In 2013, I purchased a 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt display, which I’ve used as a docking station for multiple generations of Mac mini black-box computers. The monitor still looks great, but more important is its longevity and the relatively affordable price of Mac minis. I’ve enjoyed better, faster computing without purchasing new glass. And should my trusty display fail, I only need to replace the monitor, not the entire setup.

I’m sure Apple’s marketing department would love to claim credit for inspiring my setup; however, it’s more likely that I got the idea from the marinized black-box computers and stand-alone displays that I’ve seen aboard high-end yachts.

Marinized computers come in two forms: all-in-one multifunction displays, and black-box chart plotters that use a separate networked display. While MFDs work well, black-box chart plotters allow owners to refresh their yacht’s computational powers without replacing compatible glass, which can be expensive and sometimes complicated to install.

Furuno and Garmin both have newer black-box offerings. Let’s start by looking at Furuno’s.

Furuno TZTBBX

In early 2024, Furuno released its line of NavNet TZtouchXL MFDs. Now some eight months later, the company has released the NavNet TZtouchXL Black Box Chart Plotter ($4,100).

“The TZTBBX is a compact processor with the same processing capacity as other TZtouchXL-series MFDs,” says Matt Wood, Furuno’s national sales manager. The TZT2BB has dual processors and dual video outputs in one housing. Its single hexacore processor and single video board allow it to drive a single touch-enabled display.

That last bit means users can also buy off-the-shelf splitters, allowing TZTBBXs to run multiple or mirrored screens.

Wood says the TZTBBX is “by far” the smallest black-box chart plotter that Furuno has built across six generations of black-box offerings. “It has a single HDMI output [and input], which can drive an 8-inch marinized display up to a 75- or 80-inch TV,” he says. “It’s light and easy to install.”

The TZTBBX’s smaller form factor, he adds, makes it suitable for well-appointed center-consoles along with superyachts: “It’s small, but it punches above its weight.”

In addition, the TZTBBX has all the same features as Furuno’s flagship TZtouchXL MFDs. “There’s no gap in functionality,” Wood says. Features include Furuno’s eye-pleasing TZ Maps, which are built using data sourced from official hydrographic offices and supplemented with privately sourced data. They currently encompass Australian, European and North American waters.

TZTBBXs also have Furuno’s AI Routing feature, which determines safe routes using chart data and vessel-specific parameters such as draft and air draft. If a TZTBBX is paired with a Furuno DRS-NXT radar, the black-box chart plotter also delivers Furuno’s Risk Visualizer feature, which color-codes targets based on their threat level, and AI Avoidance, which calculates safe routing in real time around potentially dangerous targets.

While TZTBBXs come with TZ Maps, Wood says, owners of bigger yachts can run networked blended systems that involve a black-box chart plotter or an MFD along with a Windows-based PC running Timezero’s TZ Professional or TZ Navigator software. With this setup, the PC is often the primary navigation tool, while the black-box chart plotter provides networked sensor input to the Windows-based computer.

“It’s the best of both worlds,” Wood says. “If we take the computer offline, or if we get the Windows blue screen of death, we can still navigate on our dedicated device.”

Garmin GPSMap 9500 Black Box

When it comes to big glass, Garmin’s 27-inch GPSMap 9000-series MFD leads the market. This series has impressive features, including large-format 4K screens, built-in Global Navigation Satellite System receivers, embedded LiveScope and Panoptix sonars, and the ability to support three downstream black-box sonars and to display Garmin Navionics+ cartography. Its four BlueNet ports, which hustle data at 1 gigabit per second, are most impressive.

More recently, the Olathe, Kansas-based technology giant released the GPSMap 9500 Black Box ($5,000). “It’s a GPSMap 9000-series MFD, but without the display,” says Dave Dunn, Garmin’s senior director of marine and RV sales. “The guts are exactly the same.”

Dunn says Garmin designed the GPSMap 9500 for owners of large yachts who use large marinized displays or TV screens and want more flexibility with their dash layouts and screen sizes.

“MFDs are great, but customers are limited to the screen sizes we offer,” he says, noting that each GPSMap 9500 Black Box can drive one touch-enabled screen.

This same flexibility, it turns out, makes the GPSMap 9500 Black Box attractive to owners of other vessels, including small boats. For example, Dunn says, some bass-boat owners are installing large-format displays on their bows that they network with GPSMap 9500 Black Boxes. The setup allows them to view Garmin LiveScope sonar returns.

“We’re seeing GPSMap 9500 in places we didn’t expect,” Dunn says. “They are a fraction of the cost of an MFD.”

Like the GPSMap 9000-series MFDs, GPSMap 9500 Black Boxes come with four BlueNet ports. “If you’re running more traffic on your network, BlueNet will shine,” Dunn says. BlueNet architecture can easily support Garmin’s Surround View Camera System, which uses six factory-installed cameras to deliver live bird’s-eye and 360-degree imagery around a yacht, plus distance markers for docking as well as third-party thermal-imaging cameras, digital-switching systems, radars, black-box sonars and other downstream instrumentation.

“We tried to be as expandable as possible,” Dunn says. “If you run out of BlueNet ports, you can expand your system with a network switch.”

Also, GPSMap 9500 Black Boxes can be added to existing Garmin ecosystems using Garmin Marine Network adapter cables.

The GPSMap 9500 Black Box’s BlueNet ports, Dunn says, create a future-proof system that can handle heavy data loads. BlueNet’s 1 Gbps bandwidth—one can imagine—will also be important if and when Garmin releases autonomous docking or autonomous navigation features.

