Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Category: The Trade

Kees at Mets, almost like walking the show 15

Fishing & Sonar / Electrical & Engines / The Trade

Kees at Mets, almost like walking the show

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Wow, Kees Verrujit, our N2K Panbot in an attic, has out done his own reporting on last year’s METS, and he even shot some videos for us.  A collective tip of the beanies to Kees, please: 

In
general the feeling was quietly positive. Everyone still around will probably be able to weather the remainder of the economic storm. Attendance today was lower than the earlier two editions I visited, but then this was my first time visiting on the last day so I can’t say for
sure how busy it was. Sorry to say, there was no big big news. Still there were a number of exciting new developments. I’ve kept those to the end of this long mail!
MaxSea buys Nobeltec, now what? 24

The Trade

MaxSea buys Nobeltec, now what?

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Heads are still being scratched. Why would SigNet S.A. — the French holding company that owns MaxSea and MapMedia, and is itself 48% owned by Furuno — buy Jeppesen’s Nobeltec division?  And what does this mean for VNS and Admiral users, and marine electronics?  I got to talk with all the companies involved yesterday, and am optimistic that Nobeltec customers will benefit from this deal, at least in the short term, and agree with many that the overall possibilities are, um, “interesting”…

NMEA announces Technology Award, & shows some tech leg 7

The Trade

NMEA announces Technology Award, & shows some tech leg

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The 2008 NMEA Convention in San Diego prompted many Panbo entries last October, and I’m hoping the return to Fort Myers this year will be at least as interesting.  One new feature of note is a Technology Award that will be judged by yours truly and three other BWI boating writers. The criteria will be “a combination of innovative design, benefits to boaters, practicality and value,” and the NMEA has wisely chosen to limit manufacturer entries to products that were not available for sale and delivery sixty days before the 2008 convention but are available sixty days before this show.  In other words, no vaporware please!

Garmin buying Raymarine, for real????? 24

The Trade

Garmin buying Raymarine, for real?????

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This is starting to get serious!  While this Reuters article also notes Garmin’s disclaimer that “there was no certainty an offer would be made”, yesterday Garmin had no comment at all.  Personally I have no knowledge of this deal whatsoever, and can tell you that the product people I know at both these companies seem to be full speed ahead.  But I’m starting to monitor the financial news closely.  Somewhat strangely, the most complete and original reporting seems to be coming from a Reuter’s guy in Bangalore, India; his piece yesterday helped me understand why this acquisition might make sense for Garmin:  Foreign distribution and an “OEM footprint” (in case the boatbuilding business ever comes back to life).  But how would the product lines be “rationalized” and what would a big Garmin/Raymarine combination mean to the relatively little recreational marine electronics industry?  Let’s discuss.

Voyager Marine Electronics, squared away! 4

The Trade

Voyager Marine Electronics, squared away!

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If you’re an electronics installer who’s ever spent hours wandering around a boatyard just to get a bit of wood or metal fabricated — or the customer who wondered where those hours went! — you’ll appreciate the custom install trucks put together by Voyager Marine Electronics of Essex, Massachusetts. Heck, these guys don’t even need to scrounge 110 outlets, as the vehicles are equipped with big alternators, dual battery banks, and Xantrex 3kW Freedom charger/inverters!  Voyager’s shop and show room aren’t too shabby either…

Panbo changes 2, Bonnier Marine Group 15

Panbo & misc. / The Trade

Panbo changes 2, Bonnier Marine Group

Flash

Is Super Bowl Sunday an appropriate day to announce that I’ve switched magazine teams? Well, I do have used game (boat show) uniforms headed to charity, a lot of new teammates to meet, and just might get booed in some parts of New York or Boston! I joke, but as of today I am Senior Electronics Editor for the Bonnier Marine Group, now a major Panbo sponsor. I’ll be writing for…

Simrad NX, the only True Malfunction is the N2K 7

Network & control / Navigation / The Trade

Simrad NX, the only True Malfunction is the N2K

Simrad_NX_bad_ad

At least one Navico competitor is having fun e-mailing around this scan of a major ad blooper that ran in at least one New Zealand marine publication. Of course the intended headline was “True Multifunction” not “True Malfunction” and no doubt someone is very embarrassed about the mistake. In fact, “multifunction”—as in multifunction display, or MFD—is not…