The Marine Electronics Hub
An engine launch event might be an odd fit for an electronics and technology blog. I’ve attended Mercury launch events before, and each time, there’s been plenty of technology news. But when I went, I wasn’t expecting an announcement that could change the industry. I certainly didn’t anticipate the thunder from the launch of a 350 or 400-horsepower, 10-cylinder engine would be stolen by an alternator.
Garmin (NYSE: GRMN), the world’s most innovative and recognized marine electronics manufacturer, today announced the update of the Fusion-branded Apollo Series with the release of the Apollo WB675 Marine Hideaway Stereo. Designed to maximize valuable dash space, the WB675 hideaway stereo offers a world-class audio entertainment experience and the ability to enjoy premium sound from four separate audio zones…
Although it acquired Vesper Marine in January of 2022, even today Garmin’s VHF/AIS product pages only list the Cortex and its accessories. The entire WatchMate product line is conspicuously absent from the product list, and the Vesper name is absent from the Cortex items. In retrospect, these are telling ommissions, as today Garmin confirmed that the WatchMate XB-6000, XB-8000 and Vision2 have all been discontinued, soon to be followed with the Vesper brand name.