GPSMap 9500 Black Box systems also come with high-bandwidth digital content protection distribution, allowing customers to enjoy the same multimedia content across all networked screens.

Alternative Interfaces

Furuno’s TZTBBX and Garmin’s GPSMap 9500 both support third-party touchscreen displays, but touch-based user interfaces don’t always pair well with sloppy seas. Furuno’s optional MCU006 and MCU006H (horizontal) controllers have RotoKey and buttons, while Garmin’s optional Wireless Remote Control (GRID 20 Vertical and GRID 20 Horizontal) offers hard-key user interfaces. 

The post Furuno and Garmin Black-Box Computers appeared first on Yachting.

Sig Sauer Zulu6 HDX

A good pair of binoculars is critical for any mariner, and it’s especially helpful if they’re gyrostabilized to provide a steady image on the water. The Zulu6 HDX 18x50s from Sig Sauer can cut through the glare while also being rock-steady in the hands thanks to its OmniScan stabilizing technology. The IPX7 waterproof and fogproof performance means they won’t let you down in adverse weather conditions, either. A floating neck strap, waterproof Pelican case and rechargeable batteries are all included.

Breitling Superocean Heritage II

Understated and classy, the Superocean Heritage II from Breitling has luminous silver-tone arrow-shaped hands, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a stainless steel case with an aero classic rubber strap. The case size is 44 mm x 15.5 mm and it’s water resistant to 660 feet.

Shimano Tiagra 

If you’re chasing the world’s toughest pelagics—marlin, swordfish, giant tuna, big wahoo and mahi—you need a reel that can stand up to the challenge. Shimano’s two-speed Tiagras deliver that smooth power when you need it most. Each Tiagra is machined from solid 7mm stock aluminum for strength and perfect alignment even under incredible stress. Features include smooth push-button shifting from high to low gear and A-RB anti-rust sealed bearings.

Costa Fantail Pro

A slimmed-down version of the best-selling Blackfin Pro, the Fantail Pro also has all of Costa’s pro tech, including a vented and fully-adjustable nose pad for a customizable fit. There are also sweat channels and eyewire drains designed to help keep your vision clear plus new stickier Hydrolite and metal keeper slots to help to keep your frames on your face and the sweat and sun out of your eyes.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i

For the adventurer, the latest handheld from Garmin is a rugged GPS and satellite communicator with InReach technology for two-way messaging, interactive SOS alerts and location sharing. It also has mapping to keep you on course virtually anywhere in the world with expanded GNSS support, with 165 hours of battery life in tracking mode and up to 425 hours in expedition mode.

Yeti Loadout GoBox 30

This one’s a jack of all trades that’s perfect for organizing tackle, serving as a camera case or anything else that requires secure stowage. The Yeti Loadout GoBox 30 is dustproof, waterproof and virtually indestructible, and has a removable cargo tray and divider. It can also be accessorized with a tie-down kit, internal gear caddy and a beefy HeftyHauler handle.

Grundens Deck-Runner Ankle Boot

Built for action, the Deck-Runner from Grundens offers the lightweight comfort and support we love from everyday sneakers paired with the waterproof protection and durability of rubber deck boots. Prioritizing 100 percent waterproof construction yet emphasizing performance versatility, the Deck-Runner has a lightweight, high-rebound EVA midsole enhanced with thermo-regulating propertiesp. It also features a razor-siped gum rubber outsole for outstanding traction on wet decks. 

Mustang Survival Automatic Inflatable Life Jacket

Lifesaving gear has made significant advancements in the last few years; among those leading the way is Mustang Survival. The HIT series has hydrostatic inflator technology which has reliable inflation in a low-maintenance design that will only auto-inflate when submerged in four inches or more of water, and never inadvertently inflate in rain, spray or humidity. This lightweight, comfortable PFD allows for maximum mobility.

Grundens Charter Jacket

From tropical squalls to wind-driven rain and angry seas, the Charter Jacket is built for both versatility and durability to keep you dry and comfortable on and off the water. Emphasizing waterproof-yet-breathable performance, it excels as a packable rain shell and has a stowaway design feature that rolls into the jacket’s own hood for compact storage. Other features include zippered handwarmer pockets plus an adjustable hood, hem and cuffs.

Yeti Panga 28L Waterproof Backpack

Anyone who’s been around boats has gotten something wet that wasn’t supposed to be wet at some point in their adventures. The Panga 28L is constructed of ThickSkin material that’s highly puncture resistant, but the key feature is the waterproof and leakproof zipper. This keeps the bag completely dry inside even when submerged underwater. It’s like an impenetrable fortress for your stuff. 

Penn Spinfisher VI

The Penn Spinfisher is one the most recognized and accomplished saltwater spinning reels in the world. The Spinfisher VI series builds on that legacy with a full metal body and sideplates that keep the CNC gear system in precise alignment, while the IPX5 sealed bearing design keeps saltwater out. The premium HT-100 drag washers also keep things cool in the heat of battle. It’s available in nine different sizes and models to match the target species. 

Yachting Magazine

Yachting is one of the marine industry’s most respected boating magazines committed to enhancing dad’s boating experience.Every issue feeds his passion for the yachting lifestyle with extensive coverage of premium yachts, equipment, technology trends, world-class destinations, luxury charters, electronics and more. Subscribe for just $39 for a full 12 issues delivered right to his mailbox, plus instant digital access, weekly email newsletters and more.

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FLIR and Garmin, two of the biggest names in marine electronics, have separately unveiled new products intended to help skippers enhance situational awareness on the boat.

