From life jackets to rescue beacons, America’s #1 boating retailer has everything you’ll need to keep you and your crew safe on the water. Giving you more ways than ever to Boat More with fast same day delivery, in-store pickup, and 200+ locations nationwide. Shop 24/7 at WestMarine.com.

Mustang/West Marine HIT Automatic Inflatable Life Jacket

Automatic inflation tech that won’t get set off by rain, spray or humidity, so you can rest assured it will perform when you really need it. Designed for ultimate comfort with a lightweight, low-profile design and a neoprene collar to prevent chaffing.

Orion Blue Water Alert Locate Signal Kit

Exceeds U.S. Coast Guard requirements for brightness and burn time, for maximum visibility in an emergency. The included aerial signals are visible for up to 27 miles, and burn for up to 6 seconds to help rescue services find you.

ACR Electronics GolbalFix V5 AIS RLS EPIRB Survival Kit

Essential life-saving equipment, bundled in a floating high-visibility bag. Features a rescue beacon with global coverage for emergency communication, a high-visibility strobe to help rescuers spot you, a PFD light, a signal mirror for daytime signaling and a whistle.

The post Stay Safe on the Water appeared first on Boating Mag.

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.

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.

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.

In September 1983, Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer Jr. purchased a 24-foot Privateer Chesapeake, painted it bright yellow, and launched the first Sea Tow operation, which assisted stranded boaters on the waters of eastern Long Island.

Since then, those yellow Sea Tow boats, along with red TowBoatUS counterparts, have become virtual lifelines for boaters who need assistance but aren’t yet in distress. Combined, they’ve assisted millions of disabled boats over the years, freeing up US Coast Guard resources for emergency-response and interdiction duties.

It turns out that one 13-month period coinciding with that first Sea Tow boat, now four decades ago, also marked milestones for cellular telephones, EPIRBs, GPS, and even the Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer program, which are cornerstones today of boating safety.

 “It all comes down to the distinctive yellow boat showing up to help boaters. That hasn’t changed,” says Capt. Joseph Frohnhoefer III, Sea Tow’s CEO since his father passed away in 2015. “But the technology and the data we derive helps us do that better.”

Here’s a look at how technology has changed for both boaters in trouble and their rescuers.

VHF and Cellular Communication

Early Sea Tow operators installed tall radio masts ashore to receive VHF calls from disabled boaters, while the Coast Guard relayed radio messages from even farther—30 miles or more offshore. Radio over Internet Protocol, beginning in 2005, allowed Sea Tow’s ­far-­reaching VHF shore stations to connect remotely to captains’ ­cellphones, but radio still ruled.

It was also in 1983, ­coincidentally, when the first portable cellular phone, Motorola’s DynaTAC 8000x, came to market. Over time, boaters began to call their local Sea Tow operator directly. “The turning point was around 2003, when cellular ­became ­predominant,” ­Frohnhoefer says. This was the same year that Sea Tow launched its continuously staffed nationwide call center, which now fields more than half of Sea Tow’s ­assistance calls. (­TowBoatUS inaugurated its fleet of red boats in 1987, along with its first 24/7 call center.)

While cellular is more familiar to most boaters, Frohnhoefer stresses that calling on VHF Channel 16 is still the quickest way to reach the closest Sea Tow boat. It’s also preferred when calling the Coast Guard, even though, since 2001, the Federal Trade Commission’s Enhanced 911 program streamlined Coast Guard transfers from 911 dispatchers and required latitude and ­longitude for most 911 ­mobile-phone calls.

EPIRB and PLB ­Satellite Rescue

Up through summer 1982, EPIRBs were detected only by aircraft flying overhead, and this provided rough position estimations at best. In October 1982, the first satellite-received EPIRB signal sent rescuers directly to the capsized ­60-foot sailboat Gonzo, 350 miles off Nantucket. By 1984, satellites covered the globe. In 1987, newer 406 mHz EPIRBs and smaller PLBs added beacon-owner information and refined ­positioning capabilities. ­Beginning in 1997, integrated GPS receivers broadcast precise, near-­instant beacon location.

