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Planning a Sailboat Electronics Upgrade

• By David Schmidt
• Updated: May 19, 2021

Contemporary electronics can add a lot to a cruising sailboat. For starters, the gains often include easier-to-understand information, and therefore better situational awareness and increased safety. The catch, however, is that new plotters, radars and other instruments can be expensive, both to purchase and have installed. And then there’s the issue of getting new equipment to interface with older-but-still-functional gear. Because of this, plenty of cruisers manage just fine with older electronics that—while dated—still work and help get them from here to there.

But, as with all things marine, even once-high-end equipment eventually reaches its endgame. Trouble is, determining when checkmate is inevitable isn’t always obvious, so I reached out to two experts—Nigel Barron, sales and marketing manager at Seattle’s CSR Marine ( csrmarine.com ), and Rufus Van Gruisen, owner of Cay Electronics in Portsmouth, Rhode Island ( cayelectronics.com )—to learn more about when it’s time to (literally) pull the plug on old kit. In doing so, they also helped shed light on the performance and safety gains that can take the sting out of new-equipment purchases.

“Electronics typically work or don’t,” Van Gruisen says, adding that shy of a catastrophic event such as a lightning strike, obsolescence is the biggest gravedigger for most marine instruments. For example, Van Gruisen points to chart plotters: “New charts often don’t work on older plotters because they take up too much memory. A lot of products become obsolete because they can’t load modern software. A cruiser would need to find old, out-of-date charts to make it work.”

This might suffice in places such as Maine, where the seafloor is generally stable and where up-to-date cartography sometimes relies on old bathymetric surveys, but this certainly doesn’t hold true for places such as Chesapeake Bay or the Bahamas, where seafloors morph with storm events and time.

Another vintage-equipment killer, Van Gruisen says, is that manufacturers eventually stop supporting updates for older electronics. For example, older chart plotters can eventually stop working with current GPS configurations.

Barron agrees that obsolescence can be a problem; seven years, he says, is a reasonable life span for most electronics. He points to issues such as inconsistent data from sensors or transducers, speed information failing to display, or screen pixels going dark as signs that it could be time to upgrade. Plus, he believes, seven years is enough time for the market to offer significantly better products. “A cathode-ray tube television might still work, and an older radar might still work, but there are way-better products available that offer better reliability, lower power consumption and new features.”

Prime examples of this are digital, solid-state Doppler-enabled radars that depict dangerous targets in one color (typically red) on a chart-plotter display, and stationary or benign targets in another color (typically green or blue). This functionality not only makes it easier and more intuitive to read a radar display, but these radars are also designed to overlay this imagery atop cartography on a chart-plotter screen, thus improving the user’s situational awareness.

“In 2010, radar was analog,” Barron says. “In 2021, it’s digital.”

While these technological gains are to be celebrated, especially by cruisers who have plied waters shrouded in Down East pea-soup fog or Pacific Northwest rain, adding a modern Doppler-enabled radar to an older marine-electronics ecosystem isn’t usually a plug-and-play possibility.

“If an owner wants a new peripheral sensor attached to the chart plotter, they might need to replace the plotter,” Van Gruisen says. “It’s sometimes hard to replace one piece of electronics because it might not integrate with other equipment on the boat.”

Because of this, both Barron and Van Gruisen point to a new chart plotter as the place to start for refits both mighty and modest. “If you’re on a budget, you can buy a plotter and add sensors later,” Barron says. “It all starts with the plotter.”

Another common roadblock to easy upgrades involves data networks. While the older NMEA 0183 network protocol allowed discrete instruments to share some data, newer NMEA 2000 (commonly referred to as N2K) data backbones make it easy for owners to add new equipment to their network with considerably less fuss. Moreover, most new equipment is designed and built to work with N2K networks. While manufacturers still commonly support NMEA 0183 by making equipment “backward compatible” or by making an NMEA 0183 version of a new piece of equipment, this could change as N2K becomes increasingly dominant.

The problem, Barron says, is that converting to N2K “isn’t something that’s done in a vacuum. It’s part of a larger installation. There are upfront costs, but it will save you money down the road because it makes it easier to add new equipment.”

Another game-changer that both Barron and Van Gruisen agree on is the advent of the automatic identification system, or AIS. While recreational-level AIS has existed since 2006, recent years have seen a massive embrace of this technology by mariners of all stripes.

“The rate of uptake took us all by surprise,” Van Gruisen says. “AIS is now more useful than radar. It won’t protect you from all targets in pea-soup fog, but it’s easier to read than radar.” This is especially true if AIS targets can be overlaid atop cartography on a chart-plotter screen. (Or better still, overlaid atop radar and cartography.)

“AIS is a fraction of the cost of radar,” Barron says, adding that AIS costs roughly $1,000, while a new radar can fetch $3,000. Moreover, he says, falling prices have also encouraged mariners to embrace newer technologies. “The price difference between an AIS receiver and an AIS transceiver has become so narrow, why not transmit your position?”

While AIS and Doppler-enabled radar are two great examples of modern technologies either usurping older gear (such as analog magnetron radars) or revolutionizing marine safety (in the case of AIS), there are other gains to be had by upgrading, especially as prices on no-longer-bleeding-edge technologies fall. Some examples of this include forward-looking sonar, side-scanning sonar, thermal-imaging cameras, and bigger, easier-to-use screens and user interfaces.

“For Alaska cruising, it’s nice to have something more than a numerical representation of depth,” Barron says, noting that more adventure-minded cruisers are investigating forward-looking sonar. Van Gruisen agrees, adding that some Bahamas-bound clients who want to navigate through skinny waters have been gravitating toward forward-looking and side-scanning sonar.

Other new technologies worth a look include Raymarine’s ClearCruise AR (the “AR” stands for augmented reality), which uses cameras to place AIS-like tags above aids to navigation and other targets on a video feed that’s displayed on the chart plotter. And then there is B&G’s SailSteer, which takes numerical instrument data—apparent wind angles, true wind direction and course over ground—from the boat’s nav system and creates an easy-to-read onscreen graphical representation of the wind, which can make sailing easier and safer.

“I don’t see people coming in saying, ‘I want ClearCruise AR,’” Van Gruisen says. “But when it’s time for an upgrade, that’s the kind of technology they’re looking at.”

Ultimately, Barron says, sailors typically upgrade their electronics for two reasons: “Things break, or they go out on their friend’s boat and realize that it’s time to get out of the Stone Age.”

Should either of these descriptors apply to your sailboat, the good news is that today’s electronics offer far-better user interfaces, situational awareness and safety features than old-school gear. And while there’s no escaping the associated upgrade costs, this investment should deliver a significantly better time on the water.

David Schmidt is CW’s electronics editor.

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The Fisherman

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2023 Marine Electronics Buyer’s Guide

See more, navigate better and fish smarter this year with newer, high-tech electronics. 

With technology in a constant state of change, there’s probably no other category of fishing related product line that advances as often and as dramatically as the marine electronic category. Through advancements in sonar imaging, boat fishermen today have the opportunity to see in real-time what’s beneath their boat in the greatest detail ever. And with more compact yet powerful radar technology even owners of smaller boats can see objects above the water’s surface from further away.

And as you’ll read in this year’s annual guide to electronics from The Fisherman, even in total darkness, digital color night vision technology has become more readily available to the private angler!   So wherever we go, and almost whenever, we navigate with confidence and can see the contours of the marine bottom using the most detailed charts and chartplotters that were once exclusive to 100-ton masters license holders running the largest vessels out there.

So in 2023, we’ll likely see a new buzzword introduced into marine electronics jargon, “system integration.” With some of the larger players like Brunswick, Yamaha and others vertically integrating more diverse types of marine electronics into their corporate infrastructure, the big boys want to be more in charge of their own destiny.  That being said, let’s get right into what’s new in the world of marine electronics for all of us in the general fishing/boating public.

Brunswick’s Navico Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of integrated systems and products, recently announced the launch of the new Fathom e-Power System, an integrated lithium-ion auxiliary power management system that delivers reliable power and unparalleled performance for the marine and RV sectors. The Fathom system offers advanced digital controls and monitoring of power consumption, delivering information on demand and providing complete control for the user.

The Fathom e-Power system features a combination of powerful components from industry-leading Navico Group brands including Mastervolt, BEP, CZone, Ancor and Blue Sea Systems. All of these are combined to create a fully vertically integrated solution compromised of energy storage, power conversion and digital monitoring and control. The system allows users to extend time away from the charge source by providing more battery capacity and efficiently managing the electrical system, while also eliminating the cost, maintenance, noise, vibration and fumes associated with traditional generators. Additionally, an intuitive user interface allows end users to easily monitor and control their power on and off the vessel via multifunction displays or smart mobile devices.