The FLIR JCU-4 remote control is intended to allow precision control of the company’s marine thermal and visible cameras. The remote control is compatible with FLIR’s M232, M300, M400/M400XR and M500 series, and with legacy models. Its features include pan, tilt and zoom, and control of all additional camera functions with an ergonomic keypad and joystick control.

With a low-profile, three-axis design, the joystick is mounted with a 2.9-inch color LCD and keypad. A dimmable color LCD and backlit keypad help to preserve the skipper’s night vision. The JCU-4 can be configured between FLIR marine cameras and marine monitors or chartplotters, and three custom keys can be programmed for quick access to user-defined camera functions.

“Designed by mariners, for mariners, the JCU-4 is a meaningful upgrade for those who actively navigate using thermal technology and require dependable and intuitive control of their FLIR camera,” the company stated in a press release.

Also aiming to help boaters feel more confident out on the water, Garmin announced a software update for some GPSMap and EchoMap chartplotters that adds AIS warning messaging to help reduce the risk of collisions.

AIS, when connected to a Garmin chartplotter, can provide real-time information about the position, speed and heading of other AIS-equipped vessels. The AIS targets can be displayed on top of a live chart or a radar display. With the software update, Garmin’s chartplotters will also display AIS message types 12 and 14—addressed and broadcast warning messages—in addition to collision-avoidance alerts.

Garmin’s AIS warnings for object detection are available for these chartplotters: GPSMap 9000, 9500, 8600, 8600xsv, 8700, 7×3/9×3/12×3/16×3 and 10×2/12×2 series, along with the EchoMap Ultra 2 and UHD2 touchscreen series. A Garmin AIS-capable device is also required. 

What does the FLIR JCU-4 cost? Price is $1,699. To learn more, click over to flir.com

Where to learn more about Garmin’s software update: visit garmin.com

The post Helm Upgrades With FLIR And Garmin appeared first on Yachting.

Boat-show season is the time when new-product announcements drop faster than daylight hours. This is great news for anyone looking to upgrade a boat’s electronics, and it’s also a chance to see all the fascinating ideas that have been percolating in companies’ R&D departments.

As you’re touring the docks and tents, keep an eye out for these products, which are all worth a closer look.

Fusion

While achieving playlist consensus can be tricky, all ears can agree that high-quality speakers outperform the low-end alternatives. Fusion’s Apollo speakers ($550 to $800) and subwoofers ($450 to $950) use redesigned motors and composite materials for everyone’s listening pleasure at higher volumes. Embedded dual-hue LED lighting, hexagonal-shaped tweeters and interchangeable grills enhance the onboard aesthetics. The coaxial speakers come in three sizes—6.5, 7.7 and 8.8 inches—and the subwoofers are available in 10- and 12-inch models. Apollo speakers and subwoofers have IP66/IP67 environmental ratings as well as marinized connectors, and are optimized to work with Fusion-built stereos.

Garmin

Seeing is believing, and Garmin’s GC 255 Flush Mount Camera makes it easier to believe that an approach to the dock will be successful. The GC 255 ($1,000) comes bundled in a stainless-steel body and delivers up to 1080p high-resolution imagery across a 160-by-90-degree field of view. It can present bird’s-eye, fish-eye or standard views, along with vessel-specific distance markers and customizable guidance lines that help to defang docking and close-quarters maneuvers. The GC 255 has an IPX7 rating, weighs 22.9 ounces, measures 3.2-by-3.2-by-3.3 inches, and has a plug-and-play setup with compatible Garmin-built multifunction displays.

JL Audio

This brand arrived at the fall shows with two new options for generating good times afloat. The MM55 ($400) provides full stereo control via its eight hard buttons, volume-control knob and 2.8-inch color screen, while the white-box MM55-HR ($350) networks with a compatible multifunction display or JL Audio-built controller for its user interface to provide a clean-looking helm. Both stereos support three audio zones, each with dedicated subwoofer outputs and independent or unified volume controls. They also sport built-in 100-watt amplifiers and digital AM/FM tuners. Additionally, both stereos have Bluetooth, USB 2.0 and NMEA 2000 connectivity, and come with auxiliary inputs for connecting external analog devices.

Lumitec

Visibility is paramount for safe anchoring and nocturnal operations. Lumitec’s Contour Masthead Combo Light is designed to ensure that a vessel can be seen from at least 3 nautical miles. The slim, lightweight light is available with an antenna mount ($250) or an Angler motorized base ($1,050) that raises and lowers the light as needed. Both versions have a 225-degree masthead light, a 360-degree anchor light and a 135-degree stern light that sit atop a 39-inch shaft. (Custom lengths are available.) Both are certified to US Coast Guard and National Marine Manufacturers Association standards.

Maretron

The WSV200 MConnect Web Server lets users take deep dives into their NMEA 2000 networks. Users can view graphically rich custom-built or pre-built user-interface screens for a wealth of vessel and systems data. Boaters also can access the MConnect Web Server ($600) while aboard using a compatible networked multifunction display, or from afar using embedded virtual private networks and any third-party device that has a web browser. Each MConnect can pair to two NMEA 2000 networks and more than 400 N2K data points. MConnect black boxes can also connect with digital-switching systems (third-party and Maretron-built systems), giving owners and three other users the ability to control and monitor systems and real-time information via a single platform. Additionally, each MConnect has an RJ45 Ethernet port, a USB 3.0 port and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.