In 1982 and 1983, three tragedies claiming 374 lives spurred two enormous benefits for boating safety. Shortly after a commercial airliner was shot down for unknowingly entering Soviet airspace, President Ronald Reagan in September 1983 authorized civilian use of GPS, which was intended initially for military use. (The first civilian GPS receiver, Magellan’s NAV 1000, came to market in 1988, offering only intermittent satellite positions; GPS wasn’t fully functional until 1993.)

Another commercial airliner crash, this one into the frozen Potomac River near the US Capitol, and a 605-foot ship that sank just 30 miles offshore in the Chesapeake Bay, made it clear to the Feds that the Coast Guard needed rescuers trained to deploy into the water. Congress finally authorized funds for Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmers, who have saved more than 100,000 souls since records were digitized in 2002.

Electronic Charts and Auto Routing

Navigation displays have been helping boaters stay off sandbars since the first chart plotter, Datamarine’s Chartlink, which first came out in 1985—two years after Capt. Joe’s first Sea Tow boat. Now plotters streamline requests for help. 

“When we put in a [member’s] position, we see where they are on the chart screen,” Frohnhoefer says, and thanks to automatic-route-planning advancements over the past 10 years, plotters can quickly generate a towboat’s travel time. Sea Tow’s Digital Dispatch System, first launched in 2016, integrates information from a stranded boat’s first phone call with the member and boat details accessed at the dispatch center, and then relays this information directly to the responding captain, and even generates a reassuring text ­message with the towboat’s ETA back to the stranded boater.

Smartphones

Sea Tow’s smartphone app, launched in 2012, brings automation aboard stranded boats. One button ­initiates a phone call to the dispatch center. The app displays numerical latitude and longitude as well as a Google Maps pin marker on the user’s smartphone, and boaters can choose, if they wish, to share that ­position via text message with the responding Sea Tow vessel, or anyone else.

The TowBoatUS app, available since 2011, includes weather and tide information, and also ties into BoatUS membership and Geico insurance accounts.

Other apps are equally helpful. “I’m amazed at how often our captains use ­Google Earth to identify shoaling and find safer ways to get to boaters stranded off the main ­channel,” ­Frohnhoefer says. ­Navionics’ app becomes a great backup (or primary) chart plotter. ­MarineTraffic and AIS allow disabled boaters to identify ­nearby ­commercial ships. A ­cellular internet connection brings times for tides and sunset, weather, and even entertainment while ­awaiting a tow.

Read Next: The Boat Choices of TowBoatUS Captains

Better Boats

Forty years of technological ­advancements also might eliminate the need for a tow. Once-common engine issues such as fuel-pump vapor lock or a flooded carburetor are all but unheard of now. Radian IoT, one of Sea Tow’s preferred vessel tracking and monitoring systems, highlights how vessel monitoring can send preemptive alerts if batteries, bilge pumps, or even engine-room temperatures seem amiss. 

While technology might streamline response, Sea Tow’s core benefit remains exactly as it was in 1983. “[It’s comforting to know] that if something goes wrong, you can always call Sea Tow,” Frohnhoefer says—exactly as his father envisioned more than 40 years ago. “Be prepared to be out on the water longer than you planned. At the end of the day, you don’t want to be out of food, out of water, and then all of a sudden, find out that the boat doesn’t start.”

The post The Evolution of Marine Rescue Technology appeared first on Boating Mag.

Crew-overboard situations require a clear head, a prerehearsed game plan, and the right gear to keep those in the water safe while waiting to be quickly retrieved. ­Eliminate one obvious concern by having those aboard wear personal ­flotation devices (aka life jackets). Prepare for the next action by having one of the following rescue devices aboard to alert and/or assist in retrieval.