Available in 12V, 24V and 48V customizable kits, Fathom is designed to seamlessly integrate into a wide range of boats, providing a simple experience for both manufacturers and customers alike. The hardware and software elements are tested and validated to ensure compatibility with the Fathom e-Power system as well as third party hardware. “Lithium batteries for marine applications have gained substantial traction in the last decade,” said Eric Lindquist, VP and General Manager, Power Systems at Navico Group. “They last longer, charge faster, reduce weight and maximize space, as well as saving time and money in the long run, all while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. With a variety of benefits, it is no surprise that consumers are selecting lithium batteries more frequently, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this shift and provide the most advanced power management system.”

Key features of the Fathom e-Power System include enhanced information accessibility such as monitoring of power consumption from onboard appliances, allowing users to enable smarter power management to conserve energy. The intuitive interface provides an easy-to-understand battery status and includes a practical “time to empty” indicator. Users can enable alerts and guides for optimal recharging with custom preferences.

www.navico.com/fathom

Although Furuno will introduce some top secret marine electronics at the 2023 Miami Boat Show, there are a few new noteworthy items worth mentioning. Boaters with NavNet TZtouch, TZtouch2, or TZtouch3 systems and limited space for a Radar antenna will be excited to learn about a new option from Furuno that encompasses all of the Solid-State Doppler features that make their NXT Radars a must-have. Furuno’s new DRS2DNXT delivers all the features of the larger NXT Radars in a compact 19-inch Radome. The DRS2DNXT is the perfect solution for smaller vessels or those who desire a compact backup Radar with the same features and modes their larger Radar provides.

The DRS2DNXT utilizes the same, proven transceiver as the 24-inch DRS4DNXT, delivering powerful Solid-State Doppler Radar performance and a 48 nautical mile range. All of the same modes and features that are the hallmarks of the NXT series will be available, including Target Analyzer, RezBoost beam sharpening, FTT (Fast Target Tracking), Bird Mode, Rain Mode and dual-range capability. With Target Analyzer, target colors change in real time, allowing you to spot potentially hazardous situations at a glance. Green echoes are stationary targets, landmasses, or targets approaching your vessel at a velocity of fewer than 3 knots. Radar echoes dynamically shift to red when an object approaches your vessel at a speed of 3 knots or faster, independently of your own ship’s speed.

While a smaller antenna creates a wider beamwidth, Furuno’s RezBoost beam sharpening processes the returned targets to achieve equivalent resolutions of larger antenna arrays. RezBoost processing also enhances Furuno’s Bird Mode, a feature that automatically adjusts the Radar’s gain and clutter to detect flocks or even individual birds as they’re feeding on baitfish. Knowing where the birds gather is just one tool that fishermen use to get on the fish, and NXT series Radars automatically make those adjustments for you. With the Auto Acquire feature, targets in a 3-nautical mile range are instantly acquired and tracked automatically. The DRS2DNXT can track up to 100 ARPA targets simultaneously: 40 auto-acquired targets, 30 manually acquired targets and up to 30 targets within an operator-created guard zone.

Fast Target Tracking means that acquiring and tracking targets is instantaneous. These unique features can be used together, providing the ultimate utility, safety, and situational awareness. For example, enabling Rain Mode paints areas of precipitation in blue. With Target Analyzer enabled, targets masked within the rain that are approaching your vessel at speeds greater than 3-knots are displayed in red. This combination of features allows you to pick out hazardous targets within the squall easily and automatically. The DRS2DNXT works with NavNet TZtouch, TZtouch2, and TZtouch3.

Also new for 2023 are the Furuno FR10 and FR12 standalone Radar Displays. With most of the industry’s attention focused on multi-function displays (MFDs), standalone electronics often take a back seat on a boater’s wish list. However, Furuno knows that standalone radars still have their place and with that in mind, Furuno has unveiled a new series of standalone Radar Displays with options tailored to meet the needs of nearly any vessel. The 10.4-inch FR10 and 12.1-inch FR12 Radars are designed for use with Furuno’s award-winning DRS antenna series, including the Solid-State Doppler (NXT) or traditional X-Band Magnetron (X-Class) antennas.

www.furunousa.com

Garmin recently announced their new ECHOMAP UHD2 series of chartplotters that offer anglers premium features like Ultra High-Definition sonar, preloaded Garmin Navionics+ mapping, wireless networking for data sharing and support for Garmin’s award-winning LiveScope live-scanning sonar. Available with 6-inch, 7-inch or 9-inch bright, sunlight-readable touchscreen displays with keyed assist, anglers can easily control and operate the functions they depend on for a successful day on the water, including zooming in or out on the map or quickly toggling between different sonar views.

For crystal-clear imaging of fish and structure, the new ECHOMAP UHD2 chartplotters are available bundled with either an Ultra High-Definition GT54UHD or GT56UHD transducer that provides brilliant ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar images and amazingly clear CHIRP traditional sonar. These new ECHOMAP UHD2 displays offer the choice of 16 vivid color palette options, so it’s easier to distinguish fish and structure based on the user’s preferences and fishing conditions. They are also compatible with Garmin LiveScope, so anglers can see real-time sonar imagery of fish and structure below and around their boat up to 200 feet down. Anglers can pinpoint the perfect honey hole or navigate to the next destination with enhanced situational awareness thanks to the built-in Garmin Navionics+ U.S. inland mapping or coastal charts. This all-in-one cartography solution features vibrant colors and a streamlined interface, plus a one-year subscription to daily map updates to deliver superior inland or coastal coverage.

Garmin Navionics+ mapping also features color-shaded target depth ranges, up to 1-foot depth contours, shallow water shading and access to ActiveCaptain community content for valuable insight on points of interest, along with recommendations and advice from fellow boaters. ECHOMAP UHD2 users can also use the ActiveCaptain app to download Auto Guidance+ technology2 on their smart device for faster route calculations and improved routing detail. After selecting departure and arrival points, Auto Guidance+ considers a variety of factors like overhead clearance, chart data, popular routes and desired depth and then creates a suggested route for mariners to follow to their destination.

Whether fishing with a friend or wanting the flexibility to add another chartplotter on board, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows anglers to wirelessly stream sonar and share user data, such as waypoints and routes, between two ECHOMAP UHD2 units. Customers who already have an ECHOMAP UHD or an ECHOMAP Ultra chartplotter on board, can add a new ECHOMAP UHD2 and take advantage of the wireless networking capabilities across the full system. With an attractive hardware redesign to serve the needs of the modern angler while maintaining a clean and classic touchscreen with keyed assist interface, the ECHOMAP UHD2 also features Garmin’s latest user interface and graphics that provide a more modernized look with intuitive handling and control.  For added convenience, the newly redesigned quick release brackets make it simple to remove the unit from the boat at the end of the day. The new 9-inch ECHOMAP UHD2 also adds a high-resolution display with improved detail, clarity and viewing angle compared to previous models.

www.garmin.com

It’s no secret that Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging has given anglers an unprecedented real-time view under the water and a better understanding of how to trigger more bites. Additionally, anglers everywhere have experienced how Minn Kota’s Spot-Lock has brought boat control up a step up the evolutionary ladder, giving them the ability to hold on a spot and catch more fish with less effort.

TargetLock will maintain the live sonar view in its current direction, adjusting for changes in boat position and will work at the same time and independently of Minn Kota Ultrex’s operation, including Spot-Lock. MEGA Live TargetLock is independently mounted of the trolling motor shaft, providing full and simultaneous use of MEGA Live Imaging and all Ultrex features. Anglers can control MEGA Live from the included wireless foot pedal, Humminbird fish finder or optional hand remote. TargetLock can be used while sitting still, while using a Minn Kota Ultrex to move around the structure, or while holding in place using Spot-Lock. Users can set TargetLock in the current direction of MEGA Live with the touch of a button. Then move the cursor over an object or position on a sonar or chart view and engage TargetLock at the cursor. MEGA Live will automatically adjust to focus on the selected target.

www.humminbird.com

Historically, the ability to keep your boat over productive fish-catching locations (without anchoring) was limited to sticking your bow into the wind/seas and running the boat at idle speed…stemming the tide. But if the wind or current is running off your quarter or beam, you’ll drift off sideways away from your target. Most of the major outboard manufacturers offer a proprietary joystick piloting feature that will keep you in place, once you save a GPS position and instruct it to hold that spot. The electronic joystick controller works with your onboard GPS to operate the engines independently, shifting gears, adding throttle and steering them in different directions to get this done, but this is a very expensive item.

