Welcome to the second-annual Best Elex Awards, which honors standout marine electronics products that have been reviewed and approved by the editorial team behind the four leading titles in marine media: Boating, Yachting, Cruising World and Salt Water Sportsman. Over the course of two months, the nominees were evaluated by our team of seven judges, including the editors-in-chief and electronics editors of the aforementioned brands. In the end, six products set themselves apart. And the winners are:

• Editors’ Choice: Raymarine Cyclone – Shop now
• Leading Edge Technology: Garmin SurroundView
• Best Integrated System: Raymarine YachtSense
• Most Innovative for Sailing: Balmar Battery Monitoring
• Most Innovative for Power: Yamaha Battery Management System
• Best in Entertainment: Garmin Apollo

Editors’ Choice: Raymarine Cyclone

What the judges said: “While the open-array grabs your attention first, the Raymarine Cyclone radar backs up its stylish design with a high level of functionality that includes excellent target definition, great power, Doppler target tracking, an advanced dual-range feature, highly effective bird mode, a high-RPM setting and more.” 

The next-level design and the ability to weather the toughest conditions stood out to the judges as premier features of Raymarine’s Cyclone. This radar series sports a radical look that resembles an aircraft wing, a relatively thin array design made possible by using dielectric radar technology. But there’s much more to highlight. Advanced post-processing removes sea and rain clutter and replicates chart-like radar images. Anglers should appreciate the enhanced bird mode, which is surprisingly effective since Cyclone is a chirp-pulse-compression, solid-state radar versus a high-powered magnetron. The Cyclone also fits a wider range of vessels because of its size. The smallest version — a 3-foot open array — measures only 13.2 inches tall and weighs 51 pounds. Because of Cyclone’s low-profile, it can perform at wind speeds up to 100 knots, compared with 70 knots for competitors — important for 70 mph offshore boats. Cyclone is also available in 4- or 6-foot arrays and with a 55-watt (equivalent to a 6 kW magnetron) or 110-watt (12 kW-equivalent) pedestal. The array spins at variable speeds from 6 to 60 rpm; at its fastest, the radar gives captains immediate awareness of their surroundings. Cyclones also come with three-color Doppler technology, a 96-mile range, and RangeFusion, which combines short- and long-range pulses into a single image. Prices range from $6,999.99 to $9,749.99. 

Leading Edge Technology: Garmin Surround View

What the judges said: “Surround View allows the captain more confidence while docking, even if there’s no second crew member (and, maybe, even if there is) to eyeball the blind distance between the swim platform and the bulkhead or between the anchor chute and the boat tied up just ahead.”

Docking can be a harrowing experience, but Garmin’s Surround View Camera System minimizes that anxiety and boosts boater confidence. The judging panel agreed that this product is a game-changer when it comes to giving captains a clear view of their surroundings in crowded marinas and harbors. One look at Surround View’s 360-degree bird’s-eye imagery shows you the innovation. The judges applauded Garmin for taking docking awareness to a new level. How does it do this? The system uses six flush-mounted 1080p cameras mounted at the bow, aft, and amidships port and starboard. Surround View then creates a full overhead stitched image with 360-degree, real-time video, and feeds it directly to compatible Garmin chart plotters or multifunction displays. Captains can view one or two cameras simultaneously with the bird’s-eye image, and even zoom in and pan around with individual camera views. Surround View also provides a number of augmented-reality features, including a visual bumper and distance markers. Available as an OEM option on new boats only.

Best Integrated System: Raymarine YachtSense

What the judges said: “Raymarine has come up with a system of electric control Legos, if you will, that allows builders to jump into the digital-switching era using off-the-shelf modules that can be expanded as necessary.”

Simple. Easy. Redundancy. Scalable and customizable: All of the judges characterized Raymarine’s YachtSense digital-switching system as a remarkably common-sense approach to cleanly managing ship’s systems such as lighting, pumps, windlasses, entertainment systems, generators and air conditioning. Each YachtSense system begins with master and power-supply modules; additional multichannel signal modules can be added based on needs — like colored-coded Legos. In addition, YachtSense delivers electrical redundancy. The master module features an integrated keypad for manual override, as well as an LCD screen for system diagnostics. And perhaps best yet: YachtSense offers a scalable and customizable design that’s suitable for boats as small as 35 feet. Captains monitor and control YachtSense with a Raymarine Axiom touchscreen multifunction display. Pricing varies depending on the number of integrated systems and scope of the installation.

