They had guts, those great mariners from the Age of Discovery. Though some are viewed today with a degree of controversy, the likes of Columbus, Vespucci, ­Cortés and Magellan still hold reputations as bastions of courage and exploration.

How they did it—setting out on uncharted waters aboard creaking wooden sailing vessels, minds abuzz with apprehension of what might lie ahead, suppressing the lingering fear that they might never see land again—will always fascinate me. 

Few of us today will ever experience anything approaching that level of long-term anxiety afloat, thanks in large measure to today’s sophisticated marine electronics. They can tell you where you are, where you’re going, when you’ll get there, what’s lies underwater, what might get in your way, and where and when storms might strike. ­Today’s marine electronics can also recognize and route you around obstacles, and even drive the boat for you. 

Most importantly, when used properly by experienced captains, electronics can make you safer. Of course, electronics do not ­negate the need for prudent ­seamanship. You still must stay alert and be aware of your surroundings, remain at the wheel, and maintain a lookout and safe speed. But electronics can complement your seamanship skills, particularly in ­challenging conditions. 

One important caveat: Don’t wait until things take a turn for the worse to learn your electronics. Using your devices and interpreting displays should become second nature. This calls for practice and regular refresher sessions when conditions are pleasant to help ensure that you’re ready to effectively use and have confidence in the technology when the real need arises, as described in these five challenging situations in which marine electronics allowed me to pilot the boat with greater safely.

Moonless Passage

Recommended Electronics: Radar With MARPA, Chart Plotter, AIS, Night-Vision or Thermal-Imaging Camera

You can often prepare yourself for a long nighttime cruise in advance, as I did recently while running 35 miles offshore in the predawn hours for a day of mahi fishing off the coast of Southern California.

Before leaving the dock, I took the time to make sure that the electronics I had planned to use—radar, chart plotter, AIS and night-vision camera—were functioning properly. You might use instead a thermal-imaging camera from a company such as FLIR, but in this case, I relied on my SiOnyx ­Nightwave system, which shows the water and objects ahead in a full-color, stable and daylike image on my multifunction display.

Why, you might ask, would I want night vision when I have radar, or vice versa? For me, it boils down to detecting high-profile hazards with radar, while also seeing low-­lying objects that radar can’t detect such as lobster-pot buoys or flotsam such as wood pallets and timbers. 

My Mini Automatic Radar ­Plotting Aid allows me to automatically track targets on my radar to ­determine their threat level, course, closest point of approach, and time of closest approach.  

Some radar systems, such as those from Furuno, Garmin and Simrad, make tracking targets even easier with Doppler technology, which senses the relative motion of returns. Furuno’s Target Analyzer system, for example, automatically changes the color of targets to help you identify when they are hazardous. Green echoes are targets that stay stationary or are moving away from you, while red echoes are hazardous targets that are moving toward your vessel. Echoes ­dynamically change colors as ­targets approach or get farther away from your vessel.

An Automatic Identification System offers some redundancy, showing vessels equipped with AIS and confirming their location and identity on both the chart plotter and radar. However, many boats do not broadcast AIS signals, and so I use it only to augment but not ­replace radar. 

My chart plotter provides me with the course and distance to my destination, as well as my current position, offering a sense of place, which I might otherwise lose on a moonless night. 

One important tip for using your electronics at night: Dim the screens or use night mode to help preserve your night vision. Bright displays destroy my primary night-time navigational tool: my vision.

Poof! It’s Foggy!

Recommended ­Electronics: Radar With MARPA, Chart Plotter, AIS, Autopilot, VHF with PA Function and Loudspeaker

I tend to avoid boating in fog, but at least once a season, I get caught as pea soup sweeps quickly across coastal waters. When it happens after dark, it tests my navigational skills like no other condition. Without the right electronics, it can leave boaters wondering whether to try to make safe harbor or stay put. Either choice can turn into catastrophe.  

The problem I have with thick fog is its disorienting nature. Without the ability to see my surroundings, I can’t stay on a prescribed course. Try it sometime. Even with a good compass, you will drift off course more quickly than you can imagine, then meander endlessly as you seek to correct, and then overcorrect. That’s why I added autopilot to my list of recommended electronics. It keeps me on course while I use essentially the same electronics in much the same way I use them for nighttime navigation.  

Another additional piece of electronics is a VHF radio with (and this is important) a PA function wired to a loudspeaker. As part of the PA feature, some VHFs, such as the Standard Horizon Matrix, have a foghorn function, and it can set for underway or at anchor. While underway, it emits a loud, prolonged blast at 2-minute intervals. In anchor mode, the foghorn signal repeats every minute. 

This not only alerts other boats in the vicinity to my presence, but the PA system also has a listen-back feature that helps me hear the sound of other boats approaching my position, so I can prepare to take evasive action if necessary to avoid a collision.