Wireless Alarm

Fell Marine MOB+ Basepack Wireless Engine-­Cutoff Switch

The Basics: Offering more freedom of movement than the traditional engine-­cutoff-switch lanyard, wireless engine-cutoff systems combine a hardwired hub unit connected to a fob or wristband to stop the engine and trigger an alarm when the primary fob is submerged in 4 inches of water or travels out of range. An override mode allows other crew on board to restart the engine after six seconds.

Extra Credit: Additional fobs can be worn by crewmembers to alert the captain in the event if someone—or something—goes overboard.

Price: $220; additional bands $22; westmarine.com

Throwable

Jim-Buoy Type IV Ring Buoy

The Basics: The most basic, most essential piece of crew-overboard gear is a simple throwable. Coast Guard regs stipulate that all boats over 16 feet carry a Type IV throwable device, but be wary of the classic seat-cushion type that offers minimal flotation for someone struggling in the water. Opt for a brightly colored ring or horseshoe buoy that offers greater buoyancy and can be mounted within easy reach on a rail or bulkhead.

Extra Credit: Don’t forget to attach a retrieval line to quickly haul in an errant throw, as well as to reel in your ­crewmember once they’ve reached the throwable.

Price: $90; westmarine.com

Read Next: How to Get a Man Overboard Back Aboard

Rescue Sling

LifeSling2 Overboard Rescue System

The Basics: Rescue slings solve the most common issues with the standard throwable by combining a buoyant flotation collar with a 125- to 150-foot retrieving line. The combination allows the driver to circle around the victim and bring the line and buoyant flotation collar to them, rather than force a possibly tired crewmember, weighed down by clothing, to swim to safety.

Extra Credit: An exhausted crewmember can be difficult to get aboard. Combine with hoisting tackle to fashion a lifting sling with up to a 5-to-1 mechanical advantage to make it easier.

Price: $492; westmarine.com

The post Three Man-Overboard Rescue Devices appeared first on Boating Mag.

I love my loudhailer. The booming PA function lends my voice an air of authority. At the very least, it lets me communicate with nearby boaters while standing off. But marine loudhailers are more than bullhorns. They enhance communication and boating safety in a number of ways.

Stand-Alone Hailers

Before we discuss functionality, let’s talk about the 12-volt DC-powered systems themselves. Marine loudhailers come in two versions. One is the stand-alone unit such as the Furuno LH5000 or the Standard Horizon VLH-3000A. Both hailers offer 30 watts of power and provide a variety of functions. 

Integrated ­Hailers

In years past, stand-alone loudhailers were the most popular choice, but in recent times, marine loudhailers built into fixed-mounted VHF radios have taken over in the popularity contest. VHF models with integrated hailers include models such as the Icom IC-M605 and the Standard Horizon GX2400. The built-in hailers in each of these models also offer 30 watts of power, and like the stand-alone hailer, they perform a number of ­functions.

Loud Speakers

A loudhailer is useless without a loud speaker. This hornlike device is a separate purchase that must be installed and connected to the loudhailer unit. I have mounted the 30-watt Standard Horizon 5-inch-round loudhailer/foghorn speaker, facing forward on the hardtop. On a larger boat, you might opt for the 7-inch-wide, 40-watt Shakespeare loudhailer horn.

Both of these loud speakers feature UV-resistant, high-impact white plastic construction, as well as adjustable brackets for various mounting angles. A built-in extension wire usually provides sufficient length to reach the loudhailer units at the helm and connects via a wire splice, RCA plug, or other connector.

PA System

Switching the loudhailer to the public-address function allows you to speak with other boaters or hands at the fuel dock at ranges where it’s too far to shout and be heard over the noise of wind and waves. Just push the mic button to talk. You can even use it to communicate from an enclosed helm with a crewmember manning the anchor at the bow. The volume is adjustable to suit the distance. A listen-back feature amplifies the voices of crew and others responding to you, allowing you to better hear them through the speaker on the loudhailer unit at the helm, facilitating ­two-way communication.

