Category: Safety & SAR

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Garmin quatix 8 Pro nautical smartwatch featuring inReach technology

Garmin today announced quatix 8 Pro, the ultimate nautical smartwatch equipped with inReach technology for two-way satellite and cellular connectivity ** – giving mariners access to text messaging, voice calling, SOS capabilities and more without a cell phone connection. Packed with essential marine features to control the vessel, the watch’s enhanced boat mode brings boating apps to the forefront when mariners are out on the water, then…

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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.

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Iris Innovations launches Photon next-generation marine night vision camera

Iris Innovations, a world leader in specialized marine camera technology, has announced the launch of Photon, a compact ultra-low-light 4K night vision camera designed to make safe nighttime navigation accessible to every boater. Whether cruising after dusk, fishing before sunrise or patrolling remote coastlines, Photon delivers exceptional clarity and full-color imagery in near-total darkness – all without the need for infrared or thermal imaging…

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FLIR Launches AI-Powered Flagship Multi-Spectral Maritime Camera Systems

FLIR, global leader in high-performance marine thermal-imaging systems, announced today the debut of its new flagship series of multi-spectral maritime camera systems, the M460 and M560, elite AI-powered multi-spectral camera systems tailored specifically for professional marine applications ranging from first responders, commercial vessels, and superyachts. Taking the next step from a conventional thermal camera…

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New from Garmin: OnBoard wireless MOB & engine cutoff system

Garmin, the world’s largest and most innovative marine electronics manufacturer, today announced Garmin OnBoard, a versatile Man Overboard (MOB) and engine cutoff solution for boaters that uses wireless technology instead of traditional tethered cords. Tags can be worn on a wrist band, carabiner or key ring float, and designated as either captain or passenger. If an MOB is detected, the system will save a waypoint on the chart plotter, and audible alarms will sound…

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NMEA 2025: Digital Yacht Bilge IQ

Last week, the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) held their annual conference in West Palm Beach. This year’s conference featured quite a few interesting product introductions. I had the opportunity to see most of them while helping judge the NMEA’s Best New Product and NMEA Technology Awards. I plan several articles covering the various product introductions, though I’ll have to be quick about it as IBEX begins next week. Digital Yacht’s Bilge IQ is a NMEA 2000 and WiFi connected bilge pump control and monitoring system. The clever system monitors bilge pump activations, runtime, and current draw. My fellow judges and I thought enough of it to give it the Best New Product award. What did we see that intrigued us enough to award it? Let’s take a look.

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ABYC Examines the 48-volt boat

The past several years at IBEX, Metstrade and other trade shows, we’ve seen the introduction of electric devices — grills, bow thrusters, trolling motors, air conditioners and such — powered at 48 volts DC. In 2018, Integrel Solutions won a DAME Design Award for its 48-volt alternator. In 2022, Mercury Marine won a Consumer Electronics Show innovation award for its Verado V-12 outboards incorporating a 48-volt alternator. At the 2024 Annapolis Sailboat Show, six of the 16 new boats entered in Cruising World’s Boat of the Year contest had 48-volt house systems. 

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Simrad NSS 4, preliminary on the water testing

Simrad’s NSS 4 (and Navico stablemate B and G Zeus SR) is the second major installment in Navico’s march towards their new Neon Android based operating system and C-Map X series charts. NSX, the first Navico MFD with Neon showed very well at launch. I am a fan of the visual presentation, new charts, and overall look and feel of the new operating system. So, I’ve anxiously awaited Neon making its way to the rest of Navico’s line. NSS 4 sits atop Simrad’s line and serves as an indication that Navico sees Neon as ready to tackle the biggest of their installs. Now to find out if NSS 4 and Neon back up that belief.