Shallow Threats

Recommended Electronics: Chart Plotter With Auto-Routing, Electronic Chart App, Echo Sounder

The ocean floor is dynamic, especially in shallow nearshore waters where powerful storms, waves and currents shove about ­bottom mud and sand, unexpectedly piling up shoals. These can catch even local veteran boaters by surprise, especially after a big storm. It happened to me a few years ago when the north side of the main channel at the mouth of the Los Angeles River silted up after a winter storm. Fortunately, my boat did not fetch up, but I did drag the lower unit through the mud for about 50 yards. These days, I stay up to speed on silting with the Navionics Boating app on my mobile phone.

In addition to US government National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration charts, the Navionics app includes a layer of crowdsourced updates from others boaters. When this layer is switched on, it provides ­updates from other boaters on subjects such as new shoal areas that might not yet have made it into the official chart update, as well as points of interest and navigation aids. The app also integrates information shared by the ActiveCaptain Community, including ­navigational hazards. 

In addition, I have discovered that a chart plotter with auto-routing, as featured on the new Simrad NSS 4 series, can quickly guide me around dangerous shoals and reefs, as well as other hazards. I just plug in my destination as a waypoint, and the ­system redraws the safest way to get there via a series of waypoints.

Sometimes you just have to slow down and feel your way, ­especially when navigating backwaters and rivers. That’s when an echo sounder is helpful. I watch the depth carefully to make sure I am in the deepest part of the channel. If the bottom starts to come up, either I change course or ­reverse out and try another path.

First-Time Visit

Recommended Electronics: Radar, Chart Plotter With Satellite Overlay and Tide Chart, VHF Radio

Occasionally I will venture to new waters north or south of my home port of Long Beach, California, and I sometimes find entering and negotiating a new inlet and port—particularly a large one—­somewhat challenging.

I have discovered that radar and a chart plotter—used side by side or as a radar chart overlay—gives me a good idea of how to safely enter the inlet, particularly at night. ­During the day, when I can see clearly, I sometimes use the 3D feature in course-up mode. Rather than viewing the chart from overhead, this lays out the inlet channel like a highway and can prove intuitive to read, providing greater ­navigational safety.

Another helpful feature on the chart plotter is the satellite mode that overlays satellite imagery and can show helpful landmarks when exploring new ports. You can zoom in for more detail or zoom out to gain greater context with any of these views.

Standing off and hailing the port master or harbor patrol on the VHF radio is a good idea if you’re unsure about the safety of an inlet. Such was the case on one spring day as I considered entering California’s Oceanside Harbor, which tends to shoal at its mouth. During low tide, big Pacific swells rise up and crest at this inlet. More than one vessel has met its demise here. 

I called the harbor patrol on VHF Channel 16, and we switched to talk on Channel 22a. The harbor patrol advised me to hold off until the tide rose, so I checked the tide chart on my chart plotter, which indicated high tide later in the ­afternoon. I waited until then and found a much safer passage into the harbor. 

Read Next: Marine Electronics for Nighttime Safety

Escaping the Storm

Recommended Electronics: Chart Plotter With SiriusXM Marine, Radar, VHF Radio

A day of fishing off Key West, Florida, started bright, clear and hot. But by early afternoon, a line of anvil-shaped clouds and an ­occasional muted boom of thunder in the distance gave me pause for concern.

Fortunately for us, we had the ­SiriusXM Marine Offshore overlay feature on our chart plotter. With it, we could see on the display a line of major thunderstorms taking shape and tracking quickly in our direction. The SiriusXM Marine Offshore also showed a growing number of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, accompanied by high winds and waves.

A severe-weather warning from the Coast Guard on the VHF radio confirmed the reports, as did our radar, which picked up the returns of heavy rain in the distance. The fishing had been good, but thanks to our marine electronics, we knew for safety’s sake that the time had come to head back to port.

As we raced ahead of the ­tempest, I thought of the great mariners from the Age of Discovery and wondered if they could have imagined the tools that ­everyday boaters like me now have to stay safe. I doubt it. But then, I have little idea what new electronic devices the next season might bring and how they might help me stay even safer.

The post Marine Electronics That Make Boating Safer appeared first on Boating Mag.

Some boaters treat safety gear and anchors the same way: They have it all buried in a locker and will get it out when and if they need it. In this article, I suggest a more proactive approach. I encourage you to make an annual inventory of your safety equipment and schedule an inspection of each item (including your anchor, which, while not included below, does bear on your safety). Read on to find out how to inspect and update many items of boating safety.

Flares

You are required by the United States Coast Guard to ­carry aboard a minimum of three pyrotechnic flares. So check yours, and replace those that have expired. Also replace any that may have gotten wet. For electronic flares, such as the ACR E-flare, check the batteries and perform a self-test according to the manual. And be sure to have an SOS flag aboard. This orange flag with the black square and circle is required to fulfill your daytime signaling requirement if you choose an electronic flare. 

