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This blog is all about what is making the news in the marine electrical and electronics world. It is current and relevant and also has useful and practical boating information Keep up to date with the marine electrical and electronics web log, the most current marine blog on the net! Bookmark this page for further marine technology updates! West Marine- We Make Boating More Fun!

The METS show has been on in Amsterdam this month including the Design Award METS (DAME Award). The following are some of the nominated products for the award. The awards jury does an assessment of the products based on several key criteria such as the overall design, functionality and materials use, and this also includes innovation and originality, ergonomics and that very important price/quality ratio. The shortlisted companies and marine electrical and electronics products are: Airmar Technology with the Ultrasonic Weather Station; Autonnic Research for the Wind Vector Module; Carling Technologies for the Octoplex; Interphase Technologies and the iScan 180; Navman and the Autopilot Display; Raymarine and the Smartcontroller, SmartPilot IPS, and the S100 Autopilot Controller; Belship and the Black Magic Dimmer; Besenzoni and the Electrical Lateral Door; F.lli Razeto & Casareto for the Free Go Leo, Free Go No Shock lighting; Frensch and the F-6 LED Spotlight which is great lighting development; Gallinea and the GEOtronic T8LL-24V Pisolo; Veco and the Vega MK II Air-Conditioning Control system; Willdo and the Pump Out System; Scubar/Iris Surveillance and the Scubar Underwater Camera; Simrad and the SA50 Search and Rescue Transponder; Amartech and the innovative Retractable Propulsion System for Sailing-Yachts; Blue Sea Systems and the clever Dual Circuit Battery Switch; Mastervolt and the very good Frequency Isolation Transformer; Minn Kota/Johnson Outdoors and the Engine Mount (EM) Trolling Motor; Sigmar Marine and the Water Heater; Van der Velden Marine Systems and the EPS Silent Thruster and finally Navionics and the very good Navionics Platinum. Stay tuned for the winners! ACR European EPIRB US-based ACR Electronics has launched the AquaFix 406 P-EPIRB (Personal Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) in Europe and it is available in the UK, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Spain and Ireland. It allows broadcast of GPS coordinates for SAR services which will increase emergency response times and accurate within 100m. Readers should note that from February 1, 2009 EPIRB’s will be required to change to 406 MHz if they are to be satellite detectable with 121.5 MHz frequency remaining as a homing frequency. Good products and good to see them available Europe Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! Navman Latest Navman have really made an impact on the marine electronics scene. They came out with some new products at METS that included a new line in grayscale fishfinders that have improved display resolution and a 200% increase in the ping rate. The new FISH 4400 series range comprises 4 four models. Another new item is the TrackFish 6500 which is a feature packed combination unit on a 5-inch screen. It also features a WAAS-enabled GPS chartplotter all preloaded with a 32MB world map. The depth range is up to 305m (1,000ft). If that isn’t all they have also come out with the Tracker 5380 which has a 3.8 inch TFT daylight viewable screen, and the 5430 features has a daylight-viewable four-level grayscale screen with 360x240 resolution. Navman are very busy people indeed. Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! ICS Navtex Being a big fan and owner of an ICS Nav 6 this is interesting product. New is the McMurdo's ICS Nav 7, which is a dual channel NAVTEX receiver that also has a large, easy-to-read, daylight viewable color LCVD screen. This is great as I have my screen in the cockpit with all of the data being interfaced and it does get hard to read sometimes. also they claim being the first NAVTEX that uses a landscape screen format that gives a a paper-like image. Of course it supports reception of all three IMO NAVTEX frequencies, and that includes inshore forecasts and three-day weather outlook for the UK and Europe. Good stuff McMurdo! Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! John C Payne

NEW LED BOAT LIGHTING Danish LED navigation light manufacturer Lopolight has received MCA type approval for the whole range of Lopolight LEDs. So this should see a drastic reduction on sailing yachts of power consumption, no more shaking and breaking bulbs and improved reliability. INMARSAT LATEST Inmarsat have launched the second Inmarsat-4 satellite. This launch of the second I-4 satellite gives Inmarsat the world's most sophisticated commercial network for mobile voice and data services, This gives broadband connectivity virtually anywhere in the world. Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! IRIDIUM NEWS They have announced that the total number of marine industry subscribers has increased by 30 per cent this year. It offers most boaters a wide range of voice and data applications. It is a good alternative for ocean voyagers. YACHT MONITORING Spanish company EMMI Network has launched a new yacht control system. The Albatross Control System allows users to monitor and control a yacht systems status both onboard the vessel and remotely via the Internet through its website. The system also gives GSM, GPRS, Wi-Fi or satellite communications between a yacht and land. User selectable device monitoring is possible via the sensor network connected though NMEA 2000, with information on the onboard computer and or transmitted to land via Internet. The sensor data converted to NMEA 2000 signals includes battery information, electric current, motor status, bilge monitoring, tank volumes, temperatures, pressures, levels, navigation lights, fuel consumption. John C Payne