If you can’t afford a 30-something foot twin, triple or quad outboard rig with a fuel sucking joystick controller, Minn Kota’s Riptide Terrova electric trolling motor with Spot Lock might be an excellent alternative for controlling your craft. The Terrova is a real force-multiplier in the wreck fishing game. The term “trolling motor” is a bit of a misnomer. You can use it in the classic sense as a straight-up electric trolling motor, but this special tool does considerably more. When drifting near a wreck in moving water, the Terrova can help slow things down by providing just the right amount of reverse thrust to achieve and maintain that “perfect” drift speed to get consistent bites. If groundfish or tuna are holding around a specific piece of bottom, you can “Spot Lock” your boat at the touch of a button to employ the invisible anchor feature and keep it right where you want it. Should the fish move around during different stages of the day, the Jog feature with enable you to slide your vessel in five-foot increments north, south, east or west. When you are drift fishing for sharks or tuna and the wind drops out, drafting the Terrova into service can extend your chum slick for miles and make your dead baits come to life with the touch of a button. Compared to the aforementioned multi-outboard joystick systems, the Minn Kota Riptide Terrova is a much more affordable option that’s a fraction of the cost. Plus it’s really the only viable option for micro-control of single engine vessels. At the core of the Minn Kota trolling motor is an indestructible composite shaft that’s guaranteed for life. For more information on the Minn Kota Riptide Terrova,

www.minnkotamotors.com

The ICOM M510 is a Class-D DSC VHF marine transceiver with wireless capabilities and is a powerhouse that’s tough enough for the commercial market yet also refined for the recreational boater. The M510 is nearly half the depth of the M506, allowing installation in more confined spaces. The large color display has a simple user interface offering casual and serious boaters alike plenty of options to communicate. Additionally, command and control using iOS and Android smart devices with class leading features such as wireless calling. With the ability to receive AIS signals (optional AIS version only), users can see surrounding vessel traffic in real-time and directly make individual DSC calls to selected targets. The large 3.5-inch color TFT LCD provides a wide viewing angle with high-resolution characters and icons for consistent readability, even in low light with night mode. Front and back connection ports allow an additional wired station using a COMMANDMIC.

ICOM’s RS-M500 app allows users to connect three iOS or Android smart devices to function as a wireless command speaker/microphone. Use the push-to-talk features, scroll/scan channels, as well as use the M510’s intercom function from the comfort of the captain’s seat. Additionally, one COMMANDMIC can connect while three other smart devices are linked. Users can connect to a NMEA 2000 network with the optional CT-M500 wireless interface box. If the NMEA connection is on a different part of the boat, the CT-M500 can wirelessly connect with the M510, providing flexibility on placement. Additionally, with the optional SP-37 horn speaker, the CT-M500 can access the two-way hailer/PA functions. Other features of the ICOM M510 include a MMSI reset dongle; hand microphone with AquaQuake; optional voice scrambler; external speaker connection; four-digit channels support; plus an option to connect to an external GPS.

www.icomamerica.com

Lowrance recently unveiled the next generation of the Ultimate Fishing System with New HDS PRO, ActiveTarget 2 and Active Imaging HD. The new HDS PRO chartplotter/fishfinder highest resolution ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar and ultra-high-definition Active Imaging HD provide anglers with the complete package of the latest fishfinding technology.

HDS PRO forms the heart of the Ultimate Fishing System, offering full networking and bow-to-stern boat control spanning trolling motors, autopilots, engines, radar, communications, and connectivity and control of PowerPole shallow water anchors. The new HDS PRO introduces two new chart overlays for ActiveTarget Scout mode and Ghost 360. HDS PRO offers a SolarMAX HD touchscreen, which provides stunning sonar images of fish and structure from the Active Imaging HD and ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar technologies, along with incredible detailed chart information that is easy to see from any angle, in direct sunlight and through polarized lenses. The HDS PRO fishfinder is available in 9-inch, all new 10-inch, 12-inch and 16-inch display sizes.

ActiveTarget 2 is the newest update to the award-winning ActiveTarget live sonar that was unveiled in 2020 and quickly became a mainstay for the world’s best anglers and professionals of Major League Fishing. Active Target 2 provides higher-resolution views of fish movement and structure and enables anglers to quickly recognize if lures and techniques are working in real-time allowing them to make adjustments to get fish to strike. It delivers a smoother and more consistent image across the entire range, with full live-action picture in Forward, Down and Scout views. Additionally, HDS PRO allows for the use of two systems at the same time giving even more views simultaneously with 180 View, Scout Wide View and Forward and Scout split screen view.

Active Imaging HD rounds out the suite of products with the clearest images of fish and structure from Lowrance CHIRP sonar, SideScan and DownScan Imaging. Additionally, a new FishReveal SideScan view is now available with a recently introduced S3100 Sonar Module, in addition to the already popular DownScan Fish reveal view, helping anglers easily identify fish targets to the sides and beneath the boat.

Pre-loaded C-MAP charts on the HDS PRO include full-featured vector charts, custom depth shading, high-resolution coastal coverage and 1-foot contours on more than 27,000 lakes across the U.S. and Canada along with the new chart overlay option, allowing you to view ActiveTarget Scout Mode or Ghost 360 trolling motor mode directly on the chart screen. For anglers that want to select their own chart, HDS PRO supports a wide range of third-party chart options, including C-MAP REVEAL, Navionics, Florida Marine Tracks and more.

www.lowrance.com

Raymarine recently introduced the next generation of their LightHouse Operating System for all boaters. New LightHouse 4.1 delivers even easier operation, exciting personalization options, and several new features. As with all Raymarine software upgrades, LightHouse 4.1 is available to all Axiom, Axiom+, Axiom Pro, and Axiom XL owners completely free as a downloadable update. Revised menu structures enable easier use of the depth of Axiom features, with personalized images now an option for all boaters to make their boat even more their own.

Feature improvements include deeper integration with Mercury Engines, Sirius XM Fish Mapping and Navionics charts to heighten a captain’s awareness at the helm. New dynamic tiles on the home screen allow the presentation of navigation, NMEA2000 or SeaTalking data immediately available on start up. Whether cruising, fishing, or sailing, the powerful combination of Raymarine Axiom chartplotter displays and the LightHouse operating system affords captains an enhanced level of situational awareness.

The new LightHouse 4.1 OS provides a refined visual experience. Simplified menus make tapping into the power of Axiom faster and easier than ever. Longer pull-up menus are now nested and more intuitive to read and operate. LightHouse Apps that integrate control or provide information from marine integration partners like Seakeeper, Victron, Lumishore, and a host of others are now launchable directly from the LightHouse Home Screen, and key LightHouse Apps are now viewable in split-screen configurations. Additionally, the critical MOB touch key has been relocated to share prominent space on the Home Screen. LightHouse 4.1 offers more options than ever to personalize how Axiom looks and functions. Captains can now add a favorite photo to the Home Screen background or create dynamic dashboard tiles to keep them informed of real-time instrument and navigation data right from the home screen display.

LightHouse 4.1 takes integration with Mercury Marine Vessel View to the next level, offering Active Exhaust Volume control, a new and refined Engine Data Summary page, and more. Anglers in North America will also appreciate the industry-best integration with SiriusXM Fish Mapping, which offers regularly updated science-based fishing-data chart overlays. SiriusXM Fish Mapping helps anglers quickly visualize and navigate to the most productive offshore fishing grounds. The LightHouse 4.1 update allows SiriusXM Fish Mapping data to be directly overlaid and viewed on premium fishing charts like Raymarine LightHouse Charts, Navionics, C-MAP, CMOR, and Strikelines in North American coastal regions.

LightHouse 4.1 delivers a host of additional key upgrades, including active route line visual enhancements, new levels of audio control, and more. Of particular interest to Navionics chart users, LightHouse 4.1 supports the display of high-resolution bathymetric data and satellite imagery that comes bundled with new Navionics Platinum+TM charts.

www.raymarine.com

At the 2022 Miami Boat Show Simrad Yachting unveiled their newest NSX series multi-function displays (MFDs). The Simrad NSX is available in 7-inch, 9-inch and 12-inch display sizes and is based on a new Operating System built from the ground up to redefine your boating and fishing experiences. I had a chance to test all three of the new NSX screen sizes and operating software and they are the real deal. NSX features an innovative and modern interface with a new, intuitive touch screen with crystal clear views. Charts include powerful C-MAP navigation capabilities and compatibility with other Simrad sonar, radar and autopilot systems. The Simple Setup Wizards guide users through each step during the initial NSX device setup and Simrad app integration makes connectivity from your smartphone easier than ever.