Fire Extinguishers

The quantity and type of fire extinguishers required aboard varies by boat type. Check the regulations to make sure you have at least the required number of fire extinguishers of the proper type. Many extinguishers feature a gauge: Examine those for a reading in the “green.” A “red” reading means discard or recharge the extinguisher. Additionally, check that the lock pin fits firmly in place and that the nozzle is not cracked or blocked. Nonrechargeable fire extinguishers must be replaced 12 years after the date of manufacture. This date is embossed on the bottom of the cylinder. Remember also that the USCG approval of your extinguisher is valid only if it’s mounted with a Coast Guard-approved bracket.

Life Jackets

Examine life jackets for signs of wear. Tears, rips or missing buckles are all cause to discard a life jacket. Next, make a count of your crew. You’ll need one for each person aboard. The life jackets also must be of the appropriate size for those who will wear them. Be sure to consider new additions to your crew, and examine possibilities such as your children having grown since the previous year. Ill-fitting life jackets are not safe. Finally, consider the use case. Life jackets suitable for calm water nearshore with imminent rescue expected are not suitable for open water, where rescue can take more time. Your life-jacket ratings must align with the type of boating you intend to do. 

Read Next: Essential Boating Safety Equipment & Checklist

Beacons

The USCG recommends a monthly check of your EPIRB, PLB or other rescue beacons. Review the owner’s manual, and learn how to perform a self-test to ensure proper operation. Improper testing can result in a distress signal being sent: Follow the manual explicitly. EPIRB batteries are usually good for five years. Check the unit’s battery-replacement cycle and replace them, if specified. Also inspect for damage such as ­corrosion and cracking. What about mounts and clips? Are these still in good shape? 

Sound-Signaling ­Devices

This requirement is usually ­fulfilled by virtue of an operating electric boat horn. Make sure it works, and always carry a spare fuse for it. As a backup, we recommend having aboard an air horn, a manually blown horn or a whistle. Check that these work too. Whistles are simple devices, but gunk, corrosion and time can do them in. Consider pinning a whistle to each life jacket. This is not required, but it will be a big help if ever needed in an emergency.

The post Tips for Inspecting Your Safety Gear appeared first on Boating Mag.

Multifunction displays continue to advance in processing speed, system integration, enhanced control capabilities, and ease of use. The latest to emerge in this marine-tech revolution is the Simrad NSS 4 series of premium chart-plotter and fish-finder displays for cruising and sport-fishing boats.

Available in 10-, 12- and 16-inch screen sizes, the NSS 4 MFDs feature an all-new Qualcomm 8-core processor, enabling smoother page transitions, faster auto-routing and, ultimately, easier use with lightning-­fast transitions. The NSS 4 series also features a trio of hybrid control options—touchscreen, rotary dial and keypad—providing choices in accessing and controlling functions via the optimized user interface. An updated glass-to-edge design ­delivers a premium look to the helm.

Simrad NSS 4 models offer built-in dual-channel 1 kW chirp sonar, as well as support for ­Active Imaging HD sonar. With this unique new feature, anglers for the first time can track as many as four sonar sources on a ­single split-screen display. The new MFDs also feature integrated C-Map, Discover X and Reveal X electronic charting. NSS 4 displays offer plug-and-play networking with Simrad radar systems, Simrad S3100 and S5100 sonar modules, and also network with and control the latest trolling motors, including Rhodan and Simrad’s new Recon.

Read Next: Simrad NSX Ultrawide MFDs

NSS 4 boasts extensive support for third-party technology and devices, including ­multiple IP cameras, CZone digital switching, RGBW LED ­lighting, marine audio systems, ­SiriusXM, and more. In addition, the NSS 4 displays seamlessly integrate with Mercury outboards and other propulsion systems with features such as onscreen cruise control, active trim, and ­autopilot. What’s more, the new displays integrate with other popular engine brands such as Honda and Suzuki, offering features including fuel management and fault diagnostic tools.

The NSS 4 series MFDs starts at $2,599. To learn more, visit simrad-yachting.com.  

The post Simrad NSS 4 appeared first on Boating Mag.

William Marshall ventured 20 miles offshore on November 15, 2024, and never expected to have catastrophic engine failure at sea. Worse yet, threatening storms forming ahead of weather reports loomed over them. He activated his EPIRB—a larger cousin to the PLB—and 45 minutes later, Sea Tow showed up, followed by a Coast Guard rescue boat. Loss of life was averted, and Marshall and his crew lived to fish another day.

This is just one of many rescue stories enabled by emergency ­locator beacons. Here is what you need to know about rescue PLBs and SOS messengers.

Personal locator beacons are designed to speed rescue by SAR teams via government-run Cospas-Sarsat satellites, which are programmed to notify appropriate response authorities—such as the US Coast Guard, or terrestrial rescuers for skiers and ­hikers—of an emergency. PLBs are the most compact and are ­being adopted with increasing frequency by recreational ­boaters. 