Read Next: Essential Boating Safety Equipment & Checklist

Automated Foghorns

Whenever fog rolls in, I immediately switch the loudhailer to ­automated foghorn mode, which sounds a warning to any approaching vessels, relieving the skipper of the task of performing this safety function manually. There is often more than one mode of the foghorn. With my Standard ­Horizon VHF hailer, for example, you can select from:

• Underway — a 5-second blast every 2 minutes
• Stop — two 5-second blasts every 2 minutes
• Sail — a 5-second blast and two short blasts every 2 minutes
• Tow —a 5-second blast and three short blasts every 2 minutes
• Aground — an 11-second ring every minute 
• Anchor — a 5-second ring every minute

The listen-back function can prove helpful in foggy conditions, allowing you to better hear the sounds of a nearby vessel, such as the rumble of the engine or water splashing off a boat underway. 

Horn and Sirens

Loudhailers can also serve as sound-producing devices to satisfy Coast Guard requirements. In horn mode, for instance, my hailer will blast a horn sound from the loud speaker at the press of the mic button. Loudness can be adjusted by the volume control on the hailer. I can also set my hailer to produce a siren sound, which invariably grabs the attention of all nearby ­boaters.

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To set up the automated distress function and the digital selective calling features on a VHF radio, you must acquire and enter an MMSI number, and the radio must be connected to or have an integrated GPS. Here, depending on the features of your VHF, are steps you need to take.

First Thing

MMSI stands for Maritime Mobile Service Identity, and you are far safer in your boating adventures if you have logged that number into your VHF, and networked it with a GPS source. You can register for and obtain an MMSI number at boatus.com or America’s Boating Club at usps.org.

Old-School

NMEA 0183 was designed decades ago to allow various electronic devices to “talk to” each other. It has been largely superseded by the NMEA 2000 protocol, but most fixed-mounted GPS units offer an NMEA 0183 output pigtail with four very fine wires. Connect the GPS Data Out to the VHF Data In, and do the same for the GPS In to the VHF Out. Then, go into your GPS’s settings and activate NMEA 0183 to recognize the VHF. When complete, GPS coordinates will appear on the VHF display. Tin the wires with solder, then crimp the connections for best data transfer.

Read Next: Marine Distress Calls Explained

New-School

NMEA 2000 has largely replaced NMEA 0183 except in VHF to chart-plotter protocol and some autopilots. However, VHF companies are finally enabling NMEA 2000-VHF connectivity. With it, connecting a VHF to a chart plotter is as simple as T-connecting the NMEA 2000 cable into the vessel’s NMEA 2000 backbone. Some radios include these two parts; some require an added purchase. Either way, when it’s done, the VHF and chart plotter begin communicating, and the vessel’s geolocation is transmitted with each communication.

Internal Equipment

Some radios such as Icom’s M510 have an internal GPS module. If the radio location has a fairly good view of the sky, it works fine, and the VHF can be considered a backup navigation ­device—it’s pretty slick. 

External GPS Antenna

If the VHF doesn’t have a clear view of the sky, or if the radio doesn’t have built-in GPS, an external GPS antenna might be needed. Icom radios include a dedicated antenna connection for an optional, very small ­antenna that doesn’t require outside power. If there’s NMEA 2000 aboard, connecting the VHF to the backbone allows the radio to receive data from the network antenna. No separate antenna is required, though an extra antenna does provide ­redundant safety.

The post How to Make DSC Fully Functional on a VHF Radio appeared first on Boating Mag.

Inflatable life jackets have crossed over from expensive professional gear to an affordable recreational necessity. With good reason. Not only are they cooler, lighter, and more comfortable to wear, but they are also easier to protect from deterioration and mildew and can stow in a far more compact package than inherently buoyant life jackets.