Sea.AI

Optical-based systems for collision avoidance are one of the most exciting instruments in years, but adding a full system can be redundant for boaters who already cruise with thermal-imaging cameras. Sea.AI’s Brain ($8,990) is a black-box system that processes imagery from a compatible thermal-imaging camera (one that conforms with the Open Network Video Interface Forum’s Profile S standards) and applies its embedded AI to detect nonwater objects in the video feed to provide warnings and alarms. Sea.AI’s Brain has three operating modes (collision avoidance, 360-degree surveillance and manual), and it’s compatible with Android, Apple iOS and Windows operating systems. Sea.AI’s Brain connects to a thermal-imaging camera via Ethernet, and it connects to a third-party device via Wi-Fi. Boaters use third-party software to display their camera’s video feed—plus Brain-detected targets and alarms—on their device.

Siren Marine

For years, connected-boat technology was mostly reserved for vessels with lengthy waterlines. This changed when Siren Marine introduced the Siren 3 for tenders and outboard-powered side rides. Each Siren 3 ($300) can network with six Siren-built wireless sensors (including bilge, high-water, entry and temperature sensors) via SirenWave, which is Siren Marine’s proprietary communications protocol. Additionally, each Siren 3 system can monitor one hard-wired battery, network with the boat’s NMEA 2000 backbone, and network with Yamaha’s Command Link network. Users can monitor all the information using a smartphone or smartwatch, and via the Siren Connected Boat app. Siren 3 is designed to be DIY or builder-installed, and it has a new internal antenna that makes it fit aboard smaller rides easier than its big brother, the Siren 3 Pro.

Tocaro Blue

Radars may be powerful sensors, but they can be challenging to read, especially for occasional users. Tocaro Blue’s Proteus Hub ($2,950) simplifies this task by connecting to a vessel’s NMEA 2000 data backbone and accessing networked radar and sensor data (depth, automatic identification system, heading and location information). Tocaro Blue’s ProteusCore software then applies AI machine learning to remove radar clutter and determine the nature of each target, such as buoys, markers and vessels. The system communicates with the radar to help optimize target detection, and it leverages the radar feed along with data from other networked sensors to predict the movement of its own vessel and all gathered targets over a 30-second horizon. This information is presented on a compatible multifunction display as a two-dimensional top-down map or a 3D view. Users can jump between views to find their best presentational fit.

The post New Yacht Tech for a New Season appeared first on Yachting.

Use the right acoustics, and familiar waters reveal their secrets. Just ask Dave DeVos, who’s been fishing the same waters off Port Canaveral, Florida, for years aboard his Contender 28. DeVos thought he knew all the honey holes separating his marina from the offshore depths; after all, he’s long run similar tracks with chirp on his traditional sonar.

DeVos works as Garmin’s senior manager for marine sales and support. That’s why he got to test one of Garmin’s first Panoptix PS70 transducers—and that’s when his game changed.

“The PS70’s got such a wide sonar cone, I saw a half-dozen spots I didn’t know existed,” he says.

His reward? Big catch-and-release red snapper and newfound local knowledge.

The PS70 isn’t Garmin’s first foray into live sonar, but the Olathe, Kansas-based company’s newest transducer is smaller than its predecessors, and it sends far more power and more-frequent transmissions through the water. The result is video-style onscreen presentations across four operating modes.

The PS70 is a multibeam phased-array sonar transducer broadcasting on the 190-to-210-kilohertz frequencies and transmitting at 800 watts. It has a 120-degree (port to starboard) by 8-degree (bow to stern) sonar cone that yields live imagery down to 1,000 feet in salt water. The PS70 ($4,800) comes potted in a stainless-steel through-hull transducer that can be purchased with an optional fairing block ($200). The combined transducer and fairing displaces 10.12 pounds and measures 8.5-by-4.5-by-9.6 inches, ostensibly making it an easy refit.

The PS70 has an embedded altitude heading reference system sensor, which stabilizes live sonar imagery on rough waters. It works at all speeds, so long as there’s clean water below the transducer.

“If you’re reef- or wreck-fishing, you can pull up and see if there are any fish before you throw your gear over,” says Dave Dunn, Garmin’s senior director of marine and RV sales. “You can look for pelagic fish with traditional sonar, but that’s historical imagery, so the fish might not still be under you.”

The PS70 sports Garmin’s proprietary RapidReturn feature, which Dunn says is like chirp sonar on steroids. While chirp sonars transmit across a sweep of frequencies, they only send out a single sweeping pulse with each transmission. “RapidReturn sends out multiple pings at the same time across its frequencies,” Dunn says. “It’s six to eight times faster than chirp. It makes a big difference in deep water.”

The PS70’s four modes each have RapidReturn. The modes start with Traditional Sonar, which provides similar imagery to other 50/200 kHz chirp-enabled sonars. Triple-Beam Sonar bifurcates the PS70’s 120-degree sonar cone into three 40-degree segments (port, center and starboard), allowing users to view all three simultaneously or focus on one 40-degree swath. LiveVu Down provides a single 120-degree real-time view of everything below the transducer, while RealVu 3D Historical uses recent sonar returns to paint a 3D image of the grounds that were just covered, from the bottom structure to the water’s surface.

“With RealVu 3D Historical, if you want to see the bottom structure, it will draw a representation of the bottom,” Dunn says. “You can survey the entire area so that you can see where you want to cast, and you can also see anomalies.”

Combined, the PS70’s modes provide a great deal of underkeel awareness; however, the transducer’s imagery focuses downward, not forward. “Our PS51 transducer provides forward-looking sonar,” Dunn says. “Users could pair a PS70 and a PS51 and see everything.”