Most Innovative for Sailing: Balmar SG230/235 Battery Monitor

What the judges said: “Balmar’s SC230/235 battery monitors give boaters significant insight into the real-time health and state of charge of their battery banks from a variety of dedicated or wireless displays.”

The fact that captains can access battery information with Balmar’s monitors by using an app on a smartphone creates tremendous appeal for sailors who don’t always want to run a chart plotter to check their power supply. The judges also liked the products’ ability to monitor lithium batteries, which is unique to the market. But don’t consider this just a sailboat win; powerboaters also appreciate the SG230 and SG235. With NMEA 2000 networking capability, the monitors can push accurate information on a deep-cycle house bank—such as state of charge and voltage—to any multifunction display. Over time, these smart monitors actually learn from the batteries, allowing the SG230/235 to examine a broader parameter called state of health. Captains can then see how their battery bank ages over time. The SG230 comes with a color display and costs $329; the SG235, without display, costs $239.

Most Innovative for Power: Yamaha Battery Management System

What the judges said: “Yamaha’s new battery management system simplifies rigging, saves money, reduces weight and facilitates easier service of multi-outboard-powered boats, proving once again that less is more.”

Yes, the judges noted a theme throughout this year’s new products: a focus on making everyone’s life—from the boater to the builder—easier. Yamaha even has a philosophy tied to this trend called CommandBlue, designed to deliver products that are easier to use and create greater satisfaction and confidence on the water. The judges felt that Yamaha’s Battery Management System delivered. The most impressive feature they noted was the system’s ability to start up to five outboards with just two starter batteries (without the system, each engine would need a starter battery). The BMS constantly monitors and charges all batteries but it prioritizes the starting batteries, ensuring their readiness. Boaters can then add more house batteries to power their ever-growing list of accessories. Captains can also turn on or off the batteries from up to 15 feet away using a key fob or they can use a console-mounted switch. The estimated retail price for the system is $2,200. Note that BMS is only compatible with Yamaha’s digital-electronic-control outboards on vessels that employ Yamaha’s Helm Master EX.

Read Next: More Marine Electronics

Best in Entertainment: Fusion Apollo Series Amplifiers

What the judges said: “More impressive than a moonshot, Apollo amps ease installation and setup of marine audio amplifiers.”

Most amplifiers must be manually tuned, often by a dealer or technician, so that they can produce clear, quality sound. But Fusion’s new Apollo Series Amplifiers eliminate all that. The judges felt that tune-free functionality was ground-breaking. Here’s how it works: Captains wirelessly connect to their mobile device and open the Fusion-Link app. There, they select the relevant audio profile for their vessel. The amps, enclosed in white, powder-coated-aluminum casings, exclusively pair with Fusion Digital Signal Processing enabled stereos. They feature 150 W RMS per channel and a high-power mode, and come in 1-, 4-, 6- and 8-channel options. Prices range from $179.99 to $949.99.

The post Bonnier Best Electronics Awards 2022 appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Welcome to the inaugural Best Elex Awards, which honors standout marine electronics products that have been reviewed and approved by the editorial team behind the four leading titles in marine media: Boating, Yachting, Cruising World and Salt Water Sportsman. Over the course of two months, the nominees were evaluated by our team of eight judges, including the editors-in-chief and electronics editors of the aforementioned brands. In the end, seven products set themselves apart. And the winners are:

• Editors’ Choice: Raymarine Axiom+
• Leading Edge Technology: Furuno NavNet TZTouch3 9F
• Best Integrated System: Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv
• Most Innovative for Sailing: Airmar DST 810
• Best in Entertainment: Rockford Fosgate 12-inch Color Optix M2 Subwoofers
• Most Innovative for Power: Dometic Optimus Outboard Electric Steering Actuator
• Best in Communication: Standard Horizon GX2400 Matrix

Editors’ Choice: Raymarine Axiom+

Raymarine’s Axiom+ multifunction displays replace the company’s original Axiom line in 7-, 9-, and 12-inch-display models. The plus units integrate a quad-core processor, multi-channel sonar views (including RealVision 3D), and augmented-reality navigation, and include up to 16 GB of onboard data storage. All displays employ in-plane switching for better, brighter viewing along with the company’s HydroTough treatment to repel water and oils. Axiom+ models start at $749.

What the judges said: “These units have more memory than your mother-in-law. They run a multitude of apps, using an intuitive GUI ripped from a smart TV, and, thanks to WiFi, no pulling radar cable through pipework. What’s not to like?”

