Category: Electrical & Engines
A Furuno and Suzuki partnership is delivering all-new control features for boaters utilizing select Suzuki outboard models driven by the Furuno NavPilot 300 Autopilot. These new features offer enhanced autopilot controls for precision navigation of routes and advanced fishing features for anglers while jigging or trolling. Requiring only a simple software update, the NavPilot 300 can take advantage of new FishHunter Drive boat control features leveraging Suzuki’s Precision Control, which…
Garmin today announced the Garmin Boat Switch, an all-in-one digital switching solution that operates seamlessly with Garmin ECHOMAP and GPSMAP series chartplotters for easier control and operation of onboard functions. Powered by EmpirBus, the Garmin Boat Switch replaces the need for conventional two-element systems – fuse box and switches – and offers boaters a way to digitally manage a variety of onboard electrical functions with control of up to 20 circuits via Garmin chartplotters…
If you’re like me, at some point in your boating career you’ve probably found an electrical problem on your boat only after things got a little scary. Perhaps the problem was one of your making or maybe, like my example linked above, the boat came that way. Now that I’m doing more work on the DC systems aboard my own boats and others, I went looking for a way to ensure the quality of my work and the health of the systems aboard. For the last few jobs, I’ve been verifying my work with a FLIR C5 thermal inspection camera. I think it delivers real peace of mind.
Boat monitoring sounds like a pretty simple concept; tell me about my boat and alert me if something is wrong. In practice, it’s not quite so simple. Siren Marine has been in this space since the beginning and often notes they’ve seen over 40 companies come and go. Garmin’s OnDeck entry into the space caught my attention. I immediately wanted to see how Garmin tackles a complex challenge like boat monitoring and if they can make it simple for the user. Thus far, the answers are mixed but I think it’s a product with a ton of potential.
Dockmate, manufacturer of advanced wireless remote control systems for yachts, announced today an absolute revolution in easy and stress-free docking with its patented SoftDocking functionality. Regardless of the size or type of boat, power or number of engines, one thing that every boater understands is docking is made more complex by…
ation for it. Once I finished the battery I knew I wanted to test it in a real-world scenario, but also one where troubles wouldn’t knock the house system of my boats or RV offline. Well, I think I’ve found the perfect place to get that real-world usage testing while also being able to tolerate trouble.
The next America’s Cup will be held in 2024 at a location still undecided, but the defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the official challenger INEOS Britannia just announced the Protocol which controls almost every other aspect of the race series. And while there are numerous changes that should make the actual sailing competition even more exciting, it also includes a rather amazing powerboat provision…
E Design Award in the Machinery, Propulsion, Mechanical and Electrical Systems and Fittings category for its MLI Ultra 1250 battery. The announcement was made during the first day of the METSTRADE show in Amsterdam…
Torqeedo will celebrate the launch of a full product-line upgrade of its market-leading Cruise motors at METSTRADE. The new Cruise lineup will consist of 3 kW, 6 kW and 12 kW outboard and pod motors (6 to 25 horsepower-equivalents) powered by lithium-ion batteries from the highest quality production. The new Cruise motors have a completely reworked electrical design with enhanced thermal behaviour, an even more robust aluminium pylon with integral fin, ultra-quiet and durable helical gears, and improved tiller functionality…
Last spring Balmar rather quietly introduced the new MC-618 regulator, but I think it’s a pretty big deal and have been pleased to see how well it integrates with their SG200 battery monitoring system. While the scene above is only a bench test, I expect the 618 to work fine on Gizmo because it’s essentially an update of the venerable MC-614 technology that’s been managing the boat’s main alternator since 2011. But configuring, fine tuning, or troubleshooting the new regulator will be a whole lot easier, plus I’ll be able to see how the charging system is performing in real time…