However, they do their job ­differently than old-school PFDs and require yearly maintenance, which means unpacking the inflatable bladder, removing a trigger mechanism and the C0₂ cartridge, then replacing and ­repacking the bladder. If you keep six of them on your boat, that could be an annual three-hour job, and repack kits cost around $30 each.

Be aware that inflatables are a legal replacement for ­inherently inflatable jackets, but in most states, only if worn while underway. They are also legal replacements only on people 16 years old and older. They are not legal for use on personal watercraft.

How We Tested 

We used an underwater POV cam in an 8-foot pool to record water entry to resurfacing. We started the clock when feet broke the surface and stopped when the “victim’s” head resurfaced. Faster is better, but as long as you know what to expect, we didn’t think the 2-second difference between the fast ones and slow ones mattered.

Repacking

All but one PFD we tested had a similar bobbin and cartridge trigger. Unscrew the bobbin barrel, replace the yellow bobbin—it can go into the barrel only one way and screw the bobbin barrel cap down until the charge window shows green for ready. Then replace the CO₂ cartridge. We deliberately did not clock repacking time. The procedure goes faster with practice, and we repacked them to see how ­complicated it was and how easily we could return them to original ­undeployed shape.

Mustang Survival MIT 150 A/M Convertible

$189.99; Bass Pro Shop and amazon.com

Best Application: Inshore to Nearshore 

Mustang Survival has specialized designing and producing marine safety gear for law enforcement, military, recreational boaters and more since 1967. The MIT jacket is sleek, and the bladder is integrated into the shell rather than stuffed into the shell, as with competitors. When it inflates, it unfolds and can be easily refolded and recharged. Mustang Survival’s MIT 150 offers about 38 pounds/168 newtons of buoyancy.

On-Deck Comfort: The MIT design hugs the neck more than Spinlock models, but they are so light and sleek, I often forgot to take it off when I left the boat. Its front center waist belt buckle is convenient and much appreciated. The seam around the collar was a little raspy on dry land but more comfortable in the water.

Water Comfort: The design of the MIT ensures that there is no sharp bladder edge anywhere near the neck or chest. We found this to be the only one that gave us protection from chaffing, which we think could be very important if rescue were to take more than a few minutes.

Adjustability: The waist strap remains straight as the jacket is pulled over the shoulders. Once buckled, the waist strap can be adjusted from the right side by pulling the strap through a slotted friction buckle until the back strap is snug. The excess strap is fastened in a hook-and-loop enclosure.

Bonus Points: This was by far the sleekest in our test group and very comfortable to wear. MIT’s foldable bladder is genius, easy to repack, and makes it most comfortable in the water. It is simplicity in motion.

Repacking: This is hands-down the easiest to repack thanks to the unique design of the MIT, which integrates the shell with the bladder instead of confining an accordion-folded bladder inside the shell.

Deployment Time: 4 seconds

Deployment Depth: 8 feet

Bluestorm Stratus 35

$159; bluestormgear.com $149.99; amazon.com

Best Application: Inshore to Nearshore

The Stratus 35 provides 35 pounds of buoyancy (about 155 newtons). Its design is similar to the Mustang MIT jacket in that its inflation bladder is integrated into the shell, so when repacking, all one needs to do is fold the shell in thirds and fasten with the hook-and-loop strips. It’s a good-looking jacket and comes in a variety of colors, including camo and Kryptek water camo (for a $20 upcharge).

On-Deck Comfort: This one did rest on the neck. But its breathable, moisture-wicking collar was soft and nonabrasive, mitigating the added contact. The collar is compact and styled into the webbed back yoke that spreads the load and adds comfort.

Water Comfort: This one was the second-most comfortable in the water, but we noticed a little contact with the abrasive bladder. Still, it kept our victim secure with the air passageway well above the water while awaiting rescue.

Adjustability: It buckles in the center, making it easy to put on and keep the back strap from twisting. The large 2.25-inch center buckle is easy to operate, even with gloves. The right-hand waist-strap adjustment was easy to operate as well, and it remained adjusted.

