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Reviews
Weather Goes Digital : Sirius and XM bring accurate weather forecasting right to your helm
August 8, 2007 - 3:39pm — christine- Chart Plotter/GPS
Nobody thinks twice about listening to his or her TV, but in an unusual twist on that, savvy boaters are suddenly watching their radios. Satellite radio marine weather, with its ability to present a live weather map picture at the helm, was the talk of the aisles during boat show season. This service is rapidly carving out a space for itself on display screens at the helm of any boat large enough to carry a chart plotter.
Method, Not Madness : Proper Planning will ensure you have the electronics package best suited for your boat.
June 15, 2007 - 3:56pm — George Sass Jr.- Chart Plotter/GPS
- Electronics
- MAY 2007
Let’s face it, there are so many choices in electronics and trying to keep up with new technology can be daunting. Thank goodness for our electronics editor Chuck Husick, who is tapped into this field and does a great job of keeping us, and you, up to date.
Point and Click : MapTech Chart Navigator Pro is Packed with a Range of Valuable and Easy to use Features for the PC user.
May 8, 2007 - 7:46pm — Chuck Husick- Chart Plotter/GPS
- SEPTEMBER 2006
After evaluating the MapTech Chart Navigator Pro chart plotter on my own boat, I determined it is a remarkable tool for navigation planning and an excellent aid for real-time navigation. Supplied with a set of 13 DVDs that cover all U.S. coastal waters and major rivers, it provides an easy to use electronic navigation suite that can include numerous instrument displays that compliment the basic chart view functions.
No Surfing Allowed : SkyMate, The Satellite System That Can't (But What it Can Do Will Please You)
May 7, 2007 - 7:44pm — Chuck Husick- Communications
- OCTOBER 2006
You can’t use the SkyMate satellite system to surf the Internet. It can’t be used to watch TV. It’s not a satellite phone. However, using packet switching technology and message bursts that typically last less than one second, it can accomplish virtually every other communication task you might require, even where a satellite link or HF radio are the only ways to stay connected. Skymate’s communication trade-off decisions result in a system that is easy to install, is small enough to fit on almost any boat, is a miserly consumer of electrical power and is relatively inexpensive to buy and to use.
New for 2007 : A Sneak Peek of electronics coming to a dealer near you
May 2, 2007 - 3:02pm — Dennis Caprio- Chart Plotter/GPS
- Radar
For quite a number of years now, the marine electronics business has been extremely active. Innovations fueled by stiff competition within the marine segment and the R&D from the larger universe of consumer electronics keeps every company’s laboratory humming. We’ve selected a handful of nifty products from the booths at the National Marine Electronics Association show and from the aisles of the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. Pull up a chair and enjoy.
Asset Protection : The Magellan VRM-GSM offers security for the marine environment
April 25, 2007 - 2:33pm — Chuck Husick- Reviews
Our homes and businesses are usually our largest investments. Many of us protect these investments with security systems that monitor the physical security of the property and the fire and smoke alarms to provide us with a desirable measure of assurance that everything is reasonably in order when we are away from our property. Our boats are often next in order of value, and unless we are living on board they may warrant at least the same level of security protection as our homes and offices. Boats kept at marinas, where staff is on duty 24/7 are usually well protected, especially if the boat’s fire, smoke and high bilge water alarms are connected to an exterior bell and flashing light that will attract the attention of the marina staff. Boats kept in areas that don’t have adequate security, including those on moorings, need something beyond the ringing bell and flashing light level of protection. Specifically a wireless unit that provides reasonable assurance that people who can take corrective action are promptly notified when an alarm situation occurs.
Raymarine DS 500 X
January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Chuck Husick- Fishfinder
- NOVEMBER 2004
DON'T CUT THE CABLE! The installation instructions for the DS 500X (see page 34) and for most other fishfinders prohibit cutting the cable attached to a multi function transducer (sonar, temperature and boat speed sensors). A few words of explanation of the prohibition may be useful.
How to Select the Right Radar
January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Mike Smith- APRIL 2006
- Navigating
- Radar
Many years ago, after a passage up the coast from Norfolk, Virginia, I approached New York Harbor in a real pea-soup fog. As I neared the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, fog horns and the low-pitched throbbing of ship engines seemed to come at me from all sides. I looked off to port as a Plimsoll mark passed by, maybe 50 feet away. I couldn't see the ship it was attached to, just a slight darkening of the fog bank.
Garmin GPSMAP 276C
January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Chuck Husick- Chart Plotter/GPS
Garmin���s new 276C is hard to miss. Even in bright sunlight its 3.75-inch diagonal, backlit, color TFT display stands out. It���s the same technology that was once available only in larger displays. Designed for marine and on-highway use, the compact, handheld waterproof 276C is packed with all the features of a mainframe but is incredibly user friendly.
Which Way Is The Wind Blowing?
January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Chuck Husick- 2006
- Communications
- SEPTEMBER 2006
Mariners and politicians share a common concern ��� they need to know which way the wind is blowing. The politician who lacks this knowledge is at risk of losing his job. The mariner who doesn���t know which way and how strongly the wind is blowing may place his boat and crew at risk. Both the politician and the mariner need more information than the simple ���stick out your finger��� approach.