Another type of beacon device is an SOS messenger, which is designed to use private ­communication satellites such as Globalstar to ­communicate with private rescue-­coordination bureaus to reach rescue authorities at sea or in the ­wilderness. An added benefit to these is that they allow ­limited ­two-way ­communication, but unlike a PLB, they require a ­satellite-service fee.

Important Distinctions

PLBs

• PLBs, until recently, could not talk back. Now, some offer limited satellite communications for an added fee.
• Only PLBs talk to Cospas-­Sarsat constellations and are the gold standard for rescue.
• PLBs also transmit a 121.5 mHz homing signal to give ­final line-of-sight directions.
• Some PLBs also transmit an automatic information ­system message via VHF digital selective calling VHF radio, ­allowing nearby Good Samaritans to spring into action.  
• No rescue signal fees are ­required for use.
• PLBs must be registered at beaconregistration​.noaa.gov to effect a rescue.

SOS Messengers

• These devices communicate via private satellite constellations to private rescue bureaus connected to local rescue ­authorities.
• They send SOS calls via ­private satellite constellations with frequent position ­updates.
• Unlike PLBs, they are ­designed to accommodate two-way communication via smart-device connections or predetermined messages ­entered into a web portal.
• Unlike PLBs, they require satellite service fees paid for specific periods—monthly or annually—and flexible fees based on units with two-way data transmission.
• SOS messengers must be ­registered with the manufacturer as part of subscription  to generate an SOS response. Here are four examples in the  SOS messenger/PLB genre.

ACR ResQLink AIS

acrartex.com; $569.95 for USA registration

ACR is one of two top names in PLBs, and this compact unit is simple and proven effective to use. This one adds AIS MOB transmitting on the digital select calling frequency to allow nearby Good Samaritans to hear the distress call and respond. Once it acquires a GPS position, it will simultaneously send an SOS signal to Cospas-Sarsat satellites, and that is transmitted to local or regional rescue officials, such as the US Coast Guard, optimally located for rescue. Before using the device, free registration with NOAA is required, and information about the vessel, the owner, emergency contacts and more help rescue teams coordinate with family or friends to effect rescue. 

GPS and Galileo GNSS constellations

• Waterproof: 16.4 feet (5 -meters) at 1 hour, 33 feet (10 meters) at 10 minutes
• Floats: No, but comes with floating carry case 
• Dimensions: 7.87” (L) x 1.41” (W) x 0.86” (D)
• Weight: 6.7 oz. (190 g)
• Battery Life: 5 years
• Operating Life: 28 hours
• Subscriptions: None

Spot Gen4 Satellite GPS Messenger

findmespot.com; $149.99

Spot brought the first private–enterprise SOS satellite messenger to boaters about 20 years ago. Advancements over the years culminated into the Gen4. Focus Point International, an international rescue coordinator, monitors satellite transmissions 24/7/365 and contacts the appropriate emergency responders to help coordinate rescue. In addition, they offer Overwatch Rescue services ($39.99 per year), which arrange and pay for rescue expenses such as airlift medivac. Preprogrammed messages can be sent to up to 10 preprogrammed contacts. Check-in and OK messages arrive with GPS coordinates. A help button summons assistance in a non-life-threatening -situation. RAP, a roadside assistance program, can summon tow trucks. Batteries on hand determine operating time, allowing for extended messaging use.

GPS and Galileo GNSS

• Waterproof: IPX8
• Floats: No 
• Dimensions: 1.04” x 2.66” x 3.48”
• Weight: 13.4 oz.
• Battery Life: 4 AAA batteries (included)
• Operating Life: Dependent on battery type
• Subscriptions: From $11 per month to $143.40 per year
• Overwatch Rescue: $39.99 a year, pays for emergency evac and other expenses related to rescue

Read Next: Best Emergency Beacons, PLBs & EPIRBs

Garmin In Reach Messenger+

garmin.com; $499

This unit not only sends an SOS to Garmin Response 24/7/365 rescue-coordination center, but it allows feedback to the victim on rescue status as well. The device also allows text, voice messaging, and photo transmissions from unit to unit or unit to contact info using a Bluetooth link to a smart device. Additionally, it has an LCD readout notifying of texts and message status. It can text family and friends your updated position at periods that you designate and allow them to track you on a mapping system. It can also generate turn-by-turn directions when smart devices are out of Wi-Fi or cellular range. The rechargeable battery can last up to 120 hours with frequent (2 minutes) messaging or 600 hours with 10-minute message intervals.