Another interesting pairing, he says, involves Furuno’s line of Omni sonars, which provide 360-degree scanning sonar returns. This combination joins Furuno’s scanning-sonar technology and Garmin’s live sonar, either on separate screens or in a split-screen presentation.

“We work with Furuno,” Dunn says. “PS70 and Omni systems are complementary. It’s not necessarily one or the other. It can be both.” Tournament fishermen were the first users to create this pairing, but the combination is also useful for surveying seafloor structure.

While Garmin designed the PS70 for serious anglers, Dunn says its RealVu 3D Historical returns are also useful for divers. “If there’s a wreck, you can clearly see the bow and stern,” he says, adding that this capability can help users plan their dives, especially if it’s their first visit to the site.

Additionally, the PS70 supports Garmin’s QuickDraw Contours feature, part of Garmin’s ActiveCaptain ecosystem. “It’s user-generated bathymetry,” Dunn says, adding that users can save bathymetry data for up to 50,000 acres on their Garmin multifunction display’s microSD card. “If you have a Navionics subscription, you get daily cartography updates, but some areas aren’t updated. You need local knowledge to run these waters. But with QuickDraw, if you’ve been there before, you know where the shallows are, which is useful if you have to do this in the dark or in bad weather.”

Users can anonymously share their bathymetric data with Garmin, allowing Garmin to incorporate the data into Navionics updates, or the data can remain private.

While the PS70 offers a lot, it’s not without its downsides. The PS70 is Garmin’s second-most-expensive transducer, and while its RapidReturn feature yields much faster return rates than standard chirp transducers, its onscreen frame rate ultimately hinges on how fast the paired screen redraws imagery. That means anyone cruising or fishing with older glass might need to refresh the display for real-time returns.

But for anyone who casts, cruises or dives with a Garmin MFD and is interested in real-time sonar imagery, the PS70 delivers a lot of underkeel knowledge. It can help skippers find hidden honey holes or interesting dive areas along commonly cruised routes.  

Selective Stalking

The PS70 provides live imagery down to 1,000 feet, and it’s often helpful for finding the baitfish that pelagic species hunt. A smart trick, the experts say, is to adjust the gain and depth to target the upper third of the water column.

Take the next step: garmin.com

The post Garmin’s PS70 Transducer Sees All appeared first on Yachting.

ACR ResQLink AIS PLB-450

The more ears that hear a call for help, the better chance there is to get it sooner. Add in greater position accuracy and you get the ACR ResQLink AIS PLB-450. This personal locator beacon uses AIS and 406 mHz frequencies to broadcast a user’s location. To help pinpoint that location, the PLB-450 harnesses the global navigation satellite system. When we tested the ACR ResQLink PLB-450 on land, the system quickly identified three satellites within view and acquired its first fix within 35 seconds, with a position accuracy of about 215 feet. The ability to add a wearable beacon that broadcasts to local vessels and rescuing authorities provides highly accurate location data The fact that the device broadcasts for 24-plus hours makes the ACR ResQLink PLB-450 an option for boaters of all types. 

ePropulsion X40 Outboard

The X40 is ePropulsion’s largest electric outboard in a three-model series, which also includes an X12 and X20. The engine’s number designation indicates power in kilowatts. When the company tested its X40 on a 20-foot V-hull aluminum boat, the engine produced a top speed of around 19.4 knots (22.3 mph), which it can maintain for one hour. Dial it back to 8.3 knots to double the run time. At 6.7 knots, it’s four hours. The X40 has 88.2 percent total powertrain efficiency. ePropulsion designed the engine’s electric steering, power trim and tilt, electric control unit and motor controller as a single unit.

Compass 11.1 Limo Tender

Yacht owners seeking an all-weather ride that accommodates 12 passengers from the big boat in a climate-controlled environment may want to consider the Compass 11.1 Limo tender. The cabin is outfitted with custom leather seating, a teak sole with an eye-catching geometric pattern, warm interior lighting that follows the curve of the superstructure, and a glass roof that opens and articulates in several directions. Windows are a clear-coat carbon fiber and provide ocean views at all points. There are steps forward and aft, as well as a swim platform to ensure seamless boarding in any scenario. The Compass 11.1 Limo tender is powered with a pair of twin 320 hp Yanmar diesels paired to sterndrives. Top speed is 34 knots, but with a great ride, what’s the rush?

Dockmate Dynamic Positioning

Dockmate’s Dynamic Positioning System is an upgrade to the company’s remote-control technology, adding next-level confidence for boat owners who are ready to take a break from being stuck at the helm when waiting for a bridge opening. The Dockmate hand-held remote control gives the skipper access to two modes. The first one is designed for operating on open water, where the positioning system uses only the engines to hold station. It will keep the vessel into the wind or current to stay in place. In close-quarters scenarios, Dockmate’s system will engage the engines and thrusters to stay on the waypoint. A 4-inch screen at the helm displays the vessel’s position at all times, and the skipper has the ability to activate the dynamic positioning system with the push of a button.

Furuno TZTouchXL

The latest from Furuno is an upgraded version of the TZtouch line of multifunction displays. Dubbed the TZtouchXL, these wide-bodied displays are not only equipped with faster processors, but they also deliver better imagery. In fact, they are the only displays that can render TimeZero’s TZ Maps. TZtouchXL displays come in 10-, 13-, 16-, 22– and 24-inch screen sizes, and have 1920-by-1080 high-definition displays, which highlight TZ Maps’ rich colors and bathymetric details. Skippers can also use Furuno’s AI Routing, where they select start and end points, and the software uses the chart’s bathymetric data to generate safe routes. Anglers can use this tech to access Furuno’s Dynamic Fishing Maps with five different resolution levels, including hybrid satellite and contour charts, and 3-inch contour lines to help pinpoint a hot bite.

