Essential Electronics

Modern marine electronics gives boaters all the information they need to venture out — what's the latest and greatest tech?

Beyond the essentials we regularly need to upgrade (such as 3D charting, weather routing, and navigation guidance), there are industry trends emerging that include: renewable power, electric propulsion, remote monitoring, system integration, consumer-style screens, and multiple connectivity protocols to name a few. Gone are the days of simply selling new black boxes.

In order to reduce reduce landfill, the big four — Garmin, Raymarine, Navico and Furuno — are increasingly offering software and even hardware upgrades. This latter trend was highlighted at the global gear show METSTRADE in November, where several environmental awards were given out as part of the prestigious DAME prizes. Clearly, there is a lot changing, but the essentials of navigation and communications remain at the core of upgrades, as highlighted here.

THE MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE

The multifunction device (MFD) is the epicentre of the boat, so it pays to update it regularly. This is the key product for the big four as it often defines what else can be installed. Increasing multi-functionality requires more processing power, so units like the current Raymarine Axiom Plus have quad processors and double the memory (8–16GB) of previous models. The touch screens, which are powered by its proprietary Lighthouse operating system, come in 7, 9, and 12in for flush mounting or standalone. The larger units show greater detail in their split screens, and are ideal for radar, sonar and AIS overlays. The latest Lighthouse Hvar 3.16 will even process yacht rigging stress data, supplied by third-party Cyclcops Marine load sensors.

An alternative to space-hungry larger screens, especially on runabouts, is higher resolution smaller ones. Such as the Garmin GPSMAP x3 Series, which has a higher resolution seven inch screen (upgraded from 800 pixels to 1024). Other integrated smarts in the Garmin x3 Series include support for EmpirBus digital switching, Ultra-High Definition Scanning and SideVu Sonar.

For dedicated yachties, Navico’s B&G brand has been the main MFD. The Zeus3 is its current offering in conjunction with the newer B&G Nemesis displays that give key sailing date on 7, 9, 12in ultra-bright displays and mast jumbos. Elsewhere, Furuno is the big player in the commercial/fishing sector. Its latest unit is the TZT9F, a 9in model which boasts its latest software: NavNet Command Center. This controls up to five third-party devices using a built-in consumer-style HTML browser and CHIRP sounder (1kW).

For the dinghy sailor, canoeist and other small craft adventurers, hand-held devices are ideal. Garmin leads the market here with products, such as its legendary Garmin Montana range that has charts and topographical maps. It now also has satellite capabilities as found in the Garmin InReach. Another favourite is the Map series and the latest is the Garmin GPSMap79.

DIGITAL RADAR

Feeding into the multifunction plotter, are layers of chart data, sonar profiles and radar images, giving you an entire picture of your surroundings — night or day. The power of radar is its real-time information. It can identify an approaching speedboat from amid a slow moving fleet of trawlers, or an oncoming squall. Using MARPA (mini automatic radar plotting aid) target tracking combined with overlays from AIS (automatic identification system), the skipper is well informed about all of these scenarios. Nowadays, Automatic Gain and other settings means these systems are much more intuitive to use and understand.

Larger yachts and power boats may choose open array models like the new Raymarine Cyclone. Using solid-State CHIRP Pulse Compression technology, the Cyclone comes in three sizes — 3, 4 and 6ft. Key performance features includes speeds of 12–60rpm, automatically set by the different modes such as Bird Mode for fish location. High-speed boaters will appreciate its ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) tracking of 100 distinct targets in real-time and coloured identification, even at full speed.

Also recently released is Garmin’s GMR Fantom 18x and GMR Fantom 24x solid-state dome radars, offering 50 watts of power for long-range and better target detection, even at high speeds. Equipped with Garmin’s signature MotionScope technology, the new high-powered Fantom 18x/24x radomes can detect and highlight moving targets in different colours, providing mariners with valuable vessel position information, weather tracking and more. Smaller vessels are ideal for the Furuno DRX2DNXT Radar 19in dome. Features include Target Analyzer, RezBoost beam sharpening, FTT (Fast Target Tracking), Bird Mode, Rain Mode, and dual-range capability. The MARPA/Target Analyzer shows red and green target colours denoting dangerous or safe targets.

AUTO PILOTS

Another key onboard function is the autopilot, which is arguably the hardest working part of any boat.

Responding to the constant pressures from the rudder drive actuator, the autopilot has to control the boat’s yawing, hold-to-wind or compass course, and respond to the commands from the controller. All the big four and many other companies supply them.

Generally, it’s best to use the same brand of autopilot as the MFD despite the best efforts of the industry protocol NMEA2000. A popular model is Simrad’s AP range, used in conjunction with its NSS MFD screens, that includes preset turn patterns, no-drift modes to hold station and a handy dodge function to overtake or avoid an oncoming vessel.

CHARTING AND SOFTWARE

The latest charting can give multi-dimensional information on fixed and hand-held devices to suite every kind of boating. Fishos may want sonar overlays while the busy delivery skipper uses portable devices such as Navionics phone app charting. The more powerful the MFD, the faster 3D charting can refresh, and the quicker overlays can be put on the screen, including real-time radar. Navionics popularised navigation apps for smartphones and continues to develop its charting, with increased functionality such as Navionics Dock-to-Dock Autorouting operating systems. The very latest Navionics can support Wi-Fi AIS overlays on these apps, and along with portable AIS boxes such the cost-effective Quark Electronics or Digital Yacht units, they give flexibility and affordability for small boat users. Most of the big four also produce apps with increasing functionality, such the latest Garmin Active Captain which synchronised with the company’s plotters and Bluecharts.

COMMUNICATIONS

Communicating is an essential part of boating. Ranging from extreme emergencies that require the activation of an EPIRB when offshore, to contacting nearby vessels in order to avoid a collision. The latter is easily done with VHF features of DSC but upgrading to an AIS enabled VHF unit is even better, as it gives collision avoidance capabilities. There are various solutions, depending on your location. For offshore communications, small satellite devices such as Garmin’s InReach can transmit text messages and receive weather GRIB files for overlaying charts.

Australian coastal sailors have cheaper options. Australia’s busiest cruising region is its east coast, which has 4g phone coverage along its populated regions. This allows simple phone apps such as Boat Beacon, Marine Traffic and others to have real-time AIS reporting, and it gives far greater coverage than your low-set aerial on the transom that may only show vessels a few miles away. However, be aware of delays in updates, which could be critical for sudden collision avoidance.

For total peace of mind, a full AIS capable unit, such as the latest ICOM M510 is recommended. This is a transceiver unit, so sends your position as well as receives others. Budget boaters may opt for the cheaper receiver-only versions which can be a third of the price, such as the Lowrance Link-9 model. It’s worth remembering that small vessels and other yachts don’t require to emit an AIS signal, so this is where radar again is the ultimate real-time reporting tool, along with your eyesight and large set of binoculars (for best night vision).

Communications among the big four marine electronics makers proprietary operating systems are giving way to open systems allowing data to beyond the limitations of the NMEA2000 protocol. This reflects buyers’ demands for functionality found in their consumer electronics. So your new black box should come with at least WiFi, Ethernet and Bluetooth to improve its interoperability.