With the full suite of Simrad technology at your fingertips, NSX is designed to allow users to expand the MFD with additional functionality, easier integrations and support for a wide range of third-party applications. Boaters who love fishing can utilize NSX to view high-resolution images below and to the sides with Active Imaging and CHIRP sonar, SideScan/DownScan Imaging and FishReveal, or search even greater depths with a wide range of compatible transducers. Users can integrate easily with their radar and get the most out of their AutoPilot systems by connecting to Autorouting.

Simple to set up and easy to manage with a Setup Wizard that walks users through the process to make it easier and faster including engine and tank setup, AutoPilot optimization, radar dockside and on the water calibration and much more. NSX offers a new, intuitive touchscreen experience with various display sizes and multiple screen configurations to suit every user’s needs. There’s a full suite of Simrad technology at the touch of a finger with networking and connectivity solutions including modem plug-in for additional connectivity to devices and an ethernet port for full networking capabilities in the future.

The screen is fully customizable with smart drag-and-drop capabilities via the handy instruments bar that allows easy edits on command. High resolution bathymetry shows accurate contour lines down to a 1-foot level of detail with compatible charts. Enhanced day and night modes allow each operator to be ready to go in all weather and lighting conditions. Simrad’s fastest-ever Autorouting feature offers improved planning and route plotting and the Simrad App allows hassle-free software updates and data transfer.

www.simrad-yachting.com

Sionyx, a leader in digital color night vision technology, recently introduced its Nightwave marine camera system. Built around the brand’s proprietary Black Silicon BSI CMOS sensor, Nightwave allows mariners to navigate safely by easily spotting hazards and debris in moonless starlight without additional illumination, maximizing time on the water. The new ultra-low-light marine digital camera system guides boaters of all skill levels safely through low-light situations, dramatically enhancing night travel.

Built to operate in the toughest marine environments, the night vision camera is IP67 waterproof and shock rated. Nightwave seamlessly integrates to any vessel’s electronics by connecting to most major brand multi-function displays (MFDs) via the analog video output. With flexible mounting and setup, Nightwave can also connect to a mobile device via Wi-Fi for an enhanced user experience. At an MSRP of $1,595.00, Nightwave sets a new standard of affordability for night vision, making it accessible to boaters of all levels.

“Developing solutions to increase safety on the water and navigate with confidence is part of our mission,” said Gio Lepore, Global Product Manager at Sionyx. “Nightwave’s digital color night vision allows anglers and boaters to be active on the water as early or as late at night as they’d like,” Lepore noted, while adding “This technology provides clear color images in near-total darkness and is simple to install and operate. It should be a standard piece of equipment on every vessel to ensure a safe trip at any time.”

Notable features of the Sionyx Nightwave camera include <1mlx moonless starlight sensitivity, which allows mariners to see well beyond human eyesight and detect a man-sized object at 150 meters; the system’s high resolution detector provides upgraded quality imaging capability in near total darkness; Wide 44-degree field of view increases situational awareness to spot unexpected obstacles, debris, markers, vessels, and more; convenient installation flexibility that includes permanent mounting hardware, as well as a standard 1/4- by 20-inch mount interface.

Nightwave can be oriented ball-up or ball-down, to meet any challenging mounting requirements; plus it’s lightweight and portable at less than 31 ounces. Users can stay up-to-date with the latest firmware and software releases, which are available through the SIONYX mobile app. The Nightwave mobile app features include the ability to connect to Nightwave for additional features and capabilities like using WiFi to set the camera orientation and position for optimal viewing experiences, an IR cut filter control, over-the-air updates and more. The initial release will be android compatible, with iOS releasing shortly after. Future releases will include additional features such as wireless video streaming. Built rugged, connected and capable, Nightwave is an impressive and affordable addition to any vessel large or small.

www.sionyx.com

Sirius and Raymarine recently announced that the SiriusXM Fish Mapping service, which is designed to help saltwater anglers locate fish faster and save fuel, is now available on Raymarine’s Axiom line of chart plotter displays. SiriusXM Fish Mapping provides regularly updated, science-based fishing data directly to compatible Axiom displays using the SR200 SiriusXM Satellite Weather receiver and running Raymarine’s new version of the LightHouse 4.1 operating system.

The SiriusXM Fish Mapping service is also available on select products from all major marine electronics manufacturers. Fish Mapping provides eight distinct features to identify the most promising areas to fish in North American waters. Fishing Recommendations identify the areas that oceanographers recommend for zeroing in on six distinct target species. Plankton Fronts show locations of greatest plankton concentration next to relatively little plankton, particularly beneficial info when they occur near temperature fronts. Plankton Concentration contour lines show areas with dense plankton concentrations; baitfish feed on plankton which attracts gamefish. Sea Surface Temperature Fronts reveal significant temperature changes that create distinct boundaries between bodies of water, concentrating nutrients which attract bait fish. Strong and very strong fronts are good places to find game fish. Sea Surface Temperature Contour lines are simplified graphic representations of sea surface temperatures to help target areas where specific fish species can be found. Weed Lines show the most recent sightings of weed lines, which provide habitat for bait and gamefish.

Sea Surface Height Anomalies represent areas of upwellings, eddies and convergence zones where nutrient-rich water is favorable for finding fish. Sub-Surface Water Temperatures provide water temperatures up to 30 meters beneath the surface, to help identify where targeted game fish tend to hunt within their preferred temperature range. Anglers who already have SiriusXM Weather and a SR200 can easily upgrade to the SiriusXM Fish Mapping service.

The SR200 is easy to install and use, and its reliable antenna provides the best possible reception, even on the fringes of SiriusXM’s extensive coverage area (up to 150 nautical miles offshore). Consumers who do not yet have a SR200 receiver will need to purchase that and also sign up for subscription; the Fish Mapping service is $99.99 a month and includes all of SiriusXM Marine’s Weather information. The service can be suspended at no charge for up to 6 months each year. The SR200 also supports SiriusXM’s audio entertainment service which features a wide variety of channels that offer ad-free music, plus news, sports, comedy and more. Access to SiriusXM’s audio channels can be added to a Fish Mapping subscription.

www.siriusxm.com

SITEX/ECHONAUTICS TRANSDUCERS

The Si-Tex management team shared that they are currently working on a new series of GPS/echo sounder units that will be released sometime in the 2023 calendar year, with no specifics available as of yet. In the interim, there is now a new source of transducers for the marine electronics industry, offering American design, Italian manufacturing and compatibility with all major sounder and multi-function display brands.

Si-Tex has partnered with Italian manufacturer Echonautics to help alleviate the current supply chain issues for transducers for many electronics manufacturers, regardless of brand. The Echonautics line-up includes the BT87H1kW, a 1kw High Frequency CHIRP bronze flush-mount thru-hull that minimizes drag and provides superior high-speed performance. Its powerful output, 130 kHz to 210 kHz frequency range and narrow 8- to 13-degree beamwidth make this transducer excellent for pinpointing fish holding tight to reefs, wrecks and other structure. This model is available in 0-degree, 12-degree, and 18-degree tilted element versions to accommodate different mounting locations and hull styles.

The Echonautics product line includes a full range of high-performance transducer options including bronze and stainless steel thru-hulls, NMEA2000 Digital Sensors, dual-frequency transom mounts and more. Echonautics will be available to boat builders, marine electronics dealers and consumers across North America exclusively through AvMap Satellite Navigation Inc.

www.avmap.us

STANDARD HORIZON

Engineered to be rugged and reliable, the HX320 is designed to float and constructed to survive submersion with the IPX7 water resistant rating that requires it to endure 3.3 feet (1 meter) of water for 30 minutes with its rubber caps installed. When the HX320 comes in contact with water, the water-activated strobe light will turn on “white” to assist in finding the radio in low light conditions. This feature operates whether the radio is ON or OFF. The built-in 2100mAh high capacity Lithium polymer battery provides approximately 17-hours of operation. It’s equipped with a USB type-C jack for recharging and the HX320 enables wireless operation using the optional Bluetooth headset SSM-BT10.