SipaBoards

Imagine enjoying a relaxing morning paddle amid light winds but then finding yourself a bit farther from shore than you initially thought. What if there was the option of a power assist that could kick in and return you safely to your boat or terra firma? That was the thinking behind the SipaBoards line of power-assisted SUPs. Each of the three models—the Neo ($3,255), Tourer ($3,900) and AllRounder ($3,900)—has a water jet paired with a power-pack battery and a Bluetooth-enabled remote control. There’s also a self-inflate system to help ease the task of getting the boards prepped and ready for the water. Launched with a Kickstarter campaign in 2015, SipaBoards has now sold more than 5,000 SUPs in 26 countries.

Lomac GranTurismo 14

Dubbed a “maxi RIB” by the builder, the Lomac GranTurismo 14 is the culmination of three years of research and development in a 100 percent made-in-Milan design by Federico Fiorientino. It has hulls optimized by computational fluid dynamics as well as vacuum-infusion lamination incorporating vinylester resins and neopentyl gelcoat. Aramid fibers also reinforce the T-top, deck and hull without adding substantially more weight. The 16-person capacity means owners will have plenty of room for family and friends. Standard power is triple 300 hp outboards, although speed demons can upgrade to triple 450 hp engines for even greater performance. 

Garmin GPSMap 9000 Series

The latest from Garmin, the GPSMap 9000 series of chart plotters offers up to seven times the processing speed of previous generations of Garmin multifunction displays. Available in 19-, 22-, 24– or 27-inch versions, each display has 4K resolution and edge-to-edge clarity. They can also be flat- or flush-mounted for an all-glass helm. In-plane switching ensures sunlight readability from virtually any viewing angle, even while wearing polarized sunglasses. In addition to enhancing navigation, the large-format 4K displays can also be used to display streaming entertainment or for watching stored content. GPSMap 9000 displays also utilize high-bandwidth digital content protection distribution, allowing users to play the same content simultaneously across all networked GPSMap 9000 screens. 

JL Audio MediaMaster 55

Guided by a philosophy that great audio has real value, Garmin and its brands—JL Audio and Fusion—develop and deliver world-class audio entertainment. The JL Audio MediaMaster 55 is a next-generation source unit designed specifically for the often harsh maritime environment. Built for nonstop playback of the skipper’s favorite tunes, it has multiple connectivity options, including a digital AM/FM tuner, DAB+ radio, Bluetooth connectivity, analog auxiliary input, and a USB connection with charging. It is also equipped with a built-in amplifier, providing the ability to drive multiple speakers per channel. Rugged and weatherproof, the MM55 has a silicone button pad and new rotary knob. The 2.8-inch full-color LCD screen has larger icons than on previous models, simplified menus and a refreshed color palette. It still has separate day and night lighting themes for easier viewing if cocktail hour runs past sunset.

Valo Hyperfoil

In a clever combination, this company introduced foiling technology and electric propulsion to personal watercraft. Founded in 2019, Boundary Layer Technologies initially worked on several commercial marine concepts. In late 2022, the company shifted its focus to the recreational market, building a prototype of an electric foiling PWC. That led to the updated design, which was unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2023. The Valo Hyperfoil has a control system called Skyride, which uses advanced algorithms to adjust the foils hundreds of times every second. This technology comes at an early-adopter premium. With a suggested retail price of $59,000, the Valo Hyperfoil is more than double the price of most traditional PWC. Projected range is more than 60 nautical miles at an average speed of 27 knots.

Winch Design’s Arc in Colour

Winch Design worked with Summit Furniture on this updated line called Arc in Colour. It’s built from sustainable, plantation-grown teak, along with fabrics made from recycled fishing nets and textile waste. The idea is not so much to make furniture that looks like it came from recycled and sustainable materials, but instead to make furniture that looks luxurious while being crafted in a way that’s better for the planet. Plans call for expanding the Arc in Colour line into bar chairs, dining chairs and modular  sofas. It’s not going to be a custom line; instead, the goal is to make the furniture accessible for many clients, since more and more yacht owners are making verified sustainable materials part of their project briefs.

Mercury Avator 7.5e

Mercury Marine can forever say that it was the first major manufacturer of marine internal-combustion engines to offer an electric outboard option. The company’s Avator 7.5e delivers comparable performance to Mercury’s 3.5 hp four-stroke gasoline outboard engine, minus the carbon dioxide. The Avator 7.5e was also introduced as the only outboard on the market with a transverse flux motor, a design that Andrew Przybyl, Mercury’s technical manager and engineer for the Avator line, says has high torque-density characteristics. The Avator 7.5e comes with a 1 kWh lithium-ion battery, and a color display with GPS that gives operators a bevy of real-time range information.

Raymarine Axiom 2

Raymarine’s Axiom 2 is an updated version of displays the company first unveiled in 2017. Axiom 2 displays come in three models with screen sizes ranging from 9 to 24 inches. All of them have six-core processors, global navigation satellite system receivers, 64 gigabytes of solid-state storage, the latest version of Raymarine’s Lighthouse 4 operating system and next-generation screen coatings. Axiom displays can include angling-and cruising-specific versions, and they use different transducers than previous-generation Axiom offerings. These transducers have piezoceramic elements inside that are larger, equating to greater acoustic sensitivity and better beam-shaping capability. With the new transducers, boaters can realize the system’s full acoustic capabilities.