Bonus Points: Similar in design to the Mustang MIT, it repacks easily and wears comfortably. The clear inspection window on the front makes it easy to see if your jacket is ready to save our life.

Repacking: Replacing the bobbin (water-dissolving trigger) and cartridge was easy. Once that was done, the jacket folds in thirds—the outside inward, and that inside over the outside to be secured on a hook-and-loop strip. The collar didn’t return to its original position quite as easily as the yoke, but a kid could manage it.

Deployment Time: 6 seconds

Deployment Depth: 8 feet

Bluestorm Arcus 40

$199; bluestormgear.com $184.99; amazon.com

Best Application: Nearshore to Offshore

The Arcus 40 shared similarities with some Spinlock models. Its 40 designation referenced 40 beefy pounds (179 newtons) of flotation, making it suitable for nearshore and offshore use. The shell around the bladder is zippered and rounded when packed. Its webbing is a heavy-duty 2 inches, and the back yoke is foam-padded for comfort. The device is made for commercial use, but it’s compact, comfortable and economical enough for recreational use.

On-Deck Comfort: We liked this one a lot. Like the Spinlock, it is comfortable to wear, giving plenty of margin around the neck, so it doesn’t chafe. The back padding might make it a bit warm in Southern climes but will make it more comfortable in the water awaiting rescue.

Water Comfort: The zippered shell is designed to protect the neck from chaffing from the inflatable bladder, and it did to some extent, but not completely. The bladder seam inflated beyond the shell, and we felt the abrasive bladder around our jawbone more than around our neck.

Bonus Points: There is a zippered pocket in the lapel to hold a cellphone, wallet or other gear, and though it isn’t big enough for the larger new smartphones, it’s still a handy feature. The thickly padded back has bumped-out foam to add ventilation and comfort—especially in the water. It is surprising how much difference there is between 35 pounds of flotation and 40.

Repacking: The zippered shell is a little harder to arrange around the accordion-folded bladder because it takes two hands to manage the zipper and one to hold the bladder in place while zipping it. We did manage to do it single-handed by inching the zipper up while holding the bottom with one hand and using the other to simultaneously hold the bladder and pull the zipper.

Deployment Time: 6 seconds

Deployment Depth: 8 feet

Read Next: How to Properly Read New Life-Jacket Labels

Spinlock 6D Deck Vest

$419; spinlock.co.uk $389.99; Amazon

Best Application: Nearshore to Offshore 

Spinlock has been making sailing equipment since 1968 and life jackets since 2004. The life jackets come with mesh storage bags that allow them to hang while drying. The 6D includes a lift ring for man-overboard recovery. A crotch strap prevents the vest from riding up, either on deck or in the water. An integrated spray hood will prove welcome in rough conditions. It provides 38 pounds of flotation, or 170 newtons.

On-Deck Comfort: The rounded yoke feels reassuring and comfortable around the shoulders, and its design keeps it off the neck, making the vest an extra measure cooler to wear. The back of the yoke is padded for comfort. It tested as most comfortable on deck.

Water Comfort: We thought that the padding around the neck on the collar would provide comfort when deployed, but it did not. The bladder inflated beyond the neoprene collar and left the sharp edges of the bladder against our neck. While in the water, we couldn’t raise the neoprene collar above the seams. 

Adjustability: The jacket waistband opens conveniently front and center. When buckled, the back strap adjusts easily from both the left and the right with web straps just about kidney height. 

Bonus Points: We liked the clear inspection window and especially that streamlined manual-deployment handle tucked into the lapel. It’s easily accessible and unlikely to snag. Two water-activated LED rescue lights begin flashing on immersion.

Repacking: The bladder has to be folded accordion-style to fit back within the jacket shell. It takes practice to get it into shape and hold it in shape while maneuvering the zipper to pull around it. When done, it was exactly as comfortable as when new out of the package.

Deployment Time: 4 seconds

Deployment Depth: 8 feet

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