GPS and Galileo GNSS

• Waterproof: IPX8 to 1 meter/30 minutes
• Floats: No, but comes with a flotation pouch
• Dimensions: 3.1” (L) x 2.5” (W) x 0.9” (D)
• Weight: 4.1 oz. (116 g)
• Battery Life: 1 year between charges
• Operating Life Up to 600 hours, depending on messaging
• Warranty: 5 years
• Subscriptions: From $14.99 per month

Ocean Signal PLB1

oceansignal.com; $349.95

This is the most compact PLB available, weighing in at 4 -ounces and smaller than a deck of waterproof playing cards. It’s a good play to hedge your bets at a lower price due to the streamlined feature set. However, it meets every NOAA specification for a PLB. It communicates with Cospas-Sarsat with a 406 MHz satellite transmitter and provides a 121.5 MHz homing signal for final-position acquisition. A 1 candela LED strobe provides visual contact in the dark without diminishing its 24-hour operating time. It clips to a life jacket or tucks into a pocket for easy carriage and ready deployment.

GPS and Galileo GNSS

1 candela strobe

• Waterproof: To 15 meters
• Floats: No, but comes with a flotation pouch 
• Dimensions: 3” (L) x 2.1” (W) x 1.3” (D)
• Weight: 4.09 oz. (116 g)
• Battery Life: 7 years
• Operating Life: 24 hours
• Warranty: 5 years with free registration
• Subscriptions: None

The post Four Emergency Locator Beacons for Boaters appeared first on Boating Mag.

As recently as this past winter, solid-state batteries were touted as future tech poised to move electric propulsion rapidly forward. Jumping ahead a year, Honda ­announced limited production of these new-generation batteries sometime early in 2025. But, Boating had already tested solid-state batteries in the Electric Legacy, a classic runabout replica collaboration between Elco and Lancer Craft. So, what did we discover about this technology and how it might benefit you?

What Is a Solid-State Battery?

In most batteries, be they lead-acid or lithium, liquid electrolyte facilitates energy transfer between cathode, anode, and electrical equipment. ­Solid-state ­batteries still employ lithium, but the electrolyte is an ultra-thin solid coating. “The US government has been using solid state for 20 years,” says Tom Calef, founder and CEO of Solid State Marine. “The issue has been manufacturing. If that nano-thickness coating isn’t the same every time, you’ll have one cell that stores 100 watt-hours, and the next has only 10.” With those challenges overcome, Calef says his company now offers solid-state marine batteries at competitive prices in voltages and sizes common for marine applications.

What’s Better About Solid State?

Solid electrolyte coatings make solid-state batteries about half the weight of today’s lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries for the same stored power. There is a bigger advantage though. “It takes a lot less energy to push through a solid material than it does a liquid,” Calef says. That reduced electrical resistance pushes power ­considerably faster from solid-state batteries into electric motors, while generating less heat in the exchange. 

That’s a game-changer: It gives electric-boat motors—and other high-draw marine electrical accessories—all the amps they need. This is especially critical when an electric-powered boat is climbing on plane. An analogy might be running your gas-powered boat with undersize lines or clogged fuel filters. Switching to solid-state batteries is like refitting the entire fuel system and tripling the flow. By starting with much lower resistance, solid-state batteries also continue to provide required amps through their entire capacity even as battery voltage drops and resistance climbs, Calef says, increasing usable watt-hours. Another fuel analogy? It’s like having a pickup tube 20 percent too short on your fuel tank but then getting a new one that goes all the way to the bottom.

Electric Propulsion Benefits

I assumed that an electric Lancer Craft might barely top 25 mph. Replacing gas-powered batteries with wet lithium ­batteries adds some 800 pounds to the original designed weight. That’s hard for a 20-foot runabout to overcome. Instead, the eight solid-state batteries—at 103 pounds each, plus Elco’s 205-pound motor and equipment—weigh 10 percent less than the GM small block, transmission, and full fuel tank. Less weight and more watts result in impressive hole shots and 35 mph top speed, albeit with less range than gas.

What About Other Applications?

In any application, solid-state batteries roughly double conventional LiFePO4 battery run time for the same weight. Both options—solid-state and LiFePO4—offer bigger gains when consolidating battery banks. In one example aboard a 32-foot SeaVee charter boat, Capt. Tristan Raynes replaced three 12-volt AGM 31 series batteries powering his Seakeeper 2. Just one fully charged 27 series battery from Solid State Marine rated at 210 amp-hours lasts an entire charter; in the past, with the three AGM batteries, he needed to run the SeaVee’s twin 300 hp Mercury Verado outboards continuously to power the Seakeeper 2. The boat’s aging LiFePO4 trolling-motor batteries were also ripe for upgrade. Raynes’ Minn Kota 36-volt trolling motor required three conventional LiFePO4 batteries, which didn’t always last all day. Now, just one 31-series solid-state battery increases run time by 20 percent. Today’s newest LiFePO4 batteries offer similar consolidation. “I replaced six batteries with just two and took 400 pounds off the boat and added capacity,” Raynes says.

Longevity and Charging

Calef expects similar lifespans for both solid-state and conventional lithium batteries, retaining 95 percent capacity after 1,500 cycles and 75 percent after 2,500 total cycles. That’s a full discharge every day for seven years. Most ­off-the-shelf lithium-battery AC chargers are compatible with Solid State Marine batteries; Calef mentions NOCO and Victron as examples. 