Williams Sportjet 520

The spy film Argylle hit the big screen worldwide with a star-studded cast that included Bryce Dallas Howard, John Cena, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose, Catherine O’Hara and Samuel L. Jackson—along with the debut of the Williams SportJet 520, which the filmmakers used for a chase scene along the River Thames in England. The SportJet 520, at 17 feet long, is the flagship vessel in the Williams SportJet line. It has seating for seven people and is intended for use as an all-purpose tender with yachts about 98 feet and larger. 

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Garmin is aiming to ease the level of stress that many boaters experience during docking, with two new marine cameras that are purpose-built to enhance proximity awareness at the marina.

The GC 24 and GC 255 marine cameras have on-screen distance markers and guidance lines, making them tools that boaters can use during low-speed maneuvers such as docking in close quarters. That’s a situation many boaters find nerve-wracking, especially if there is also wind, current and a lot of marine traffic to contend with while pulling into a slip.

Both cameras have 1080p displays and provide multiple views—including standard, wide-angle FishEye and overhead Bird’s Eye—directly to compatible Garmin chartplotters. The idea is that boaters can use the technology to have an easier time seeing all around the boat, making docking an easier process.

“Garmin’s new GC 245 and GC 255 cameras bring many of the innovative video guidance capabilities found in our Surround View Camera System to smaller vessels so even more boaters can benefit from increased visibility at the helm,” Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of global consumer sales, stated in a press release. “Much like a backup camera in your car or truck, onscreen prompts can give you confidence while docking or navigating your boat through narrow marina waterways to help protect your passengers and property.”

These cameras work in normal and low-light conditions, according to Garmin, meaning they should be a useful tool for boats that head out early or come in close to sunset. In addition, boaters can use multiple cameras to see as many as four video feeds simultaneously. Digital zoom and pan are among the features.

For mounting purposes, the GC 255 has a stainless steel through-hull design that can be flush-mounted. The GC 245 has a surface-mount design with black or white options. It can be mounted with the dome up or down, and does not require cutting into the vessel’s hull for simple installation.

Both camera models are also available with setup and full integration on the Garmin Marine Network or the Garmin BlueNet network. They are IPX7 rated for withstanding water and dust.

What’s the pricing on these Garmin cameras? The GC 245 surface-mount camera has a suggested retail price of $699, while the flush-mount GC 255 camera has a suggested retail price of $999. They are compatible with Garmin displays including various GPSMap series.

Take the next step: click over to garmin.com/marine

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Get peace of mind when guiding and docking your vessel with the Surround View Camera System from Garmin®. This onboard six-camera array gives the captain a 360-degree overhead view on a compatible chartplotter. Guide your boat into slips at the marina, or navigate in tight-maneuvering situations with ease and incredible awareness.

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For years, I eagerly anticipated Apple’s fall event and news of the latest iPhone release. Back then, my purchasing latency was limited to locating the website’s “buy” button, as my incumbent phone was often struggling to keep pace with new apps and software updates. Then, starting around 2015 (the iPhone 6S), I was able to start squeezing extra years out of my phones. This trend accelerated, and as of today, I still rely on my iPhone 11 Pro from 2019. To be fair, I always buy the top-end model with maximum storage, but four and a half years on, I haven’t crashed (at least not hard) into this phone’s silicone ceiling.

Multifunction displays perform different tasks than smartphones, but most marine-electronics manufacturers build MFDs with off-the-shelf componentry and, sometimes, software from the mobile-device market. This sourcing gives manufacturers options for high-resolution touchscreen displays, processors, connectivity and operating-system architecture, and it means that today’s MFDs can have longer working lives.

How we got here, however, requires a small rewind. After all, MFDs circa 2010 were different animals than today’s big, powerful displays.

“Back then, most displays were 4 to 7 inches,” says Dave Dunn, Garmin’s senior director of marine and RV sales. “A big display was 9 to 10 inches, and a 12-inch display was enormous.”

These MFDs were controlled via tactile buttons and knobs, or early touchscreen or hybrid-touch interfaces. They only tackled marine-facing applications such as chart-plotting.

Today’s MFDs excel at traditional marine tasks, but they also boast bigger glass, full video integration, touchscreen interfaces, high-speed data networks, and four- or six-core processors, opening the door to expanded job descriptions.

“Processing power has indeed increased over time, bringing with it the ability to drive higher-resolution screens,” says Steve Thomas, Simrad’s product director for digital systems. “[This] also lends itself to better integration by providing the responsiveness consumers expect.”

It also enables MFDs to perform nontraditional tasks, including streaming video from daylight and thermal-imaging cameras, tackling onboard security, controlling digital switching and, sometimes, providing entertainment. Today’s flagship MFDs also sport larger high-resolution displays, multisignal connectivity (with ANT, Bluetooth, Ethernet and Wi-Fi), embedded sonar modules, GPS or GNSS receivers, data backbones, and NMEA 2000 and HTML5 compatibility.

“NMEA 2000 protocol provides the basis of communication and is the linchpin connecting everything together for the MFD to display and control,” says Eric Kunz, Furuno’s senior product manager. Kunz adds that HTML5 compatibility allows MFDs to display and control third-party equipment via web-browser windows, sans any heavy lifting from the MFD.

Technology moves in step changes, and MFDs, brand depending, have experienced two major evolutions since 2010.