Visibility is enhanced with an ample LCD display incorporating large and bold channel information flags that are easy to identify. Emergency channel 16 can be immediately accessed by pressing the [16/S] key. Other channel functions include a Preset key used to recall up to 10 favorite channels; Programmable Scan, Priority Scan, Dual Watch and Triple Watch; an integrated FM broadcast receiver; plus NOAA Weather Channels with Weather Alert (only available in NOAA weather service areas).

The HX320 comes equipped with a VHF Marine Antenna, charger cradle, USB AC Adapter, USB cable, USB type-A to USB type-C charging cable, belt clip and a hand strap. The robust design of this radio is backed by an industry leading 3-year waterproof warranty.

www.standardhorizon.com

2024 Marine Electronics Buyers Guide

The electronics industry is pushing the envelope yet again this year, and we’ve got the scoop on what’s inside!

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Marine Electronics: Understanding the Basics

Table of Contents

Marine electronics are devices for navigation and communication aboard a boat or ship. With the rapid expansion of technology, marine electronics have evolved to include cartography, collision avoidance, onboard connectivity, tracking wind, and propulsion integration.

What electronics do I need on my boat?

The boat devices you need depend on boat type, how, and where you boat. A tow boat used for watersports on a lake doesn’t need much other than a speedometer. In contrast, a sailboat used for passage making needs a full suite, including a chartplotter, radar, depth sounder, and more.

How much are boat electronics?

The cost of electronics will differ by what you need and how you use them. A basic chartplotter (9-inch screen) can cost under $500, VHF radios start around $100, and a large (16-inch or more) fully integrated MFD with transducers and antennas typically can go well over $10,000 and requires periodic software updates.

Let’s dive a little deeper and look at 10 essential boat electronic devices:

• Multifunction Displays (MFDs)
• Chartplotter
• Radar & ASI
• Wind instruments
• Depth sounder
• Fishfinder (sonar)
• Engine monitors
• Digital switching
• VHFs and SSB radios

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1. Multifunction Displays (MFDs)

Multifunction Displays, also known as MFDs, are LCDs (buttons or touchscreen) that connect the user with various functions on a boat.

Although they were thought of as a display for cartography (chartplotters) first, MFDs have become the central command of marine electronics.

You can integrate all systems, including navigation and communication. It also supports audio and video capabilities that help you check your position, select tunes, or even watch a movie on an MFD.

All the components discussed below can be displayed on an integrated MFD.

2. Chartplotters

A chartplotter is used for navigation on the water and is like the navigation system in your car.

It combines GPS with marine cartography and is an electronic chart (map) to determine where you are and the best route for where you want to go.

3. Radar & ASI

Radar (radio detection and ranging) uses radio waves to determine your surroundings. It is beneficial at times of limited visibility, such as nighttime or fog.

Radar shows the distance, angle, and velocity of objects (boats or land-based sites) relative to your position. Radar can be sensitive enough to show rain squalls and includes an antenna (closed or open array) and a display like an MFD.

AIS (automatic identification system) is a short-range tracking system with radar to track targets (other vessels). Its primary purpose is collision avoidance as it follows the speed, bearing, and even names of boats around you.

4. Autopilot

Autopilot is the self-steering mechanism that can hold a pre-set course. Some autopilots will steer to a compass course or to the wind direction.

This device will steer to a waypoint, but they’re not set-it-and-forget-it gadgets. They don’t pick up what’s between your boat and the waypoint like other boats! So remain vigilant even when you use autopilot.

5. Wind Instruments

Wind instruments are small MFDs that provide specific information on wind velocity and angle. This is critical information for sailors, but any boater can benefit from knowing how the wind acts as a force on their boat. This feature comes in especially handy when docking or anchoring!

5. Depth Sounder

A depth sounder tells you the depth of the water. A transducer is mounted on or through the hull and sends radio signals. The rate at which the signal returns determines the depth of the water column.

You can incorporate offsets to give yourself a margin of safety. Just be sure you know whether the measurement is from the water’s surface or the bottom of the keel , or you could find yourself short. This information is displayed on your MFD’s screen.

6. Fish Finder (Sonar)

A fish finder locates fish or paints a picture of underwater structures. Like a depth sounder, a fish finder uses sound waves via a transducer.

The information can be displayed on a separate screen. But more often, it’s on your MFD’s screen.

Advanced fish finders paint a picture of more than fish, including rocks, reefs, or underwater objects.

• See how to read a fish finder .

7. Engine Monitors

Boats with one or more motors can display engine information on dedicated displays or MFDs.

These monitors are digital engine gauges providing information on temperature, tachometer, alarms, fluid levels, trim levels, rudder angles, diagnostics, service intervals, and more.

8. Digital Switching

Digital switching replaces mechanical switching. The breakers with a networked softkey approach to controlling onboard systems.

Now in days, even basic boats have components of digital switching technology.

9. VHF Radio

Very High Frequency, or VHF, radios operate at line -of-sight, which means they can be heard approximately 2-3 miles away. This may vary on your antenna height or if there’s anything (like an island) in the way.

VHF radios can be fixed mount (attached ship’s station) or handheld (portable). VHF radios may communicate with other boats, marinas, bridges, and the US Coast Guard.

Once a handheld radio is taken to shore, it cannot be used for personal transmissions. Anyone with a VHF can hear anyone who is transmitting. You should be careful about the information you share.

10. SSB Radio

A Single Sideband, or SSB, the radio operates as a point-to-point, two-way communication for long distances. It is HF (high frequency), uses radio wave propagation, and is used by offshore vessels.

The key to shopping for marine electronics is understanding what your boat can accommodate and what you need. We hope our list of 10 marine electronics to know is helpful to you.

Don’t let your boat sit idly by. List it with us to earn $20K on avg.

Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin. 

A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide. 

Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico. 

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Basic Boat Electronics for Beginners

Learning about boat electronics may seem a bit daunting, but the tech at your helm will help make running and navigating your boat easier than ever. Thanks to modern marine electronics and navigational instruments , captaining your boat is far less complex and confusing than it once was.

In fact, electronics have taken tasks like navigation , which once required years of learning to master, and made them as simple as pressing a few buttons or swiping on a touch screen. There are still some rather complex tasks and gear involved when one considers operating some large vessels, but for the average recreational boat owner the list of electronics you’ll need to learn about is relatively short.

What boat electronics do I need onboard?

Multifunction displays (mfds).

• GPS/Chartplotter

Fish Finder or Depth Sounder

Engine monitors.

How to Navigate a Boat

Think of multifunction displays, commonly called MFDs, as the “brain” for your boat. They incorporate most or even all of your systems into one single interface, which may feature either a touch screen or keypad control.

While it may seem overwhelming to think about combining all the different systems into one, don’t fret. MFDs are shockingly easy to learn how to use because most modern versions utilize a user-interface that’s very similar to the smart phone sitting in your pocket. You’ll discover that home screens have pages with app-like, tap-to-activate icons that allow you to choose between functions, and customizable pages that allow you to bring combinations of different functions up in split-screen modes.

If you’re just buying a new boat that incorporates the latest and greatest technology, you may discover that the MFD controls not only the marine electronics, but also all of the boat’s electrical systems. This ability comes courtesy of tech called “digital switching.”

Digital switching allows you to turn any device on or off right from the MFD screen (think of it like Nest for your boat). So when a boat is built with a digital switching system things like the light switches, livewell pumps, electric windows, and anchor windlasses can all be controlled with a tap or a swipe of your finger on the MFD.

GPS/Chartplotters

You’ve almost certainly enjoyed the benefits of GPS mapping on your phone and in your car. Just as this tech has made driving around on land a lot less confusing, it’s made navigating a boat a snap. You may navigate with a stand-along GPS/chartplotter, the GPS/chartplotter function on your MFD, or even via an app on your phone or tablet (see 5 Best Marine Navigation Apps for Boaters , to find the right nav app for your needs).

In truth, there really isn’t a huge difference between navigating a boat with a GPS/chartplotter and navigating a car with GPS mapping. No, there are no roads and yes, you have to be aware of factors like water depth, navigational aids, and hazards to navigation. But the basic concept is quite similar and once you’ve checked out Marine GPS for Boats: Understanding the Basics , and Marine Navigation: How to Navigate a Boat , you should find that when it comes to figuring out simple navigational techniques the learning curve is quite short.

Marine GPS for Boats: Understanding the Basics

Fish finders and depth sounders are also functions that are built into most MFDs but may be found as stand-alone units as well, particularly on small all-purpose fishing boats , center consoles , and other boats designed for fishing which don’t necessarily have larger, more expensive electronics systems installed.