Calef also sees safety gains. Though today’s conventional LiFePO4 marine batteries have enjoyed a remarkable safety record to date, it is conceivable that a pierced LiFePO4 battery could ooze electrolyte that could create shorts and overheat the cells, potentially causing a thermal chain reaction. The solid electrolyte in a solid-state battery won’t leak, thus preventing a short if pierced. Of course, large power sources are problematic around seawater, and salt water contacting lithium directly in any battery type creates volatile hydrogen gas.

Calef sees boat systems moving steadily toward lithium. “In so many applications, lithium technologies are dramatically better in storing electrical energy than lead,” he says. “With solid-state batteries, we’re bringing more of the benefit of lithium to the ­boating market.”

The post Solid-State Batteries for Boaters appeared first on Boating Mag.

Blue Lenses

The Clear: These are best for bright, sunny days offshore. They are ideal for offshore boaters who spend a lot of time roaming far outside the inlet, especially for long days in glaring sunlight. Designed, in Bajio’s words, to “spot fish in 50-plus feet of water,” they’re also great for helping to spot other boats, hazards and offshore markers in the distance.

The Glare: They block more light than other choices, so they’re not ideal at dawn and dusk, or in overcast situations where you still need eye protection.

Price: $259 (for glass lenses); bajiosunglasses.com

Green Lenses

The Clear: Green is a more all-around lens that works in a variety of boating situations, but it is ideally suited for the coastal boater running in “greener” inshore waters. It has an amber base to help make out changing water depths and partially submerged hazards that you can encounter. They work well in various light conditions and can offer more contrast in low-light situations.

The Glare: They still reduce glare and protect against eyestrain, but they don’t block as much light as the blue lenses.

Price: $259 (for glass lenses); bajiosunglasses.com

Read Next: 10 Great Boating Sunglasses

Copper Lenses

The Clear: Copper is often the choice of long-haulers for road driving because they offer a lot of high-contrast polarization. These work the best in low-light situations at dusk and dawn, and are preferred by many freshwater anglers in small river and lake situations. So they’d be well-suited for freshwater boaters. Anglers like them because they help in spotting fish in less-than-clear water. They’re also good on cloudy days.

The Glare: Copper doesn’t create the same “HD pop” as some of the other lens colors.

Price: $259 (for glass lenses); bajiosunglasses.com

Bajio Sunglasses for Boaters

The post Sunglass Lens Color Comparison appeared first on Boating Mag.

Be it Garmin LiveScope, Lowrance Active Target 2 or Humminbird Mega Live 2, live sonar seems to have popped up on bass boats overnight, but saltwater anglers have not adopted it in similar numbers—at least not yet.

Live sonar—perhaps more ­popularly known as forward-­facing sonar, or FFS—shows you what is in the sonar cone in real time, has a near ­180-degree ­coverage, and everything in that arc is instantly painted. Movements of fish are displayed as they occur, much like medical ultrasound imaging. 

In shallower water, landscape images offer ­outstanding ­situational awareness of all the water in and beyond ­casting range. Forward-fishing ­orientation of the transducer is often used in deeper water, and downward-­facing sonar is most effective in bottomfishing.

Rich Kale is about as hardcore an angler as can be. Based in ­Punta Gorda, Florida, he fishes the waters of Charlotte Harbor, Peace River and the Myakka River almost every day. If Kale is spied on the water, anglers get as close to him as they dare. He’s an influential angler and is likely responsible for leading many tarpon fishermen away from ­casting ladyfish and crabs in favor of DOA Bait Busters. He installed Lowrance’s Active Target sonar last year and found it so ­incredibly effective, his salty friends ­began installing live sonar as well.

Read Next: Using Live Sonar to Catch More Fish

Kale counts his tarpon bites and hookups, not his landings. He reports that his bites went up tenfold after he started using Active Target. While the Boca Grande Pass is most famous for its dense tarpon schools and even denser angling fleet, Kale eschews the crowds, using his sonar in the wide-open areas of the harbor and up in the Peace River.

“In open water, I don’t cast ­until I pick them up on ­sonar,” he says. “I can count the ­number of fish in pods, see which way they are moving and how deep they are. It’s easy to put a bait in front of them, and I can see if the fish are interested in it or not. People think it can’t work well in salt water due to the water density, but after using it, if ­somebody told me I couldn’t have it anymore, I’d take up bowling.”

The density of salt water does reduce the range of FFS by up to 40 percent. Live sonar uses a very high frequency and ping rate to give the instant picture on the screen. The higher the sonar frequency, the more detailed the image, but the saltwater density reduces signal clarity by resisting high-frequency returns.

That’s not a problem in fresh water, and FFS is such an ­effective tool for bass fishermen that none are competitive without it. It has changed the pace of bass ­tournament fishing. Anglers don’t waste a cast on waters that aren’t showing fish on FFS. For nationally televised tournaments, the use of live sonar has taken away much of the visual appeal of ­fishing. The anglers just stare at their ­sonar ­displays until they see a fish. Tournament directors have begun to limit the use of FFS, in part because it’s boring to watch.