NEW ELECTRONIC HELM CONTROL Company BRP have launched a new range electronic helm. Called I-Command, these instruments are designed to complement the Evinrude E-TEC engines. The I-Command system is plug and play technology and is also based on the NMEA 2000 standard. This allows faster information transfer from the engine and boat sensors. Multiple functions are also cleverly integrated into a tachometer and speedometer to display all data you need; including RPM, MPH, volts, fuel level, engine trim, oil level, water pressure, engine temperature, engine hours, engine diagnostics, and fuel flow. MARINE ELECTRONICS CONVERGENCE Radio Holland had come out with a new innovation that combines audio, video, monitoring and control and all onboard communications into a single integrated network. They call it MIND. This is controllable via a pocket PC or PDA and an integrated 'Voice Over IP' (Voice Over Internet Protocol) system allows telephone connection on the same network. Amazing stuff! John C Payne

KATRINA BOAT NEWS The Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) has announced that damage to recreational boaters from Hurricane Katrina is in the range US$650 to US$750 million, and bad news is only around half of that total was covered by insurance. NAVIONICS NEWS Navionics have announced that the Platinum cartography series is now on sale through all distributors. This is based on the Navionics Gold cartography platform, and this is the first multi-dimensional charting and navigation product available on the market for marine chart plotters. Coverage includes US, Canadian, European, Australian and New Zealand waters. Features include geo-referenced charting, detailed cruising guides, 3D bathymetric views, clear satellite photography, quality panoramic port photographs, the US Coast Pilot, a comprehensive wreck database, and even coastal roads and extra-large coverage areas. Before this only PC based systems had this amount of data. Platinum multi-dimensional cartography and database are distributed on 2GB chart cards. This product was awarded the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) 2005 Innovation Award for Electronics. Brilliant stuff!!! GPS SHARK A great white shark with thename of Nicole was fitted with a GPS satellite tag and has voyaged to Cape Town and back to Australia in just nine months. Nicole also spent more than 60 per cent of the voyage just below the sea surface and scientists think that the shark may have used the Sun and stars to navigate. It also went down to a new record depth of 3,215 ft (980m). As long as it doesnt have my waypoints that is okay, Mmmm a shark doing star and sunsights at noon! or it just reconfigured the GPS tracking device like a real marine McGiver! Amazing Story! John C Payne

GOOD NEWS FROM C-MAP! The electronic chart manufacturer C-Map has just launched some new navigation software that is purpose designed to display C-Map cartography on your PDA or Smart Phones. This is called C-eMap and will let the user zoom in and out with just a simple touch of a screen, and even better your waypoints can be simply entered directly into your PDA. The displayed info includes depth contour lines, buoyage, light-houses, tidal data, as well as port and marina services, and all this cleverly contained within the SD card. C-eMap will function with most modern PDAs and Smart Phones that are running Pocket PC 2003 or Mobile Windows, but a GPS position source is required to use all of the navigation features. Some PDA models do come with an integral GPS and others will require a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver. John C Payne

KOHLER GENERATOR NEWS! Kohler Power Systems has just launched a new 9kW diesel generator that incorporates an EPA Tier II compliant engine made by Yanmar. The 9EOZD/7EFOZD will replace the 8EOZD/6.5EFOZD models which only had a Tier I compliant diesel engine. It has greater power capability with a smaller package size than earlier models. Kohler marine generators have advanced digital diagnostics and improved bulkhead connections. The Kohler Advanced Digital Control (ADC) system is also able to output more precise voltage and frequency regulation which is good news. John C Payne

Yanmar Marine has come out with new range of electronic control diesel engines, designated as the 6LY3A-ETP. The electronic control gives constant power regulation in temperatures up to 50ºC, synchronises the engine speeds of twin and triple installations. The torque-inducing, high pressure, electronic governing fuel delivery system gives much improved fuel economy, an also reduces engine noise at idle, as well as smoke, including the familiar white smoke at start-up. The engine LCD display unit gives full run-time engine data, engine speed percentage load, running hours, battery voltage, coolant temperature, fuel use rate, fuel level (with optional fuel sensor), boost and oil pressures John C Payne