Leading Edge Technology: Furuno NavNet TZTouch3 9F

Furuno responded to customer requests for a smaller version of its TZTouch3 technology, introduced last February, by delivering the 9F, a 9-inch IPS display for tighter helms and second stations. The hybrid-control TZT9F features a quad-core processor, 256 GB memory card built into the system, a built-in 1kW, single-channel TruEcho CHIRP Fish Finder, and a traditional 50/200kHz RezBoost Fish Finder. The MFD comes with a PIN-code lock feature and is also compatible with a wide array of Furuno peripherals, including radar, autopilot, VHF, and black-box sonars. The TZT9F costs $2,995.

What the judges said: “This smaller version of the TZTouch3 delivers so many of the best features of its bigger brothers. The edge-swiping interface, in particular, puts all of your most-important functions within quick reach. The built-in 1 kW chirp that’s frequency agile is a big plus for anglers, as is the ability to lock the MFD with a passcode.”

Best Integrated System: Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv

Garmin’s new GPSMAP 1243xsv multifunction display surpasses its predecessor, the 1242, with edge-to-edge glass, an IPS display, higher resolution, better scanning sonar and more. Garmin says it has now brought those premium features—indicative of its 8600 series—to mid-level consumers. The 1kW chirp unit incorporates all of Garmin’s sonar capabilities such as LiveScope, SideVu, and ClearVu. The 1243 can be flush-mounted in the same space as a 1242 with a retrofit kit. The 1243xsv costs $2,899.

What the judges said: “Garmin’s new 1243xsv combines popular, SideVu, ClearVu and chirp sonar all in one device with no black boxes. In addition, they’ve upgraded the screen for brighter, sharper resolution and made the device networkable to integrate with NMEA 2000 connected engines and all other Garmin products.”

Most Innovative for Sailing: Airmar DST 810

Airmar’s DST810 Smart Multisensor makes calibrating accurate speed a simple process. The unit features an integrated attitude sensor, as well, for logging heel and trim data. With the free CAST app, boaters won’t need expensive PC software to provide heel-compensated speed across multiple heel angles and speed ranges. The 5 Hz output delivers unrivaled speed for making quick decisions on the water. The sensor, which also measures depth and water temperature—to a tenth of a degree—accommodates hull angles of up to 22 degrees and costs $399.

What the judges said: “Airmar sensors are used extensively by sailing instruments, which means the new sensor can easily replace older ones. The ability to self-calibrate and ‘see’ down to the bottom when measuring depth is a great benefit, especially for sailboats that often have curved hull forms. The ability to correct for heel and calibrate speed accordingly is of great value to racing sailors, but also to navigation, since speed through the water is used to calculate current, true wind speed and other critical sailing data.”

Best in Entertainment: Rockford Fosgate 12-inch Color Optix M2 Subwoofers

Rockford Fosgate has introduced 12-inch Color Optix Subwoofers for its M2 line of Element Ready sound technology. The subwoofers come in two types — infinite baffle, which provides more strength in the cone — and sealed options for smaller enclosures. Available in black, white, black with stainless insert or white with stainless insert, the subs can be customized by connecting an optional Color Optix Controller and RF Connect App that allows selection of various light colors and patterns. The 12-inch M2s cost $449.

What the judges said: “The M2 subwoofer’s customizable LED colors let users personalize their audio experience. With the ability to pump out up to 1600 watts of power, a lack of volume should never be an issue.”

Most Innovative for Power: Dometic Optimus Outboard Electric Steering Actuator

Dometic’s Optimus Outboard Electric Steering Actuator delivers full power-steering functionality with auto-adjustable parameters to any conventional outboard. The actuator, electronic helm display and harness install quickly without the need for hoses, oil or purging. The system also integrates with joystick control, SeaStation (position hold), SeaWays (Dometic autopilot), and third-party autopilots. This actuator employs a compact brushless DC motor and a unique roller screw that produces enough power to push even the heaviest outboards. Two engines require two actuators; triple- or quad-outboard setups also employ two actuators with additional tie-bars. Price for a single-engine system is $5,700, about 15 percent higher than equivalent electro-hydraulic systems.

What the judges said: “The new Optimus electric steering system brings marine-steering technology into the 21st century.”

Best in Communication: Standard Horizon GX2400 Matrix

Standard Horizon’s GX2400 Matrix VHF radio replaces earlier GX220 products; it offers an internal, 66-channel WAAS GPS receiver; NMEA 2000 networkability; a wireless (or wired) full-functioning, second-station RAM mic; and an AIS receiver. Anglers can employ the voice scrambler to send encrypted messages to fishing buddies. The fixed-mount radio costs $449.99.

