Gear

2018 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: New Marine Electronics

Check out these new electronics at the 2018 Fort Lauderdale Show

October 30, 2018

Few venues rival the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show when it comes to seeing the latest in marine electronics. The 2018 show (Oct. 31-Nov. 4) will host several new marine electronics, including these systems you’ll find the in the huge electronics tent, at exhibiting electronics dealers and elsewhere at the show.

Black Box Magic

Furuno's TZT2BB is a black-box NavNet TZtouch2 module that's powerful enough to simultaneously drive two MFDs – such as Furuno 17-, 19- or 24-inch displays. The module supports full HD video input in HDMI format. It comes with a built-in fish finder and is loaded with raster, vector and fishing charts. It can be networked with current Furuno radar and sonar systems. Under $6,000; furunousa.comCourtesy Furuno

Sounding Good

Fusion's Apollo marine audio series includes two source units – the top-of-the-line RA770 and the more compact SRX400. The RA770 features a one-piece glass touchscreen 4.3-inch displays, built-in Wi-Fi streaming, digital signal processing (DSP) technology and PartyBus audio-distribution capabilities. The Apollo SRX400 offers a 2.7-inch display, Wi-Fi streaming, DSP and PartyBus. RA770, $649; SRX400, $349; fusionentertainment.comCourtesy Fusion

Live Action

Garmin's Panoptix LiveScope gives you images of fish swimming below and around the boat in real time and with such clarity that it's possible to identify a species. Powered by a GLS 10 black box, the Garmin LVS32 transducer can mounted on the boat transom or on a trolling motor. LiveScope is compatible with a vareity of Garmin EchoMap and GPSMap displays. $1,499.99; garmin.comCourtesy Garmin

Get Real

Lowrance is set to debut HDS Live, which will integrate LiveSight real-time sonar. This systems lets you place the optional LiveSight transducer in a bow-facing position to wherever the boat points or in a down-facing position for live-action view below the boat. When using LiveSight forward with the Lowrance Point-1 GPS antenna, you can line up on a waypoint or pinpoint the structure you are trying to fish. Available in 7-, 9-, 12- and 16-inch display sizes, HDS Live ranges in price from $949 to $4,499. The LiveSight transducer is $999; lowrance.comCourtesy Lowrance

Keep Tabs

Launched by marine giant Brunswick Corp., Nautic-On can communicate a boat's location and vital systems data using an onboard hub and wireless sensors. You can access the information on a mobile device using the Nautic-On app. The app will alert you if the boat moves or systems malfunction. It starts at $600, plus service fee; nautic-on.comCourtesy Nautic-On

Augmented Reality

The first augmented-reality navigational system, ClearCruise AR from FLIR/Raymarine integrates with the Raymarine CAM210 HD marine video cameras to recognize possible hazards, and then, using the new Raymarine AR200 video stabilization module, overlay symbols for those objects on the chart plotter of a Raymarine Axiom multi-function display. It also identifies and describes objects appearing on the video display. The CAM210 HD sells for $699.99; the AR200 retails for $499.99, raymarine.com/clearcruiseCourtesy Raymarine

New Dome

The Halo24 radar features solid-state pulse compression technology in a lightweight, low-profile radome. The new 24-inch diameter dome offers up to a 48-nautical mile range, will process multiple ranges, and offers VelocityTrack Doppler technology that color codes approaching vessels for improved navigational safety. The Halo24 will be available the Simrad and Lowrance brands, and can integrate with all current MFDs. $2,699, simrad-yachting.comCourtesy Simrad

Mighty Mite

Standard Horizon HX40 handheld VHF is small, but powerful. Featuring an ultra-compact, waterproof case, it packs 6 watts of transmit power. It can scan multiple channels, and you can select presets of 10 favorite channels. This handheld offers NOAA weather channels with weather alert. It also has a FM broadcast radio receiver. $119.99, standardhorizon.comCourtesy Standard Horizon