CONGRATULATIONS LONDON - THE OLYMPIC SAILING WILL BE GREAT! No terrorists will spoil this honor for the 2012 Olympic Games. UK has great sailing record so this will help and this effort was very visible at the London Boat Show which is held at the Excel exhibition centre in Docklands, which will also be venue for some events at the 2012 Olympics. New EchoPilot is Out! EchoPilot Marine Electronics is coming out with the Platinum FLS that is able to detect objects up to 200 meters (over 650 feet). This advanced forward-looking has greater range and resolution with a large transflective color LCD screen that can be observed in the very brightest sunlight. The use of color allows enhanced seabed interpretation much like fishfinders. Another great innovation is a wireless link between the transducer and display, and a wired version is available for use in steel and aluminium boats. Of course its is NMEA compatible and can display GPS data. Brilliant stuff and for cruising yachts a must have item now. Simrad has new screens Simrad has come out with new SunView Bonded (SVB) screens on the CX NavStation range of navigation systems. Initially the choice was TFT or SunView displays, and the new system utilizes SVB screen technology for much improved visibility and readability. They are available in three separate screen sizes, and the NavStation range of electronic navigation products allows total flexibility for choosing any combination of GPS chartplotter, echosounder and radar all on one screen. SINGAPORE BOAT TRACKING and SECURITY The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will require all licensed harbour and pleasure/recreational craft to carry transponders so that they and security agencies can identify and track their movements. The Harbour Craft Transponder System (HARTS) has been specially developed for small vessels which are not required to carry the Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders mandated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The key features of HARTS include: a 'Panic Button' to alert the shore-based authorities in the event of a security threat, Security features ensuring that each transponder unit will only work on the authorised craft, Ability to transmit craft identity, position, course and speed to shore-based authorities, Use of existing telecommunications infrastructure (GPRS network) for transmission of data from the transponder unit to the shore-based control centres. They cost less than S$1,000 per unit, the HARTS transponder will be available at a much lower cost than AIS transponder at S$7,000-10,000 per unit. The Singaporean government says it will bear the cost of fitting HARTS transponders on all affected vessels. WHY AND WHEN CAN THIS SYSTEM BE USED IN MANY PLACES IS THE QUESTION? It’s affordable and security can only gain! Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! John C Payne

Repairs in progress to Worlds Longest Fiber Optic Link This is off Pakistan coast and somehow went awry after joint USN and Pakistan navy exercise? No acceptance that they had anything to do with it of course oops! Piracy Continues Right now a tsunami aid ship has been hijacked off Somalia, lots more coming on piracy activities. Last week 4 incidents in Ghana, Bangladesh, Indonesia and boarders were repelled with fire hoses in Singapore Straits Canadian Ferry Smashes up Yacht marina! A ferry ploughed out of control into a marina this week near Vancouver, ripping into 24 moored boats, mostly sail and dive charter. One poor guy and ex Tug skipper was just finishing 5 year charter yacht project ready to go. Good news is no one was hurt, lucky indeed Innovative Technician Rewards Scheme Teleflex Marine are the US manufacturer of electronic control systems, and they have now announced that they have the 2005/06 TeleflexREWARDS programme implemented. The scheme rewards registered technicians for properly installing Teleflex components onboard on vessels and this allows installing technicians to earn points that can be used against prizes when they install any new steering system, controls, gauge packages or any other Teleflex or Sierra marine product. The marketing director stated "Marine technicians deserve to be rewarded for the hard work they do every day," and this is strongly supported here as well. New Maxwell Winches Coming New Zealand windlass manufacturer Maxwell Marine is coming out with a new range of vertical windlasses, and the VWC 1000 and VWC 1500 are replacing the VWC800 and VWC1200 models. Some of the new features are a simplified 2-piece installation process, a 100W electric motor with a 44:1 ratio worm drive gearbox to give the VWC1000 over 450kg maximum pull. On the VWC 1500 as 1500W motor with a 56:1 gearbox delivers 680kg pull New Zinc Anodes The company Production Mold, Inc. of Los Angeles, are releasing a new series of Electro-Guard zinc anodes made to U.S. military specifications at the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) 2005 in Las Vegas, You should only ever use anodes to the highest standards Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! John C Payne

About LED Lighting for Boats I am a big fan of this newer technology and are happy to see the slow demise of incandescent lights which have served us so well for more than 100 years. Sailnet is marketing the Orca Green Marine Technology LED Navigation Lights. These are the only USCG approved LED-based Tricolor and Anchor combination light available at this time. That’s right! beware of LED navigation lights that don’t carry the appropriate national approvals. The power consumption is 6 Watts (0.5 amps) which is around half the incandescent rating in a night that is around 5 amphours of battery capacity saved. Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! Whirlwind in China sinks 109 Boats! A whirlwind (I guess that’s the same as a tornado) sunk some 109 fishing boats and three larger vessels this week. That is some powerful tornado! Gipsy Moth IV is sailing once again The famous 54ft ketch which Francis Chichester become the first to sail alone round the world in 1966-67, has been re-launched after a 5 month restoration. Like many I visited her where she was moored in concrete in Greenwich in England, close to the equally famous Cutty Sark. A lot of serious work has taken place and she also has new winches, sails, standing and running rigging. Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! John C Payne

Electrical Tributes to a Great Man The pioneer and inventor of the integrated circuit back in 1958 and therefore the microprocessor that has permeated our lives has passed away at age 81. Nobel laureate Jack Kilby also was co-inventor of the hand held calculator. The laureate 2000 citation read that he laid the foundations for modern information technology. From the marine world – thanks Jack for a great life of achievement! Certainly his impact in our world of marine electronics is something truly amazing Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! Fisherman catches a grenade!! A great fishing story. Out in Lorain County, Ohio a local angler reeled in a live World War II grenade. He gave it to police for disposal. Lucky he didn’t catch it by the pin I guess! No account on what type of bait or fly used or any other gear details. Do you want some comment on something special in this blog? let me know as it's your blog! Bookmark this blog for further marine technology updates! John C Payne

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