They may have touch-screen or tactile interfaces, and generally have a number of settings that can improve performance quite a bit depending on factors like water depth, the level of suspended solids in the water, zoom levels, and so on. Fortunately, all modern fish finders have “auto” modes that can do most of the fine-tuning for you.

Ready to dig a bit deeper into the details? 

How to Use a Fish Finder

Engine monitors provide you with digital gauges like tachometers, fuel level, and engine temperature. Once again, this functionality may come through your MFD or you may have dedicated screens to show you nothing but engine data. In this case, however, having dedicated screens is more common because you’ll want to be able to monitor your powerplants whenever they’re running.

Engine monitors can take up a lot of screen space on an MFD, leaving less room for other systems to be viewed. And they usually need to be used simultaneously with things like chartplotters and fishfinders. So most of the time, engine monitors will have their own stand-alone screens.

Just about all of us are used to seeing digital gauges in the dashboard of our cars and trucks, so you should have zero problem adapting to using them in your boat. Just remember that with a boat there are often more variables to consider, and engine monitors may include things like drive trim level or rudder angle in addition to basic engine data.

Of all the electronics on your boat, the VHF radio is one of the most important. It’s a critical piece of safety gear and the most reliable way to communicate with the authorities in case of emergency. Yes, we all carry cell phones these days, but cell service can get sketchy on many waterways and cell phones are prone to water damage.

Your VHF radio, on the other hand, is the best way to reliably get a call for help through to the authorities in any place or situation. VHFs are relatively simple to operate, so read through How to Use a VHF Radio and familiarize yourself with the process.

How to Use a VHF Radio

Explore Other Boat Electronics

What about all those more advanced systems found on larger boats, like autopilots, radar, or EPIRBs? We have info about them, too, which you can find below. But for the average boat owner, our short-list will cover all the bases. Learn how to use your MFD, GPS/chartplotter, fish finder or depth sounder, engine monitors, and VHF radio, and you’ll be ready to hit the water and enjoy some fun in the sun with confidence.

• To learn more about autopilot systems, see Autopilot/Self-Steering Gear .
• To learn about marine radar systems, see Boat Radar, Marine Radar, and Broadband Radar .
• To learn more about EPIRBs, see EPIRBs - You Bet Your Life .

Read Next: Best Boating Apps for Navigation, Fishing, Weather & More

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Electronics

About Marine Electronics

Get more bang for your buck when you shop marine electronics at iboats.com.

Do your boat electronics have need of an upgrade? With iboats' selection of the newest models of marine electronics available, upgrading to the latest and greatest is easy. You can also save a few bucks by choosing an older model that has all the functionality you need. Get your electronics delivered and on your boat FAST, with our everyday low shipping rates and affordable 2-Day Air Service. Get more for your dollar, and deck out your boat with the latest marine electronics, all from iboats.com.

Let the Tunes be Heard!

Crank up the music on your boat this weekend with a new marine sound system from brands like Boss, JBL, Jensen, and Poly Planar. Revamp that aging system with one of our many stereo packages . Want more ""pop" from your system? Build a custom sound system with iboats' selection of marine-grade quality receivers, speakers , amplifiers , and subwoofers to create the ultimate sound system for your boat. While you're at it, add a new marine satellite antenna with receiver and entertain in style. Now it's easy to keep everyone on your boat entertained with help from iboats' large selection of marine audio and visual electronics.

Track Down that Big Catch with a Fish Finder or GPS Combo Unit

Has that big catch eluded you for too long? With a Fish Finder , no fish can hide from you this weekend. iboats.com carries a Fish Finder for every price range, from value-priced monochrome models to state-of-the-art models with color screens and dual-beam transducer technology. With a GPS Chart Plotter , navigate directly to your favorite fishing spots. Use the GPS memory feature to get back there fast, so you have more time to reel in that big catch. Navigate any body of water with iboats' many chart plotter options. With Finders, Combo Units, and Plotters from brands like Humminbird, Garmin, Lowrance, and Furuno, you'll keep those fish running for years and stay safer on the water too.

VHF Radios for Reliable Marine Communications and Safety

A VHF radio is a must for any boat! Whether you're planning a long trip or going to the lake this weekend, make sure your boat is equipped with a VHF marine radio from iboats.com. Choose from a Fixed Mount or Handheld unit and always have a form of contact in case an emergency arises while on the water. With our selection of Antennas and VHF Radio accessories, make sure your radio is always ready to go. Keep your family and friends safe with the added security of a VHF radio from brands like Uniden, Raymarine, Standard Horizon, Cobra and more.

More Choices and Better Prices on Marine Electronics at iboats.com

With quality value-priced marine electronics at iboats.com, you can afford to upgrade your boat with all the functionality you want, whether Fish Finders for help landing your catch, or sound systems for entertaining. Save time and money by getting direct-to-your-door delivery. And if you have questions on some of the features of the marine electronics products, let our experienced customer service team help you find the best deals.

Marine Electronics How-Tos

Boating electronics - what they are, and how they improve my boating experience.

Many people simply love being out in the lake, sea, or ocean. Maybe it's because of the oneness with nature, or the wide open spaces, or for fun and recreation, or the peace and tranquility. Well, you can always take the memorable

Hauling the fish on board, or trying to angle the elusive marlin, or bluefin can be made more entertaining and convenient by installing various boating electronics. This will allow you simply to sit on the deck and gaze at the sea while enjoying some soothing music. You may also decide to let the autopilot take charge of the yacht, or ship.

Marine Weather Terminology

Dense fog advisory, gale warning, hurricane watch/warning, inland hurricane wind warning, saffir-simpson scale.

The Saffir-Simpson scale is an official calculation of wind levels that classify a hurricane. The scale ranges between the numbers 1 and 5, 1 being the least severe and 5 being the most severe. The winds are measured in the following statistics:

• 2: 96-110 MPH
• 3: 111-129 MPH
• 4: 130-156 MPH
• 5: 157+ MPH

Small Craft Advisory

Storm warning, tropical storm watch/warning, wind advisory.

A warning that is when sustained winds of 31-39 MPH or frequent gusts of the wind between 46-57 MPH are expected to last for 3 hours or more.

• Accessories 2369 items
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• Fish Finders, Sounders & Sonar 1060 items
• GPS Chartplotters & Accessories 905 items
• Marine Audio/Video 941 items
• Marine Radar 488 items
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Marine Electronics

Marine Stereo Systems

Fish Finders & GPS

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Marine Electronics Mounts

Dual Marine 40" Wire AM/FM Marine Antenna

The Dual MAW40 AM/FM antenna includes a 40" long flexible wire. Features Flexible wire 40" long with plug

Shakespeare Watertite Marine Cable Outlet, Chrome Brass

Shakespeare Watertite Marine Cable Outlet Use this attractive, chrome brass, cable outlet to neatly pass cables through bulkheads. Its rubber internal grommet grips the cable and keeps water out. For RG-8/AU, 8X, 58, 59, 213 and Shakespeare LoMax coax...

Sea Dog Antenna Clip

ANTENNA CLIP- Injection Molded Rubber. Securely holds down Antenna when not in use. Also can be used for fishing rods and boat hooks.

Anderson AM-FM Dual Mount Rubber Marine Antenna

Anderson AM-FM Dual Mount Rubber Marine Antenna This is a rubber antenna mount that can be used as a side Mount or a top mount. Comes complete with a 54" cable lead. Has an 180 degree swivel base.

Shakespeare Marine Antenna Nylon Ratchet Mount

Shakespeare's Style 4186 Ratchet Mount features a versatile four-way ratchet design that adapts easily to vertical or horizontal surfaces, slanted or straight. Its simple design makes installation simple. The mount should not be used with antennas longer...

Shakespeare Gold Plated Marine Centerpin Connector

Shakespeare Gold Plated Marine Centerpin Connector No measuring. No soldering. No stripping. Installs in seconds using only wire cutters and pliers. For RG-8X and RG-58/AU Coax.

Shakespeare Stainless Steel Boat Antenna Mount

Shakespeare Stainless Steel Boat Antenna Mount Shakespeare's Style 4187 is a stainless steel ratchet mount featuring a versatile four-way design that adapts easily to deck or side mounting on slanted or level surfaces. Its simple design makes...

Ritchie F-50 Explorer Compass (Flush Mount) - Black

Ritchie F-50 Explorer Compass (Flush Mount) - Black 2 3/4" Easy to Read Direct Reading Dial Easily Installed, Fits 3.75" (9.53 cm) Mounting Hole.  Internal Green Night Illumination Built-in Compensators to Easily Adjust for...