Another drawback for ­saltwater anglers is the awkward mounting of the transducer, according to Garmin’s David Dunn. LiveScope XR is Garmin’s most powerful FFS.

Live sonar has to be mounted on a trolling-motor shaft or a stalk attached to the gunwale, and it is difficult to deploy and retract, especially in rough seas. Garmin doesn’t offer mounting stalks and directs its customers to OEM makers—and there are several of them.

“For fresh water, we make our trolling motors capable of having a transducer mounted on the motor shaft, but then the direction of the motor determines what you can see,” Dunn says.

Matthew Laster, integrated ­systems director, fishing systems for Navico and Lowrance, agrees on the convenience factor but has another spin on slow adoption rates. “Freshwater bass anglers are highly publicized and televised. Saltwater fishing doesn’t have near as much visibility to spread the word.”

Ed Zyack is a Florida charter captain and has been fishing the waters for decades, and doing so as a Humminbird promoter. “Mega Live is a great tool,” he says. “I had several charter guys on the west coast [of Florida] using it, and it was so effective that they wouldn’t talk about it.” It was the antithesis of great sponsorship marketing…until the closely guarded secret got out and spread like wildfire in August.

Hummingbird recently introduced Mega Live 2—an ­upgraded version with more image clarity in both auto and manual adjustable modes. “It is an enormous improvement in saltwater ­capability,” Zyack says. “You can just turn it on, and it takes very little adjustment to optimize the ­image.”

One thing all our experts agreed on is that saltwater anglers are among the fiercest ­proponents of angling tradition and are ­highly suspicious of new techniques. But live sonar is changing their minds.

The post Live Sonar for Saltwater Fishing appeared first on Boating Mag.

The trailer tongue jack supports the boat trailer when it is not hooked up to your tow vehicle. These come in a variety of types, and some boaters might wonder which is best for them. I have used an assortment of tongue jacks and compiled the following points that I suggest buyers consider. Check out these tips. 

Weight Capacity

The tongue jack must be rated to handle the tongue weight of your trailer. This is typically somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of the weight of the boat and trailer. ­Except for very light, little boats, I recommend going up one size when choosing which weight capacity to use. This will result in longer life.

Travel

The amount of ­travel that a tongue jack provides is the range of height it can be used in. You need the tongue jack to be tall enough to support the tongue so that the boat is at an aftward angle for good drainage during storage, and so that it can reach, and be r­emoved from, your truck’s hitch ball. A jack of the right weight capacity will offer sufficient travel; it doesn’t hurt to take some measurements before you place your order or bring one home from the store.

Wheel or Foot

Tongue jacks with wheels work for boats, up to about 5,000 pounds. Select a double-wheel model for heavier boats. The wheel, or wheels, allow moving the trailer when not connected to a tow vehicle. You might need to put a trailer into a very tight place or you might find moving the trailer a few ­inches ­helpful when trying to connect to the tow vehicle. A wheel helps in these scenarios, though the ­rougher the ground, the less functional the wheel. A nonrolling jack with a fixed foot is used for the heaviest trailered boats (you can’t move big boats without a vehicle anyway). A fixed-foot jack is also better if the trailer lives on rough or uneven ground when disconnected from the tow vehicle. It will be more stable and isn’t likely to move. A cup, or doughnut can be purchased to prevent a wheeled jack from moving.

Read Next: Planning for a Boat-Trailer Breakdown

Fit

Different trailer tongues are made from ­different-size channels. Some are 3-by-3 inches, some are ­3-by-4 inches, and some big ­trailers are 3-by-5 inches. In most ­cases, choosing an appropriate weight rating will be choosing a jack with the appropriate-size clamp. Still, measure your trailer’s tongue dimensions before buying to be sure.

Operation

Most ­boat-trailer jacks are operated manually. The boater cranks the handle to move the jack up and down and raise or lower the boat. Other jacks are available today that work ­using an electric drill as a motor to ­operate the jack. Others are even ­self-propelled.

Trailer Tongue-Jack Selections

The post Choosing the Right Trailer Tongue Jack appeared first on Boating Mag.

In the not so distant past, boat owners had a much different audio experience on the water than while driving in the tow vehicle they used to launch it. In the auto, they had high expectations of crystal-clear sound, while on the water, most didn’t expect to even hear their music while the engine was running—and certainly not while underway.

Now, thanks to technological advancements, marine stereos have bridged the gap to bring quality sound on board. Enter Hertz Marine Audio, a relative newcomer to the boating industry that’s putting out some of the ­highest-quality marine stereo components available. Here’s how the company is trying to up the game.