Read Next: More Top Marine Electronics for Boating

What the judges said: “Standard Horizon’s GX2400 is a feature-heavy VHF base-station radio that delivers mic expandability and NMEA 2000 compatibility at a budget-conscious price point.”

The post Best Electronics Awards 2021 appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Updating your electronics software will make you rich!

How’s that for a misleading sales pitch? But I think we need the exaggeration in this case.

Clearly, when many anglers hear the phrase — “update your software” — their eyes glaze over. So let me entice you with a juicy promise: If you update your electronics system regularly, you will unlock hidden treasures you never knew you needed.

Like what?

Well, if you’re a Garmin owner, you can enable high-resolution relief shading. If you run a Raymarine unit, you can get a fish-detection alarm and day/night colorization. And that just scratches the surface. The wealth can be staggering.

Read Next: Electronics Tricks of the Trade

To top it off, the updating process could not be simpler today. All you have to do is initiate. To explain why and how to update software, we asked the manufacturers to answer a Q&A. Here are their answers alphabetically by brand.

Furuno

Q: How often do you offer software updates?

A: Furuno usually updates light marine product software bi-annually, but there’s no set schedule.

Q: What are some of the most recent features you’ve added?

A: Right now, Furuno is excited to be offering a massive free upgrade and new user interface for our TZtouch2 multifunction display (MFD) product line. We are adding fantastic new fishing features like a dedicated Event Mark button that is also a gateway to a new feature called Furuno “Catch.” Catch allows customers to save events as fish marks and adds fish information such as size and weight to an event mark that is logged into the MFD and then automatically logged into a personal secure website when combined with a new free app called Furuno First Mate. First Mate is compatible with Android and iOS platforms and allows customer to record images of the fish they catch and save them to the cloud. Furuno has also gone a step further, including a new welcome page and new user interface. Check out the tutorial video below.

Q: What’s the easiest process for downloading and updating your software, and how much does it cost?

A: When the MFD is connected to the internet (using a smartphone hotspot or a router at a marina or on the vessel), the system will alert the boat owner when an update is available. Then, the software downloads directly to the MFD from the cloud. The boater can also check periodically on the furunousa.com website and download a dedicated upgrade file that can be saved to a memory card and then plugged into the MFD. The update method you can choose depends on the size and nature of the update. The current upgrade updates the operating system as well as features. For this, downloading a file to a memory card is necessary for safety and security. Furuno does not charge for software updates to existing product.

Q: What advice would you share with readers on how often and why they should update?

A: In most updates, new features, improvements and bug fixes are introduced.

Garmin

Q: How often do you offer software updates?

A: Garmin does quarterly software updates that include new features and performance enhancements that are offered at no charge to the consumer.

Q: What are some of the most recent features you’ve added?

A: I would say the most important feature we’ve had in quite some time is the Pin Code feature rolled out in early May. It locks and unlocks the display to help prevent unauthorized use of the unit. That has been a hot topic for years, and Garmin listened to customer feedback to improve our product and customer experience. We also continue to improve our sonar quality through testing. Some other important features we have released for saltwater anglers are software enhancements but they do require the purchase of a new product. Enabling High Resolution Relief Shading on BlueChart g3 Vision requires a card but the plotter must be updated with the newest software in order to see the content. Fish Mapping from SiriusXM with the GXM 54 receiver is another phenomenal fishing tool that has been added recently.

Q: What’s the easiest process for downloading and updating your software, and how much does it cost?

A: The ActiveCaptain app is by far the easiest way. We send out a notice over the app that says when new software is available. You can use your phone or your tablet to update your units. The app will check for new software updates, and if there is a new version, it will download it while you are on Wi-Fi so that it doesn’t eat up your air time, then when it pairs with the unit, it pushes the new update over Wi-Fi. You can also go the manual route and download the latest update from Garmin.com and save it to an SD card and then manually load it into the machine. (As noted above, the updates are free.)

Q: What advice would you share with readers on how often and why they should update?

A: We recommend updating software every time a new version is available. We are continuously adding new features and performance enhancements. As with all software, there’s potential for bugs so if we find those, we correct them and issue an update. Making sure you have the latest version of software ensures that your units run efficiently and that the user gets the optimal experience. We also continue to add support from other vendors such as FLIR, Yamaha and Optimus. Who doesn’t like better or more features for free? 

Raymarine

Q: How often do you offer software updates?

A: We try to update our LightHouse 3 operating system quarterly, though sometimes the increment is slightly longer depending on just how many new features are inside. Quality Assurance is a large part of every software release, so we’ll let the “quarterly update” interval extend if we need to, because it’s essential that the software update works correctly. 

