part 1
Whether you’re outfitting a new boat or refitting an existing vessel, selecting the right electronics can make your head spin because of the dizzying variety of brands and models, each touted as the one to buy. We’re here to help you narrow down the choices.
Every year at Marine Electronics Journal, we ask manufacturers to name the one model or series of electronics that they consider their best based on factors such as innovation, popularity or utility, or maybe it has proved itself over time. There are 20 product categories in all, from AIS to wireless devices. We call the results the Best & Brightest Boating Electronics.
For the next several weeks The Mic will report on the winners. Last week we rolled out five of the best electronic charts. Below are five more. Next week we’ll tell you about several innovative radars.
With the new TZ MAPS cartography, navigators can control what they want to see. Purchase of any area unlocks powerful features such as AI Routing that intelligently plans routes, taking into consideration the boat’s draft and navigational obstacles. The purchase of any TZ MAPS chart from a Furuno TZtouchXL MFD unlocks those charts in the free TZ iBoat app for mobile devices, providing a home planning app that will transfer points and routes directly to the TZtouchXL. With a free TimeZero account, waypoints and routes can be easily backed up or retrieved from the cloud. Navigators can create custom objects or make updates to charted objects, such as buoys, so when they move from their previously charted positions, they can be updated on the fly.
Plot your paradise with the best, most up-to-date Garmin Navionics Vision+ premium marine cartography. For offshore or inland waters, this all-in-one solution offers premier-grade chart features, including high-resolution relief shading, detail-rich integrated mapping of coastal features, lakes, rivers and more. It features 3D views, satellite imagery, advanced Auto Guidance+ technology and access to daily updates via the ActiveCaptain app for the freshest chart data every time out. Combining the best features of Garmin and Navionics automatic routing solutions, Auto Guidance+ gives you a suggested dock-to-dock path to follow through channels, inlets, marina entrances and more. Multiple shading options aid in shallow water navigation and make it easy to select depth ranges for the best fishing spots.
SI-TEX’s new Polaris Charts are feature-rich vector cartography platforms developed by sister company AvMap exclusively for the SI-TEX NavPro Series of MFDs. Based on official NOAA ENC charts, Polaris Charts provide a wealth of chart data for navigators and fishermen, including detailed bottom contours, high-resolution spot soundings, high-resolution bathymetry, and highly detailed port plans. Additional features like Dynamic Tides & Currents help cruisers navigate efficiently and safely, while helping anglers target the best bite times around rips and shoals. Selectable color palettes help boaters maximize detail and visibility in a wide range of light conditions and allow navigators to highlight certain depth ranges for safety and better fishing.
Marine electronics are not as easy to use as everyday electronics like smartphones and TVs. Understanding your surroundings on radar and navigating safely using your MFD require experience. Proteus ushers in an era of intuitive marine navigation and radar interpretation, enabling boaters to stay safe on the water. Using your vessel’s existing sensors like radar, GPS, compass and AIS, the Proteus Hub connects to the NMEA 2000 network and ethernet and creates a 3D lifelike visualization on your MFD. No more interpreting radar data—now other boats and markers appear on your MFD as they do in real life. We believe all boaters should feel empowered by their navigation tools. Proteus is compatible with Garmin and Simrad equipment. Raymarine and Furuno compatibility is coming soon.
Rose Point ECS is navigation software designed specifically for towboats to navigate safely, keep electronic charts and publications up to date and make the most efficient use of resources. Rose Point ECS improves operational efficiency, situational awareness, and decision-making with straightforward, uncluttered displays and controls that provide instant access to information professional mariners and fleet operators need to navigate safely. Rose Point describes ECS as the number one selling navigation software for inland commercial vessels in the United States. With Rose Point ECS you get the most comprehensive user experience and sophisticated navigation tools available all in one package.