Boss Audio Rubber Ducky AM/FM Marine Antenna

Boss Audio Rubber Ducky AM/FM Marine Antenna Boss Audio MRANT12 Marine Rubber Antenna available with black or white finish. Specifications: Antenna Band: AM/FM Length (Inches): 12'

Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Map

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri Fishing Map Fishing Hot Spots sets the standard for others to follow.  It's the map successful anglers have asked for by name for more than two decades.  Lake of the Ozarks is one of the Midwest's most productive fisheries...

Lake Vermilion Fishing Map

Lake Vermilion, Minnesota Fishing Map Fishing Hot Spots sets the standard for others to follow.  It's the map successful anglers have asked for by name for more than two decades.  Lake Vermillion is ranked as one of the state's premier fisheries with...

Ritchie B-51 Explorer Compass, Bracket Mount - Black

Explorer Compass Features 2 3/4" Easy to Read Direct Reading Dial Adjustable and Removable with Bracket and Thumbscrews Internal Green Night Illumination Built-in Compensators to Easily Adjust for Deviation Scientifically Matched Sapphire Jewel...

Sea Dog PL-259 VHF Radio Connector

Male UHF Connector PL-259 with reducer UG175U for RG-58/U Cable. Solder type.

Lowrance HOOK GPS Fishfinder TrackPlotter Transom Transducer

HOOK²-4x 4" GPS Bullet Fishfinder with Track Plotter Transom Mount Bullet Skimmer TransducerThe world’s easiest fishfinder, HOOK2 4x Bullet offers simple menus, easy access to key functions and Autotuning sonar. Powered by proven...

Ritchiesport X-23 In-Dash Marine Compass - Black

Ritchiesport X-23 In-Dash Marine Compass - Black The Ritchie RitchieSport Marine Compass is a reliable navigation tool for boaters that is easy to install. This compass installs right into your dash, fitting standard 2" gauge holes. RitchieSport...

Shakespeare Classic 8' VHF Antenna

Shakespeare Classic 8' VHF Antenna The Shakespeare Classic VHF Antenna features a smooth, high gloss, polyurethane finish that protects it from the sun. With a fiberglass construction and chrome-plated brass ferrule with standard 1"-14" thread, this...

Shakespeare Marine Antenna Mount Shim Kit

Shakespeare Style 414 Shim Kit for Ratchet Mounts Heavy duty rubber Each shim adds a half-notch (five degrees) tilt Stackable for compound angles Stack at opposing angles to add height (for clearing obstacles on mounting surface) Four shims per...

Shakespeare Stainless Steel Boat Antenna, Rail Mount

Shakespeare Stainless Steel Boat Antenna, Rail Mount Ratchet action, designed for quick and easy installation on 7/8" and 1" vertical or horizontal rails. 9/32" hole for cable feed-through. Handles antennas up to 8' standard 1"-14 thread...

TRAC Fishing Barometer

TRAC 69200 Fishing Barometer Using the TRAC 69200 Fishing Barometer, you can track pressure trends for greater fishing success. This handheld fishing barometer is easy to calibrate for local barometric pressure and has an adjustable pressure change...

Ritchie F-50 Explorer Compass, Flush Mount

Explorer Compass Features 2 3/4" Easy to Read Direct Reading Dial> Easily Installed, Fits 3 3/4" (9.53 cm) Mounting Hole Internal Green Night Illumination Built-in Compensators to Easily Adjust for Deviation Scientifically Matched Sapphire Jewel &...

Marine Electronics & Navigation

As water and electricity do not generally mix well, it is important that USCG-mandated boat electronics and required navigation devices be water-tight and humidity-resistant. Wholesale Marine offers an extensive inventory of high-quality marine electronics and boat components that are safety regulation-compliant as well as those that simply add to our boating enjoyment.

Our selection includes:

• Alarms & Detectors : Sea Dog and Marine Technologies provide great options to ensure boating safety. Select from Hi-Water Bilge Alarm Systems, Marine Fume, Fire, and Flood Detectors as well as Carbon Monoxide Alarms.
• Antennas: To boost your craft’s “visibility” and to improve reception for your TV and other entertainment devices, we carry a selection of antennas which include Marine GPS Antennas, an amplifier/Booster kit for cell phones, Satellite Antennas for Sirius/XM radio reception. We even carry flat panel TV antennas to improve reception!
• Binoculars: whether you watch sea birds, whales and dolphins cresting, the horizon, or the shoreline, we carry precision binoculars from trusted brands such as Nikon , Bushnell , and ProMariner .
• Boat Audio Systems: Whether you are communicating ship to shore or enjoying music for entertainment, you’ll find your best options from Boss and other respected brands!
• Charts & Maps: Chart your course with our selection of navigational charts from Davis . We also have maps of local fishing hot spots located across the country.
• Compasses: Know where you’re going with the best from Brunton, Richie , and Optronics .
• Depth Finders: Choose from our selection of HawkEye’s dash-mount, digital readout depth finders.
• Engine Gauges: We carry the best from Sierra , Faria , and Sea Dog .
• Fish Finders & GPS Units: Use technology to find where the fish are biting! We carry units from Humminbird , Vexilar , Hawkeye , and Lowrance .
• Mounts & Holders: Mount aftermarket boat electronics and other devices securely with our options from RAM and Humming-bird.
• Two-Way Radios: We offer a great selection of two-radios from Cobra.
• VHF Marine Radios: Stay safe and regulation-compliant with our selection of devices from Uniden, Shakespeare, Sea Dog, ACR and more.

Wholesale Marine is your one-stop-shop for all things nautical, especially marine electronics. We offer same-day shipping on most items and a lowest price guarantee as well. When you join our  Captain's Club Rewards Program  you’ll be able to use the points you accumulate today towards future purchases. We offer flat rate shipping for $6.99. Just give us a call Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM EST at (877) 388-2628.

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On Boat Electronics

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MARINE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

• Add new electronics to your vessel
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Why trust us with your marine electronics proyects?

• Practical experience with different types of electronic systems for yachts and other vessels
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• We guarantee that all installations will be carried out with the highest level of maritime standards.
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Let's discuss your next marine electronic project, we are proud to be associated with the industry’s top brands.

We work with the highest standards in the boating community:

• Always label & Proper gauge wire
• Do not mix battery types
• The RF ground system helps mitigate Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI)
• To avoid interference Suggested Antennas Spacing
• Comply with all applicable regulations NMEA & ABYC

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Manages the Solid Waste Disposal Complex, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Center, Where Does It Go? Search Tool (how to get rid of an item) and provides tours.

Find reuse, recycling and disposal options

Quick Facts

Use the search bar at the top of the page to search for a word or phrase or click on the Hours/Fees icon and scroll to the bottom of the page for helpful links.

Personal Protective Equipment

Customers are required to wear Personal Protective Equipment while at the Solid Waste Disposal Complex. View the Required Personal Protective Equipment.

Mission: Manage waste as a resource.

Vision: Zero waste to landfill by 2050.

Solid Waste Ordinance 

For updates, view the Solid Waste Ordinance Revisions webpage .

• Recycle Guide
• Where Does It Go? Search Tool
• Holiday and Gift Giving Guide
• Virtual Tour
• Pinellas Partners in Recycling
• Business Electronics and Chemical Collection Events
• Map of Recycling Drop-Off Centers

News & Stories

New virtual tour of the solid waste disposal complex.

Photo Caption: Image of the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex (SWDC) from the top of the Bridgeway Acres Landfill, as shown…

• November 1, 2023 Solid Waste partners with Code Enforcement to help property owners in need
• September 12, 2023 Department of Solid Waste disposal fee to increase
• July 5, 2023 Solid Waste seeking public input on ordinance revision
• May 16, 2023 Solid Waste changes household hazardous waste collection center operation hours and events

Business Electronics & Chemical Collection Event

Pinellas County Solid Waste’s Business Electronic and Chemical Collection Events occur on the second Wednesday of every month from 9:00am to 4:00pm….

