Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Yearly Archive: 2020

11

Wireless & Apps / Gadgets / Electrical & Engines / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K / Monitoring & Tracking

AC Energy Monitoring with Emporia Energy

Have Another Day seems to consume nearly unlimited electricity. So much in fact that I began to doubt the accuracy of the simple kilowatt hour meters on the shore power pedestal at my marina. Month after month of $300 plus electrical bills will do that to you. Spot checking the power consumption with a clamp meter seemed to agree with the meter on the pedestal, but I wanted to know more which sent me searching for a tool to help me understand my boat’s electrical usage. It took me some time, but I eventually found a cost effective and easy solution.

23

Electrical & Engines / The future

The future of outboard steering? Dometic Optimus All-Electric Steering system

Dometic’s Optimus All-Electric Steering represents a major change to a critical system onboard the highest volume sector of boating and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to call it the future of outboard steering. I’ve now tested Dometic’s steering and my enthusiasm for the system has only grown. It has delivered on the promise of simple installation and operation while allowing precise control without hydraulics. Be warned, all this excellence comes at a higher price but probably not forever.

3

Press Releases / Electrical & Engines / Green Boating

ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus 3HP Electric Outboard Now Available in the U.S.

ePropulsion, the global leader in marine electric propulsion systems and services, announced today the Spirit 1.0 Plus electric outboard motor is now available in the United States from its national distributors Mack Boring (East Coast) and Four Seas (West Coast). The innovative Spirit 1.0 Plus system provides lightweight, efficient, simple-to-use, quiet propulsion that is vibration, emission and exhaust free. Providing enough power to easily match a 3-hp four-stroke gasoline outboard motor…

2

Press Releases / Electrical & Engines / Green Boating

Electric quanting: traditional sailboats on the Norfolk Broads replace manual barge poles with Torqeedo electric motors

Hunter’s Yard runs a rental fleet of traditional wooden sailboats on the Norfolk Broads in Eastern England with a loyal base of customers who share a common appreciation for the historic vessels and their way of life. Sailors on the Broads have traditionally used long poles called quants to push the heavy wooden boats forward when the winds are unfavourable and to assist in manoeuvring through narrow waters or under bridges…

7

Editors' Blog / Fishing & Sonar / Good Gear (non electronic)

Propspeed Foulfree transducer protection, first impressions

When Ben Stein wrote about the new Foulfree transducer “paint” last November, I wondered how much coverage came out of that little $35 tube. I can answer that question now. In the scene above, I’m about to apply Foulfree to six transducers — the two loose and four already fixed to Gizmo’s bottom — and to my amazement, I only used about a third of the tube. So if the stuff really…

2

Press Releases / Entertainment

Garmin and Fusion expand Apollo Series with new products designed to enhance onboard entertainment

Garmin International, Inc., the world’s leading marine electronics manufacturer, today announced it has expanded its Fusion-branded Apollo Series with the introduction of the Apollo WB670 premium hideaway system and the Apollo ERX400 wired remote. Building on the innovation and success of the award-winning Apollo Series, the WB670 premium hideaway solution eliminates the need for a stereo to be present on the dash, while the ERX400 offers users complete audio entertainment control with an all-new intuitive user experience, and an ultra-compact design that can be mounted in convenient places around the boat…

4

Editors' Blog / How-to / What's on board...

Getting the decals off, and why

Alas, the old Maritime 20 I bought last fall is still a driveway boat, but I’d like to think that Junior will look sharp when it does launch. I extended the black trim paint to the dash — and have almost finished all new wiring and electronics (and am excited about testing that Humminbird Solix 10) — but to my eye, the good looks of the Maritime and Evenrude E-Tec designs really popped when the branding decals came off. Getting some of them off wasn’t easy, however, so I’ll share what I learned…

0

Press Releases / Wireless & Apps / Handheld / Gadgets / Monitoring & Tracking

Garmin adds solar charging to its new quatix 6 marine GPS smartwatch series for boaters

Garmin announced today the quatix 6X Solar, the latest addition to its new marine GPS smartwatch series that features a transparent solar charging display that uses the sun’s energy to extend battery life. As the first Garmin marine-centric GPS smartwatch to offer solar charging, the quatix 6X Solar combines all of the best features of Garmin’s fēnix 6X Pro Solar with specialized boating, fishing, cruising and sailing capabilities so users can enjoy more time on the water.

2

Mobile Apps / Editors' Blog / Wireless & Apps / Navigation

Aqua Map 10 for Android & Master 2.0 with USCG LNMs, Buoys, and routes from tracks released

Aqua Map version 10 is now available for Android while Aqua Map Master 2.0 is available for both Android and iOS with several new features. The new Android version brings the same speedy map performance released to iOS the end of last year. The new features in Master 2.0 add even more features to the already feature-packed $10 per year add-on package.

7

Editors' Blog / Electrical & Engines

Dometic Optimus All-Electric Steering system installed and testing under way

About two weeks ago I wrapped up the installation of Dometic’s Optimus All Electric Steering System. I first wrote about this system the end of last year as it collected several major innovation and design awards. At the time I was intrigued by what it promised and the improvements it could bring to the installation and operation of outboard steering systems.