Q: What are some of the most recent features you’ve added?

A: If you’re not updating regularly, you are missing out on lots of capabilities. Here are some recent additions that benefit anglers. Note, if you miss a release, simply download and install the latest and you’ll be 100 percent caught up.

· Fish Detection Alarm – Audible and visible alerts of fish in the water column, with customized icons, depth and range targeting

· System Day and Night Colorization – Axiom has selectable day and night-time system-wide color palettes, perfect for night fishing.  Charts, radar, sonar and more all respond to day or night selections.

· Fishidy Sync – Sync waypoints and catches between Axiom and the Fishidy Mobile App. Fishidy is a waterway-based community fishing app that lets you log catches, see local activity, and interact with other anglers.

· Dual-Streaming Video from FLIR cameras. View both the visible and thermal images from your compatible FLIR M300, 400 or 500-series camera on your Axiom LightHouse 3 display.

· Yamaha Command Link Engine Display – Yamaha’s official, certified display on Axiom.

· Fishfinder Pinch-to-Zoom and Swipe to Range Shift

· Radar sector blanking – Create “no transmit” zones in your radar to protect crew or sensitive devices.

Q: What’s the easiest process for downloading and updating your software, and how much does it cost?

A: Raymarine emails customers who have registered their products when new features are available. Anglers can also use the check-online menu on the display anytime. Then, the easiest way to update is to use Axiom’s onboard Wi-Fi to connect to the internet. Simply link your Axiom to a nearby Wi-Fi Hotspot or your mobile phone.  On Axiom, open the settings menu and choose “update software.” Axiom will update not only itself, but all of your other Raymarine gear it detects on the network — other MFDs, autopilot components, radar scanners, sonar black boxes, transducers, GPS sensors, AIS transceivers, SiriusXM receivers, instrument displays, VHF radios and more. If they need an update, Axiom will notify you, download the latest, and install it. In the event you don’t have internet access at your dock, you can download the latest update on raymarine.com, transfer it to a microSD card and plug it into Axiom. Updates are free.

Q: What advice would you share with readers on how often and why they should update?

A: At the very least, boaters should check at the start of their boating season to see if there is anything new. Our updates always have new features and capabilities, so that alone is normally reason to upgrade. Additionally, we do fix bugs and do other optimizations to keep the MFD and its sensors running fast and smooth. Some great examples of features added via software update include:

• Augmented Reality
• AIS and Radar danger area predictions.
• Axiom UAV app integration with the DJI Mavic series drones

Simrad

Q: How often do you offer software updates?

A: Simrad’s goal is to produce software updates once a quarter for its displays. This is not always the case, but that is the general rule of thumb.

Q: What are some of the most recent features you’ve added?

A: In a June software release, Simrad added new features such as support for Fish Mapping data from SiriusXM, C-Map Embark passage planner sync, NMEA 2000 update capability for Mercury VesselView Link, Naviop performance improvements, and accessory control of Lowrance Ghost freshwater trolling motor and Rhodan trolling motors.

Q: What’s the easiest process for downloading and updating your software, and how much does it cost?

A: The majority of displays are WiFi capable and that is by far the easiest way to update software. To make things easier, push notifications are sent to the MFD to let boaters know that an update is available. The updates are free.

Q: What advice would you share with readers on how often and why they should update?

A: Aside from the obvious being the updates often deliver advanced functionality to benefit boaters and anglers, the other critical reason is that the majority of tech support calls are the result of someone not running the latest software. It is important to know that the software updates are not always just for the MFD. Many times, the software is actually updating a connected device like a sonar module or a radar or an AIS. 

The post Get Rich Quick with Electronics Software Updates appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Raymarine has introduced new Axiom+ multifunction displays, which will replace the company’s original Axiom line. Along with the upgraded units, Raymarine also debuted its own new proprietary LightHouse Charts that can be maximized with an add-on Premium subscription.

Available in 7-, 9-, and 12-inch models, the Axiom+ features a quad-core processor and ultra-bright IPS screen (25 percent brighter than previous models). Raymarine has also introduced a HydroTough coating to the new displays to repel water and oils as well as deliver improved touch control.

Axiom+ comes with four built-in sonar channels, including RealVision 3D, and an ultra-sensitive 10 Hz GPS/GNSS receiver for more accurate positioning. The units will employ the latest operating system — Lighthouse 3.12 OS Dartmouth — which includes new fonts and graphics, fish alarms, a distance ruler and an edge-swipe menu for audio controls.

Prices for the 7-inch display start at $749; 9-inch Axiom+ models start at $1,099, and 12-inch versions start at $2,499. Retail sales begin today.

