2010 Marine Electronics Preview

A list of 13 top new innovations to look out for...

December 10, 2009
By Glenn Law (More articles by this author)

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The newest crop of marine electronics ispoised to hit the shelves for the 2010 season. There's a world of improvement in the integration of instruments that provide a richer data environment in combination than any one ofthem can by itself. And where companies have met the challengeof these times head-on and renovated their gear, results arespectacular. Whether you are outfitting a new boat or retrofittingand improving the one you have, this year's new electronics offer honed information systems that yield more-efficient operations for more-successful fishing.

Bigger Motors

The Garmin 6000 and 7000 series chart plotters represent the next iteration of the venerable series 4000 and 5000 plotters, and the bigger series numbers mean the multifunction displays have, as Garmin likes to state it, "bigger motors." Both hardware and software have been performance-upgraded for improved graphic rendering; faster map redraw, zoom and panning speeds; and greater overall fluidity. Two models in the 6000 series, the GPSMAP 6008/6208 ($2,899), with an 8-inch display, and GPSMAP 6012/6212 ($3,999), with a 12-inch display, operate with a keypad-driven user interface. The 12-inch GPSMAP 7012/7212 ($4,899) and 15-inch GPSMAP 7015/7215 ($6,999) models are touch-screen driven. Both series are the first plotters designed from the ground up for compatibility with Garmin's full-bandwidth xHD open-array radar antenna. www.garmin.com

 

Going Real Time

FurunoMaxSea Time Zero navigation software has opened the door to the next dimension in marine electronics. With an all-new graphics engine, updated tools, and a complete set of raster and vector charts, the Explorer version ($1,250) merges seamlessly with NavNet 3-D and the plotter at the helm. Plus it goes live: An online site specifically for users provides access to service and support areas, free of charge. Especially impressive are the personalized weather downloads: Define an area on the touch screen, and a real-time weather overlay appears on the specified area, with selectable weather-system and sea-state parameters. Specific chart and software updates, as well as training and technical support, are available 24 hours a day. MaxSea Time Zero Explorer connects to the NavNet 3-D network right out of the box, offering full control of the radar and chart plotter system, as well as waypoints and routes, directly from a PC. www.furunousa.com

 

New Flagship 

Raymarine has revamped the top-of-the-line E-series this year with three Widescreen options, the 9-inch Raymarine E90W ($3,995), the Raymarine E120W ($4,995) with a 12-inch screen and the 14-inch Raymarine E140W ($6,495). A new user interface designed around the easy-to-use Home Screen provides the navigational backbone, and an innovative feature, Hybrid Touch, allows both keypad and touch-screen control. The E-series comes loaded with Navionics cartography and features a chart engine that uses Navionics Platinum+ charts, powered by TurboView technology. E-Series Widescreen displays are easily expanded with SeaTalkhs digital network sensors for radar, fish finder and satellite weather, as well as SeaTalkng data bus port for compatible instruments, autopilots and NMEA 2000-compatible devices. NMEA 0183 inputs and outputs are available for AIS and third-party devices, and a first-generation SeaTalk port allows networking with an external GPS sensor, LifeTag, and SeaTalk-compatible instruments and autopilots. www.raymarine.com