monitoring and tablet control extend the displays reach beyond the helm and the all-weather TouchSensible™ touchscreen provides usability across all conditions. Anglers will find the integrated echosounder with dual-channel CHIRP, ForwardScan® sonar, and StructureScan® HD imaging puts them on top of more fish quickly while boaters of all stripes will enjoy easier trip planning with TripIntel™ technology and instrument interaction via the customizable WheelKey feature.

FLIR Thermal Camera – Drawing on decades of experience building combat-proven thermal imagers for militaries, Coast Guards, and governmental agencies around the world, the latest FLIR M-Series pan/tilt has redefined maritime multi-sensor thermal visioning systems. These new systems deliver up to 640×480 thermal imaging and provide four-times the thermal resolution and twice the range performance compared to other systems. What’s more, design innovations and cost reduction engineering mean you can get these systems for a fraction of what similar products would cost just two seasons ago. Paired with a high-quality multi-function display such as new Raymarine’s AXIOM model, this combination will deliver the confidence and comfort required to boat at night or in other compromised visibility conditions.

Nautic Alert Platform – Unless you are a liveaboard, the time you spend away from your boat is occasionally interrupted by that nagging thought:  is everything OK at the marina? The Nautic Alert Platform was designed to provide convenient 24-hour onboard monitoring of critical systems on your vessel:  bilge level, battery state and physical location. It does this via real-time data processing, data analysis, event detection, system control and decision-making, all of which are communicated in real-time to your mobile phone or tablet. Winner of the 2017 Sail Magazine Pitmann Innovation award, the Nautic Alert Platform delivers peace-of-mind in a simple and easy-to-use owners experience.

These are just some of the new Marine Electronics offerings for 2017. To help you get into the latest gear, we are right now offering complimentary upgrade consultations. In addition, for a limited time we are offering a $100 credit on the purchase of any marine electronics component you hire us to install.

Please contact us if you’d like additional information or to arrange for a visit to your boat.