Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Category: Gadgets

8

Mobile Apps / Wireless & Apps / Network & control / Handheld / Gadgets / Communications / Safety & SAR

Garmin Quatix 8, compelling marine watch option now with inReach

The Quatix 8 might just accomplish something no other Garmin (or any other brand) watch has done so far. Displace my Apple Watch. I am deeply invested in Apple’s ecosystem. I use an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Airpods, and Apple Watch. So, getting me to switch out one of those pieces is an uphill battle. The Quatix 8 offers enough improvements over prior Quatix watches, and my Apple Watch Ultra, to make a strong case for daily wear. If you’re like me and happy with your current wristwear, you might be wondering what the Quatix could possibly deliver to compell a change. For me, the answer comes down to four things — not all of them marine related — that weigh the scale in Garmin’s favor. Those four things are: thorough integration with Garmin navigation electronics, extremely long battery life, robust fitness features, and now, satellite communications from my wrist.

6

Cabin & deck gear / Handheld / Gadgets / Good Gear (non electronic)

SI-TEX Sirius 12 stabilized binoculars, stability at a nice price

Within a few months of leaving to travel America’s Great Loop, I decided there were two things my boat was sorely lacking. The first was a set of wireless headsets or marriage savers — rarely has a product been so accurately named. The second tool I found myself lacking was a pair of stabilized binoculars. A few nausea inducing episodes of trying to read the transom of a moving boat from the pitching deck of Have Another Day convinced me of the utility. While the marriage savers were quite affordable, the stabilized binoculars left a larger dent in my wallet. So, I was quite pleased to have the opportunity to try out SI-TEX’s Sirius stabilized binoculars and their much more affordable cost of entry.

1

Cabin & deck gear / Handheld / Gadgets / Safety & SAR

FLIR Ocean Scout Pro, high resolution, handheld thermal

FLIR’s Ocean Scout Pro is the latest iteration of a handheld, thermal scope from the market leader in thermal night vision products. The Ocean Scout Pro boasts a high-resolution, high frame rate sensor, simple operation, and a companion app for both Android and iOS. The updated Ocean Scout Pro offers streaming to a mobile app (though not without some frustrations, more on that later) and a bright easy to see viewfinder. So, how does the Ocean Scout Pro do on the water? Let’s take a look.

0

Press Releases / Fishing & Sonar / Cabin & deck gear / Gadgets / What's on board... / Safety & SAR

New Sirius 12 gyrostabilized binoculars from Koden combine rock steady vision with great value for fishermen and boaters

Koden, a name long trusted for professional-grade marine electronics for fishing and navigation, has entered the premium optics market with its new Sirius 12 Gyrostabilized Binoculars. These compact and lightweight, yet ruggedly built binoculars...

2

LiFePO4 / Cabin & deck gear / Panbo & misc. / Gadgets / Communications / What's on board... / Electrical & Engines / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K / Good Gear (non electronic) / Monitoring & Tracking

Putting Panboat 2.0 to work with test gear from Epoch, Icom, Lenco, Scanstrut, Sensar, Tocaro Blue, and Victron

I have owned Panboat 2.0 for a little over 3 months. Unfortunately, I haven’t made as much testing headway as I hoped courtesy of a very busy fall with boat shows, speaking engagements, and dodging hurricanes. I leave for Amsterdam to attend METS shortly, but once home, I don’t have another show until Miami in mid-February. So, it’s high time I get to work outfitting the new Edgewater 280CX with the goodies needed for testing and begin rolling in some new technology.

4

Wireless & Apps / Network & control / Gadgets / Electrical & Engines

Remote options, Dockmate and Yacht Controller offer new solutions

For many years Yacht Controller was just about the only game in wireless docking remotes for boats. But, starting roughly four years ago, Dockmate brought their products to the United States. Dockmate’s software configurable, two-way remotes offered more configurability than Yacht Controller’s. But now, Yacht Controller has introduced Maixmo with several features not available from Dockmate and Dockmate has introduced Red, a full remote system at a previously untouchable price point.

10

Wireless & Apps / Network & control / Handheld / Gadgets

Garmin Quatix 7 SmartWatch, a refined wearable

Garmin recently released the Quatix 7 and I’ve been wearing the Saphire model since just after the release. I’m pleased to report that in my testing it’s proved to be a refined, visually pleasing, and useful accessory. With excellent battery life, a bright, easy-to-read display, and integration with Garmin marine products like the GPSMap MFDs and Fusion stereos there’s plenty of reasons to give the Quatix line a careful look.