From Cars to Boats

Hertz is owned by ­Elletromedia, an Italian audio company that’s been around since the 1970s and started making high-quality Hertz stereo systems for cars in 1998. After developing a reputation in the automotive ­market, Hertz started making marine stereos in 2016 and have been making inroads into the US market in recent years, both as an ­aftermarket upgrade and appearing as OEM offerings in boat lines such as Tige, Yamaha, and Sea Pro. The goal has been to bring the same high-quality sound that most people associate with their cars to the water.

Capri Source Unit

The Capri Source unit is designed to broadcast high-resolution audio throughout the speaker system on the boat. Its multizone functionality allows you to set up to four independent audio zones on your boat, where listeners can set the volume levels to their liking. So the speakers in the bow, stern, tower and cabin can all be set to different levels by ­different listeners. The Capri’s remote units also have the exact same ­controls as the primary source unit, so the user can go through the same intuitive commands, whether at the helm or the swim platform or lounging belowdecks. Hertz also offers a “black box solution,” where the software can be integrated into your boat’s primary MFD at the helm, eliminating the need for the primary source unit if helm real estate is at a premium for mounting on the dash.

HTX Tower Speakers

The HTX line of tower speakers is built with a sturdy ­UV-resistant cannister that has an IP65 rating (protecting against water and dust) to withstand the harsh marine environment. What ­really sets these speakers apart is Hertz’s common motor technology, which allows Hertz to use a smaller cannister to produce high-quality sound at a high volume. It also ­produces ­excellent clarity.

“We solved the oldest challenge in boating stereos,” says Brian Power, VP of the Hertz Marine Division. “You used to have to choose between ­high-output and high-sound quality. Now you can have both.”

Power noted that the HTX speakers produce loud and clear audio—both for the people in the boat, as well as those “off axis,” ­either on the sandbar or enjoying watersports ­behind the boat.

HMS Subwoofer

The HMS subwoofer is ­designed to overcome one of the biggest challenges of open-space audio: getting a clear and consistent bass sound in an open setting. The HMS subwoofers can handle 500W of continuous power and don’t need to be housed in a dedicated enclosure to produce a high-quality bass sound throughout the boat.

HMX Cockpit Speakers

The HMX coaxial cockpit speakers offer ­s­imilar high-quality casing and large 1.4-inch-diameter tweeter. The tweeter provides sound ­dispersion throughout the boat, covering a broader area and providing a nice tonal quality throughout the boat, while still handling low-end frequency.

Read Next: Installing a Marine Stereo In Your Boat

Venezia V6 Amplifier

The Venezia V6 is a six-channel marine ­amplifier that boosts the quality and fidelity of the speaker output, a necessity in an open-air boat setting. The die-cast aluminum casing withstands marine conditions and ­electromagnetic interference from the other onboard electronic components. Its plug-and-play ­input and output ­connectors make it easy to sync with the other stereo ­components.

What do you get when you put all the Hertz components together? According to Power, “You get a concert-capable product producing sound like you’re in an amphitheater.”

The post Hertz Marine Audio Systems Offer High-Quality Sound appeared first on Boating Mag.

Reflect: EchoMaster Radar Reflector

Saving Grace: Small boats don’t always show up on the radar screens of larger vessels, which could make you invisible to traffic. Adding a radar reflector such as an EchoMaster from Davis Instruments can solve the problem. The standard EchoMaster, when assembled, ­creates a 12-square-meter cross section visible in the standard 9-9.6 GHz X radar band, making your boat visible to others with radar.

The Snag: Must be installed at the highest point on your boat, so small vessels lacking towers or T-tops might not get the full benefit. You could still ­disappear in another boat’s “main bang.”

Price: $107.99; westmarine.com

Signal: Orion Signaling Mirror

Saving Grace: A signaling mirror fits in your pocket and, in dire situations when all else fails, can be used to reflect the sun’s rays to catch the eye of another passing vessel and alert them that you need help. It doesn’t cost much, doesn’t need batteries, and can catch someone else’s attention if you need it. It comes with a lanyard, so you can attach it to your person should you be in the water. The 3-by-4-inch acrylic mirror does not corrode and features rounded corners so that it won’t scrape or snag.

The Snag: Requires a light source to reflect and, although it could be visible for up to 10 miles, is more for close-range signaling.

Price: $15.99; westmarine.com

Read Next: Best Marine Flare Guns & Visual Distress Signals

Alert: Jet Logic Safety Whistle

Saving Grace: This high-pitched whistle comes with a floating lanyard that clips to your belt or life vest. It’s another inexpensive item that’s easy to carry if you need it. If you’re stuck adrift or taking on water and can’t raise help on your VHF, sometimes a shrill noise can alert a passing vessel that you need help. Again, it doesn’t need batteries or maintenance; you just pull it out and blow. Because it’s made out of plastic, you don’t have to worry about rust or corrosion.

The Snag: Might be hard to hear over ambient wind and engine noise, and works only if other vessels are in close proximity to yours.

Price: $7.99; westmarine.com

The post Three Top Manual Signaling Devices appeared first on Boating Mag.