The networkable Axiom+ units feature increased onboard storage (up to 16 GB) and can display Navionics and C-MAP charts as well as Raymarine’s new LightHouse Charts, created using official hydrographic sources. Designed for both recreational and professional applications, the charts allow captains to switch between a more stark government-style presentation and a more feature-flush leisure view.

The new charts also come with four flexible color modes for day, dusk, night and “super day” (ultra-bright conditions). Users can also adjust the size of channel markers and other icons on the screen for easier viewing. For anglers, Raymarine employs its Fishing Hot Spots data to provide 1-foot depth contour lines. Those who want to make their own contour charts can use RealBathy personal sonar mapping.

To access continuous chart updates, expanded points of interest and enhanced satellite imagery, captains can option up to a LightHouse Premium subscription. Benefits include high-resolution views of shorelines and shallows, a rich index of POIs, and the ability to update and purchase charts as well as sync premium content with Axiom units via the free RayConnect mobile app.

LightHouse Charts come preloaded on new Axiom+ displays. The maps will be available for purchase in the third quarter at raymarine.com/marine-charts. Chart prices start at $79; a North American bundle will cost $149.99 and comes with 12 months of Premium for free. (After the first year, an annual Premium subscription costs $99.99.)

The post Raymarine Rolls Out Axiom+ Displays and LightHouse Charts appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Every angler on the ocean grapples with electronics questions, whether it’s how to take a screen grab or how to update software. To resolve some of the most common queries anglers pose, I asked electronics makers to walk us through how to perform important functions on their multifunction displays.

The topics they chose range from how to mark and save waypoints and switch between radar modes to logging your catch and creating customized screens.

Furuno

Furuno introduced the third generation NavNet TZtouch3 displays during this February’s Miami International Boat Show. We talked to company spokesman Jeff Kauzlaric about the changes Furuno made to its user interface to make it cutting edge.

“One of the things we did is fully utilize the edge-swiping feature where you go from either left to right, right to left, top to bottom, or bottom to top,” Kauzlaric says. “What ends up happening is you’re not going through a bunch of menus. Everything is a swipe and a tap away.”

The bottom-up screen swipe brings up a layers menu. To build a custom screen, you swipe from the top down. “It’s like a car’s stereo settings, you hold the button and set the station — or in this case, the screen — you want.” On the new units, you can choose six different screens.

The new system also gives users the option to program a brief tap with two fingers or a long tap with two fingers to function as a shortcut for taking a screen capture or similar actions. Another new convenience: If you have your screen split four ways and you put your finger on one window for a long hold, that window will go full-screen. Hold your finger on the screen again and it goes back to the four-way split.

Mark and Save Waypoints

Switch Between Radar Modes

Depth/Distance to Fish Target

Log Your Catch

Pin Code Lock

Garmin

Garmin’s interface has a reputation for ease of use. Here are five functions anglers commonly need and directions on how to access them.

Mark a Waypoint

Auto Guidance

Make a Combo Screen

Change Sonar Views

Autopilot Fishing Patterns

Raymarine

Raymarine has put a lot of effort into its LightHouse operating system, and its intuitive nature shows. Here are five commonly used functions on the company’s Axiom units.

Taking Screen Grabs

When you’re on the water and see something cool on your MFD, grab a screen capture that you can save for future reference or share on social media.

Creating Custom Layouts

Every Raymarine MFD ships with pre-configured tiles that show chart, fishfinder, sonar, video and other options. Once you get to know your system, you might want to create custom layouts that make it faster and easier to access the apps you use most.

Create Custom Contour Maps

Many inshore and coastal fisherman use detailed depth-contour information to home in on underwater structure that attracts fish. Though today’s charts are more detailed than ever before, you still see areas where the full definition of underwater structure has not been mapped. Navionics’ SonarChart Live and Raymarine’s RealBathy contour mapping can create underwater maps in real time, using your boat’s sonar and GPS. To use the Navionics system, you need to have a Navionics map card and a valid subscription. The Raymarine RealBathy system is free, and no map is needed. Just insert a microSD card in your unit to save the data it collects.

Night or Day Viewing Palettes

The latest update to Raymarine’s LightHouse 3 operating system now supports multiple color palettes that can be used to optimize the display for different lighting conditions. It changes the MFD’s menus and controls and also changes the colors of the Navionics or Raymarine LightHouse navigation charts.

Updating Software

Although many anglers see it as a chore, updating software regularly unlocks all kinds of new functions, and in most cases, costs you nothing. Raymarine has made it easy to keep its MFDs and their supporting components up to date. Using a Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot, connect your Raymarine MFD to the internet and it will do the rest.