“The first was the transition from a completely closed-software architecture to something open source,” says Jim McGowan, Raymarine’s Americas marketing manager, referring to the company’s shift from a walled-garden operating system to Linux and then Android.

Others, including Simrad and Furuno, took similar steps. Garmin remains a holdout.

“We use Android, but not for marine,” Dunn says. “Will we eventually go to Android? Maybe.”

The second evolution involved hardware, with all MFD manufacturers now using mobile-device componentry.

“Suddenly, the requirements for shock resistance, heat resistance, water resistance, bright visibility and fast processing became available on a wide scale,” McGowan says. “Instead of us having to source expensive industrial or semicustom hardware that was proven but old, suddenly our system architects had multiple options to choose from that were all state of the art.”

Sourcing components became easier, yielding better MFDs, but it placed a higher premium on software. Case in point: Raymarine has released more than 30 updates, including new features, for its 2017-era Axiom MFDs.

Likewise, there’s the importance of supporting hardware as it ages. “We don’t like to leave customers behind,” Dunn says, noting that Garmin supports products for five years after they’re discontinued.

This opens the door to the fine art of good enough. Given that modern MFDs are robust, the same display—like my iPhone—can last for years, provided that its sensor network remains static. While this works for buy-and-hold customers, new sensors can dangle carrots.

For example, Furuno and Garmin unveiled Doppler-enabled radars in 2016. While older MFDs could often display radar imagery from these sensors, some customers had to refit their displays to access the best features. One can imagine automation and AI presenting similar incentives.

“AI will combine multiple facets of different sensors to create a more sophisticated and enhanced navigation experience,” Kunz says. “Look for MFDs to take a larger and larger part in overall vessel control and automation.”

Avikus, for instance, is developing its NeuBoat autonomous navigation system with Raymarine. As for Garmin, Dunn says: “There’s nothing coming in the near future, but there’s some cool stuff coming with lidar and cameras.” He’s referring to the light-detection and ranging sensors that help enable automotive driver-assist features and autonomous driving.

Future hardware and capabilities aside, all experts agree on the importance of regularly updating a vessel’s MFD to keep the operating system current and to access the latest software features. While updates are free, all four companies have adopted subscription models for cartography.

“In some ways, the marine-electronics business model is changing in the same way it is happening in the consumer-electronics industry,” Kunz says. “This will most likely lead to more of a subscription-based model for certain aspects of the market.”

While subscription models make sense for a dynamic media like cartography, it’s harder to envision this business practice extending throughout the sensor ecosystem.

“We don’t want to get to the point where people have to pay for software updates,” Dunn says, pointing to BMW’s belly-flopped attempt to charge customers fees to use their existing heated steering wheels.

New hardware, however, is a different story. “More than anything, we’re a sensor company,” McGowan says of Raymarine. “We keep offering new and improved sensors.”

Given the adoption rates of Doppler-enabled radar, there’s little question that the recreational marine market stands ready to embrace step-change sensors, so long as they come bundled with newfound capabilities—say, auto-docking or autonomous navigation.

As for my ancient iPhone, I’m again counting the days until Apple’s fall event. I just hope my next iPhone will last as long as today’s flagship MFDs.  

UI Options

Recent years have seen most manufacturers adopt touchscreen-only user interfaces for their flagship multifunction displays. This technology creates user-friendly interfaces in most conditions, but some users prefer tactile buttons when the weather sours. All manufacturers build optional external keypads or hard-button remote controls.

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Garmin isn’t trying to be Apple. Dave Dunn, senior director of marine and RV sales, is clear about that: “We’re trying to be the watch that you can beat up and use every day. Our customers are adventurous.”

Still, the Garmin team kept hearing customers talk about how much easier they found it to look at an Apple Watch. “Historically, our watches had a display that was not crisp, not bright,” Dunn says. “Our customers said they liked the Apple Watch display better.”

Hence the upgraded display on the recently unveiled Garmin quatix 7 Pro. Its 1.3-inch AMOLED display is brighter and crisper than the displays on previous models, with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens so boaters don’t have to worry about banging it up.

Also new is a flashlight that was on a prior quatix model, which is now standard on most models.

“Any of our users will tell you it’s our No. 1 feature,” Dunn says. “It sounds ridiculous until you see how bright it is. If you’re walking the dog at night or going to the restroom while you’re sleeping, it comes in handy. It’s a hands-free light.”

Two new apps are also loaded into this version of the quatix. The first is Trolling Motor Remote, which lets anglers control a compatible trolling motor. The second is Fish Forecast, which is intended to save anglers the effort of searching online for general information that can indicate better days to wet a line.

“Think about an almanac; it has moon phases, time of year, all of that. It gives you a prediction about the best times to fish,” Dunn says. “All of it is right there. You’re never guaranteed to catch fish, but it tells you when the better times might be.”

Garmin also updated apps that let the smartwatch act as a remote control for chart plotters, autopilots and Fusion stereos; notify boaters about anchor drag; and show integrated tide data.

“This is designed by boaters, for boaters,” Dunn says, adding that he personally enjoys controlling a boat’s stereo from his wrist. “If you’re on a sandbar at a party and you want to change the volume or the song, you can do that from your watch. I love that feature.”  

Boater-Friendly

The Garmin quatix 7 Pro is built to let users control their whole boating ecosystem from their wrist. This smartwatch can connect to compatible chart plotters, autopilots, Fusion stereos and trolling motors, all while it simultaneously tracks personal health information and serves as a hands-free flashlight. It also receives text messages and smart notifications.

Purchase your own here: Amazon, Garmin

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