• May 11, 2024, 9:00 am Household Chemical Collection Event Pinellas County Government Center
• May 15, 2024, 9:30 am Pinellas Partners in Recycling Meeting
• May 22, 2024, 2:00 pm Solid Waste Technical Management Committee Meeting St. Petersburg College EpiCenter
• June 8, 2024, 9:00 am Household Chemical Collection Event Pinellas County Government Center
• June 12, 2024, 9:00 am Business Electronics & Chemical Collection Event 2857 110th Avenue N. St. Petersburg, FL 33716
• June 22, 2024, 9:00 am Household Chemical Collection Event Pinellas County Government Center

Information & Resources

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St Petersburg: city of revolution turns itself around – again

This year all eyes have been on what happened in Russia’s cultural capital 100 years ago, but we ask local artists and musicians for the lowdown on its best 21st-century clubs and arts venues

“Y ou won’t find anything like this in Moscow,” Kolya Dubinko, a St Petersburg native, insists. We’re sitting on a wooden bench next to an old sailing boat outside newly opened bar/club Machty (Masts). The venue – which on this particular evening is hosting a selection of techno DJs and producers on Moscow label Gost Zvuk Records – occupies a former factory known as Priboi that once produced radio-electronics. It’s in a relatively secluded spot at the far end ofVasilievsky Island, one of the oldest parts of the city, on the Shkiperskiy canal. Machty simultaneously reflects the city’s intimate relationship with water (St Petersburg has 93 rivers and canals and 800 bridges), its industrial Soviet past and its 18th-century baroque architecture. Kolya ushers me through a small gate that leads to the canalembankment and I’m hit by biting wind from the Gulf of Finland, laced with smells of fish and engine oil.

St Petersburg has endured its fair share of suffering: from its construction in the early 18th century, which cost the lives of thousands of serfs, to its siege during the second world war, then the collapse of the Soviet Union and the ensuing chaos, when it reverted to being called St Petersburg, having been Leningrad for the duration of Soviet rule. All this change has left its mark on the city.

In 2017, St Petersburg is most often rememberedfor providing the historical backdrop to one of the most significant events of the 20th century: the Russian Revolution. One hundred years on, a young generation is making its mark on the city’s nightlife, music, food and art scenes. I’ve spent a lot of time in St Petersburg over the past six years and – in the year in which Russia celebrates a century since the revolution – I’m eager to see the latest developments in the country’s “cultural capital” (before another punishing winter sets in).

Clubs and music venues

A 20-minute walk from Machty, another newly opened venue embodies the city’s contrasts: Port Sevkabel . Also on the site of a former factory (a 19th-century one this time) it has a red-brick facade and its extensivealleys, courtyards and towering chimney – while not yet entirely open – have already hosted a session with live-stream DJ platform Boiler Room, a concert with UK band Hidden Orchestra, exhibitions by local artists and a round-table discussion featuring Troy Conrad Therrien, a curator at the Guggenheim in New York. Restaurants, cafes, museums, hostels and festivals are in the pipeline, too.

The nightlife scene is bolstered by spaces such as Club Mosaique – in a courtyard on Konyushennaya Square, a stone tunnel-like structure packed with partygoers at weekends, hosting local and foreign DJ talent – and newer club Kuznya , in the city’s New Holland Island, an 18th-century manmade island turned outdoor park and cultural centre. New Holland has an array of shops and cafes and regularly hosts lectures and screenings. The lavishly decorated Kuznya fuses restaurant, cocktail bar and nightclub and hosts frequent electronic music nights. In Moscow, by contrast, clubs have tended to have shorter lifespans; many of Moscow’s great venues have been forced to shut in the past few years. Most recently, in August, Moscow’s DIY club Rabitza was raided by police – a scene captured on film and shared widely online.

I talk about this to young producer Yulia Sigareva, a co-founder of experimental record label Bore Hole , who moved back to the city after a brief stint in the capital.

“Nightlife venues and promoters in St Petersburg, by comparison with Moscow, manage to maintain a stable position,” she says. Keen to establish a space in which experimental musicians can showcase their sounds, Yulia and a few of her friends are planning to open a club, connected to but distinct from Bore Hole. Close to the Obvodni canal, south of the city centre, the club will open its doors to the public in early December and will doubtless be a place to watch.

I ask Yulia to talk me through some of the important promoters in the city. One of these is Roots United , which runs a party series called OFF at another hybrid exhibition space/music venue called the Artplay, a 1,000-capacity building with a network of rooms and installations popular with St Petersburg’s electronic music enthusiasts.

Roots United also runs Present Perfect Festival at the Street Art Museum , in another former factory with a stone courtyard and an extensive plot of shipping containers in the suburban district of Novocherkasskaya.

Food and drink

Another young pair making their mark on the city are Liza Simonova and her business partner Maurice Shakaya.Still in their mid-20s, they opened their first cafe – a bagel shop named BGL, in 2012 – but it was their venture into Georgian cuisine, with Khachapuri I Vino two years ago, that brought them success. They now have a chain of eight restaurants.

I meet them at one of these, Lev I Ptichka (The Lion and the Bird), in a quiet precinct off the busy Bolshoy Prospekt. Its centrepiece is a wood-fired oven but the decor is minimalist with wooden furniture and floors; hospitable Georgia meets understated Scandinavia. “Georgian restaurants tended to be dark and dingy, with delicious food but terrible service, so they weren’t particularly pleasant to be in,” says Liza. “They had a Soviet format but we wanted to create a place where young people would feel at home.”

Georgian food is to Russians what Indian food is to Brits in terms of its popularity and ubiquity but here traditional dishes come with a contemporary twist, such as pizzas made with Georgian khachapuri dough and spicy lamb. Unusually low prices (an average bill is under £8) were a response to the economic crisis following the annexing of Crimea in 2014 – a decision that won over its younger customers.

Another restaurant that attracts a younger crowd with low prices and authentic food is Bekitzer , which serves Israeli favourites, such as shakshuka (spicy eggs) and falafel. At the slightly higher end is Duo Gastrobar , a Scandi-inspired restaurant that uses locally sourced products to makeEuropean classics.

Art scene and bars

One young artist who’s working hard to push the city’s experimental art scene forward is Polina Zinziver , whose multimedia illustrations are a comical “psychedelic” take on absurd moments of Russian life, particularly in her home city.

She takes me to the Berthold Centre , another new arts cluster in a former foundry near the city centre. From its grey stone exterior, which could easily be mistaken for a residential building, you wouldn’t guess that it houses a large exhibition hall, a theatre studio and a wealth of independent fashion boutiques run by young people, including Rediska Project (women’s fashion), vintage shop Ever Sale and much more. Polina’s works were shown in the Berhold Centre in July this year.

We move on to Treska , a snug bar/restaurant where Polina and fellow artists organise art fairs to showcase and sell their work, with a strictly enforced 500 rouble (£6) price cap. It’s in the courtyard of Golitsyn Loft , a newly restored 18th-century mansion on the Fontanka river (it’s also home to Civil Books Coffee and Wine, with marble fireplaces and high stucco ceilings). Treska hosts a wide range of film screenings, exhibitions and poetry readings, and serves bar snacks and drinks till late. A stone’s throw away is Produkty Bar , an intimate space with a jukebox, also on the Fontanka river.

On nearby Nekrasova street are three bars that attract loyal regulars among the city’s intelligentsia: Bazin , an unassuming, friendly spot; Khroniki , which is open until the early hours and serves waffles and a signature Free Ingria cocktail, made with vodka and local berries, which has garnered city-wide fame; and Redrum, a craft beer heaven.

As the night goes on we head to Co-op Garage Bar , an open-plan bar with exposed brick walls that’s a favourite haunt of the city’s fashionistas. Its outside space is a perfect spot to relish the “white nights” (at the end of May and in June, when there are only three hours of darkness). Within spitting distance, on the Griboyedov canal, is Pif Paf, a long and narrow drinking bar complete with hair salon that is a hit with the city’s artists and rock musicians. Over a beer, Polina and I discuss the many times the city has lived through periods of dramatic change. “Actually,” she tells me, “yesterday I was at the concert of a very old punk band and the main soloist said ‘Well, in the city of three revolutions, you’ll get a fourth.’”

• Flights were provided by British Airways ( britishairways.com ), which flies direct from London to St Petersburg from £72 each way.
• St Petersburg holidays
• Bars, pubs and clubs
• Cultural trips
• Russia holidays
• Europe holidays
• City breaks
• Restaurants

More on this story

10 of the best things to do in St Petersburg

Top 10 Soviet-era experiences in St Petersburg

What to see in Russia – readers’ travel tips

Searching for signs of the Soviets in St Petersburg

‘The hospitality drew me back’: the joy of the Caucasus

Trans-Siberian Railway: a view from Moscow to Vladivostok – a photo essay

10 top tips from our Moscow correspondent

Russia’s Golden Ring: day trips from Moscow into history and heritage

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