The post Electronics Tricks of the Trade appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Raymarine DockSense

Today, a growing number of automobiles with ­parking- assistance ­technology are sliding into parking spots on streets around the world. Such systems, usually offered as optional, help drivers put cars into tight spaces with little or no input to the steering wheel, and no scrapes or dents. The technology has become so common that U.S. News & World Report published a list of the 20 best self-parking cars last year.

Now, similar ­technology is finding its way into ­power boats. One has emerged in a prototype system developed between FLIR/Raymarine and Mercury Marine aboard a Boston Whaler 330 Outrage with twin Mercury 300 Verado outboards. FLIR/Raymarine has also developed an inboard prototype in conjunction with Prestige Yachts. The system aboard the Prestige 460 works with twin diesel engines and pod drives.

At the same time, Volvo Penta is evaluating a ­proprietary self-docking system in a 68-foot yacht, powered by twin Volvo Penta diesel inboards with IPS pod drives.

All of these systems tie into the boats’ joystick controls, and all promise to automate the task of parking a boat in a tight spot without suffering drama, dings or dock rash.

Autonomous Approach
Volvo Penta is pioneering true self-docking ­capabilities. Its automated system uses an onboard, electronic ­vessel-control system, which computes steering and drive calculations in relation to the boat’s actual position, and four sensors sited on the intended berth, according to Volvo. That means it works only at docks fitted with those sensors.

As the boat nears its berth, the system recognizes that it has entered a “catch zone” and sends out a signal to the helmsman that it’s ready to dock. Once the captain activates the self-docking function on the joystick control, the boat automatically moves into a “docking ready” position. Then the helmsman initiates the final self-­docking stage, allowing the system to use a combination of GPS and sensors (on board and at the berth) to dock the boat without contacting docks, pilings, seawalls or other boats, Volvo says.

If needed, the ­helmsman can pause the docking sequence, and the system will hold the boat stationary in the water, even in the face of wind and current. Volvo Penta has not yet announced when the system will be available or how much it will cost.

Docking Assistance
FLIR/Raymarine calls its assisted-docking system DockSense. It employs artificial intelligence to recognize hazards, and then augments a joystick low-speed control system to prevent the boat from banging into docks, seawalls and adjacent vessels.

Unlike the Volvo self-docking system, DockSense does not completely take over, and it doesn’t require sensors at the berth. “It uses onboard cameras and sensors that interface with the boat’s joystick system to ensure that the vessel enters the dock safely,” says Jim McGowan, marketing manager for FLIR/Raymarine. DockSense assists the captain by automatically applying steering corrections and directional engine thrust when it senses a rate of closure that might lead to contact, McGowan explains.

The technology behind DockSense relies on a network of FLIR machine-vision cameras. Each is equipped with two lenses that lend it three-­dimensional depth perception and the ability to measure distances up to 66 feet.

On a typical setup, such as the one on the Boston Whaler 330 Outrage that I tested, there are five onboard cameras: one each on the port and starboard bow areas, one each on the port and starboard hardtop areas, and one up high amidships facing aft.

In addition, the machine cameras are equipped with attitude- and heading-reference-system (AHRS) sensors, and they can communicate among themselves. Each camera can tell the others how it’s moving, McGowan says. The system also relies on GPS for speed sensing.

“All of the views overlap slightly, and the images are stitched together in a model for a 360-degree virtual view around the boat,” he explains. That view can be shown only on a Raymarine Axiom multifunction display.

Virtual Bumpers
Data is fed via Ethernet cables into the DockSense central processor, and then networked with the joystick-control system and Axiom MFD. Most important, DockSense allows you to set what Raymarine calls “virtual bumper” zones that generate an invisible collar around the boat. This lets you maintain a distance between the boat and hard targets of up to 10 feet.

“If the system detects a rate of ­closure that might lead to contact with an object, it adjusts to hold at the distance set for the virtual bumper,” McGowan explains. “It is not reactive, but rather very ­proactive in sensing trends.”

As configured aboard the 330 Outrage, DockSense returns the boat to neutral if you let go of the joystick. The system then maintains boat position and heading. All other joystick rules apply. If the joystick requires that the engines are trimmed down, for example, that would also be the case with DockSense. You can also turn it off.

Firsthand Experience
I had the chance to experience the DockSense system aboard the 330 Outrage during the 2019 Miami International Boat Show in February. In this specific setup, we turned on DockSense using a separate keypad. This function might be integrated into the joystick control in future versions.

Each of the four bumper zones can be set for a different distance. Arrows on the keypad light up green when the boat is outside the bumper zone, but will flash red as you get near a zone and stay red once you have reached it. Neither you nor wind nor current can move the boat past the bumper zone when the feature is activated.

The view of surrounding objects on the Axiom display (using the special DockSense app) looks very much like radar, with the boat image in the center. By keeping you posted on the boat’s relationship to the dock and other hazards, this engenders situational awareness and confidence.

Watch: Video: Mercury Marine’s Joystick Piloting

As the system sensed pending ­contact and applied corrections, I did not experience any last-minute ­application of violent thrust or sudden steering changes. The automatic corrections seemed subtle and gentle. To dock the boat, you can disengage DockSense and nudge the joystick for the final few feet.

FLIR/Raymarine hopes to make DockSense available later this year but has not yet put a firm date on its ­introduction or set pricing.

Whenever such systems reach ­boating customers, they will most certainly represent a major step closer to the development of a self-driving boat. Indeed, sources tell me that Mercury Marine is currently in pursuit of this goal. The age of autonomous boats might arrive sooner than you think.

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Using three FLIR machine-vision cameras, Axiom multifunction displays and video-analytic ­technology, Raymarine has developed DockSense, an assisted-docking system that works with outboard and inboard propulsion. The system creates a virtual bumper zone around the vessel that detects objects such as pilings or vessels, and then corrects steering or throttle to avoid collision. Raymarine has tested the system with Mercury Marine on an outboard-powered Boston Whaler as well as on an inboard-powered Prestige Yacht. Raymarine expects DockSense to be available before the end of the year. As a factory-installed option, pricing will be set by the boatbuilder.

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Raymarine’s new Element series of sonar/GPS units features RealVision 3D and new HyperVision 1.2 mHz chirp sonar technologies. The new 7-, 9- and 12-inch display models will come with quad-core processors and keypad controls. Elements will also employ Raymarine’s new RealBathy real-time sonar map-generator capability. The units cost $899.99 to $2,479.99 with an all-in-one transom-mount transducer and LightHouse NC2 charts with Fishing Hot Spots. A la carte prices and additional package pricing are available.

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Raymarine, Mercury Marine and Boston Whaler today demonstrated for media in Florida an assisted-docking system that was first announced by Raymarine earlier this month at an international boat show in Germany. The new DockSense system will also be on display Feb. 14-18 at the Miami International Boat Show.

DockSense uses a Virtual Bumper zone around the vessel to assist boat owners in tight-quarter docking. Camera sensors continuously monitor the vessel’s surroundings, keeping the system updated with real-time detection of objects like pilings or vessels. DockSense includes multiple FLIR machine vision cameras, a central processing module and an app running on Raymarine’s Axiom navigation display.

DockSense provides feedback to the Mercury Autonomous system to allow the boat’s joystick piloting setup to autonomously respond and ensure a smooth docking process. Integrating DockSense “is a natural next step for Mercury,” the outboard company said in a statement released today. More than a decade ago, Mercury introduced Zeus and Axius joystick-steering systems, and in 2013, Mercury debuted Joystick Piloting for Outboards (JPO). All three were developed as precursors to autonomous vessel control.

At the demonstration, which took place at a Mercury Marine testing facility in central Florida, DockSense was featured aboard a 33-foot Boston Whaler Outrage center console, rigged with twin Mercury Verado engines with JPO and with Mercury’s advanced piloting-assist system. This new system is a core technology based on the latest aerospace control systems and autonomous-car Artificial Intelligence, the company says.

While not in the market yet, Mercury’s autonomous system will support a variety of future uses for assisted and semi-autonomous functionality, as it can be integrated with sensors like cameras and lidar, a detection system that works on the principle of radar but uses light from a laser. The Florida demonstrations will be used to capture market feedback toward adoption and commercialization of these technologies.

Mercury Marine and Boston Whaler are brands owned by the Brunswick Corporation. Raymarine and FLIR are owned by FLIR Systems.

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FLIR Systems’ new Raymarine Axiom XL multifunction displays feature 16-, 19-, 22- and 24-inch sizes with edge-to-edge glass construction. They’re fully ­waterproof and employ in-plane switching technology for better visibility from all angles. XL units come with three Ethernet ports, native FLIR thermal-imaging-camera support, and HDMI input — which allows the XL to serve as a remote touchscreen PC or entertainment display. The quad-core processor delivers speed and power for networking; captains can choose multitouch screen control or Raymarine’s RMK-10 keypad control. Prices start at $6,799.99.

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