Chartplotter News

Mackay Marine said it provided marine electronics systems and technologies for Kitsap Transit's two new 250-passenger vessels built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB).Bremerton, Wash.-based public transit agency ordered the new vessels in December 2018 to provide expedient commuter services to downtown Seattle from both Kingston, Wash. and a planned Southworth, Wash. route.The bow-loading fast ferries, built by NBBB at its Whidbey Island, Wash. shipyard, are state-of-the-art, low-wake vessels.

These days, cost-conscious municipalities across the fruited plain, from sea to shining sea, are ordering new waterborne assets to cover their many local responsibilities. When they do, they want ‘more bang for their buck,’ combining multiple missions – and the equipment that makes it all possible – onto one hull. That’s a tall order on the typically compact patrol boat style hulls that tend to be big on performance, but short on space for equipment that can demand a significant physical footprint. One such shipbuilder stepping up to plate to deliver on a raft of promises is Gulf Coast-based Metal Shark. Significantly expanding its presence in the fireboat market with a diverse range of fireboats currently in production for multiple customers…

Lake Assault Boats, part of Fraser Shipyards, placed a 28-foot vessel into service with the Town of Gibraltar Fire Department located in northern Door County, Wisconsin. The craft provides emergency response and firefighting services for a large section of shoreline and islands located on Lake Michigan’s Green Bay. The purchase of the boat was funded entirely through the Gibraltar Fire-Rescue Association, a local non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.Placed into service earlier this summer, the boatis designed to respond to a wide range of on-the-water emergencies.

The Rabun County Fire Services, located in the northeast corner of Georgia, has placed a Lake Assault Boats fireboat into service on Lake Rabun, an 835-acre reservoir with 25 miles of shoreline. The new craft provides fire suppression and emergency response services for homeowners, visitors, and Georgia Power facilities located on the lake.“The combination of hydroelectric plants and a growing number of high-end waterfront single family homes in a region susceptible to wildfires make our on-the-water emergency response capabilities a critical part of our department’s mission…

MetalCraft Marine’s 10 Meter Interceptor model is a formidable workboat. Defined by the sum of its myriad parts, it really can be seen that ‘the equipment makes the boat.’ This month, we ask "What's in Your workboat?"In a business where there is rarely any shortage of pretty boats, cutting edge designs and equally impressively performing workboat tonnage, it is also true that the real value to any design is cemented by the very equipment that makes it run. Typically, however, comparing apples to apples when it comes to selecting your next patrol, fire, SAR or pilot boat is almost impossible. Until now.Kick the tires. Pop open the hood. Put this one up on the jacks. Spend a little time under the chassis.

Even before the implementation of Subchapter M requirements, Vancouver, Washington-based Tidewater Transportation & Terminals had developed a strong culture of workplace safety. Within its overall plan is using and regularly testing Emerald Marine Products' ALERT Man-Overboard System. The ALERT system consists of a water-activated transmitter worn on a lifejacket and a receiver installed in a wheelhouse. If the wearer falls into the water, it instantly activates a piercing alarm and flashing light, alerting the boat captain to the man overboard (MOB).

iNavX, the benchmark marine navigation mobile application, announced today, in partnership with Fugawi and Navionics, the availability of Navionics charts in the iNavX In-App Chart Store. This is a first for the industry, and iNavX is the only independent marine navigation app to offer Navionics charts to its users. “When it comes to crucial navigation information, boaters’ decisions about what apps, electronics and charts they use can be as varied and personal as the foul weather gear they wear to keep them dry,” said Shaun Steingold, CEO, NavX Studios. “The most respected name in electronic charting and cartography is Navionics and…

Garmin, the global leader in satellite navigation, is set to premiere a range of its new 2017 marine products to the European market, at METS Trade 2016. Experience Garmin’s strengthened marine product portfolio in Amsterdam this year – featuring the compact GPSMAP 722/922 and 1022/1222 series’ and the powerful VHF 110i/210i AIS radios, to mention but a few. With a wide variety of products on show, from GPS mapping devices, to solid-state pulse compression radars, to transducers; the Garmin stand is certainly not one to be missed this year. Experience an advanced navigation solution with the compact GPSMAP 722/922 series,  available as 7 and 9-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen chartplotters or combo units (xs series).

Tuco Marine’s Arctic Workboat Daughter Craft is Marine News' October 2016 Boat of the Month. Danish producer Tuco Marine has introduced an all new Arctic Workboat Daughter Craft. Developed in response to international requests and specifications, the unique craft has been in every detail optimized for Arctic and/or cold weather operations. In a nutshell, the Tuco Marine ProZero series of Daughter Crafts, Workboats and FRCs are designed to meet the needs of the huge number of Arctic Patrol Vessels, Icebreakers and Polar Research Vessels that are currently under development and construction.

Professional mariners know the life-threatening hazards of falling overboard, but may not consider how critical the recovery window is, especially with a moving vessel. Compact and easily carried on a PFD, the ALERT2 Man-Overboard Alarm System from Emerald Marine Products immediately sets off a piercing audible alarm in the wheelhouse upon immersion, and can even be wired to stop an engine and/or set a waypoint on a chartplotter. At its most basic, the easily installed ALERT2 Man-Overboard Alarm System consists of the AT101 Transmitter and AR100 Receiver. Combined, the reliable and proven system provides crew with the critical extra seconds needed for a successful, locally managed man overboard (MOB) rescue operation.

B&G has introduced the new Vulcan 9 sailing chartplotter – a large touchscreen chartplotter for coastal cruising and club racing sailboats, that provides sailors with incredible value. The new 9-inch chartplotter delivers innovative sailing functionality controlled through a bright intuitive multi-touch screen and easy to use menu structure that makes setting courses, reading wind speed[1] and direction, depth[2], bearings and a host of other sailing functions, simple and intuitive to access and understand. With award-winning sailing features that make it easy to plan a trip with key information, the Vulcan 9 includes SailSteer and Sailing Time…

nv charts has announced the release of their newly updated chart sets for Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean for 2016/17 in paper and digital format. In addition to being updated, the new NV.Atlas format brings a modern, handy design to the charts that’s practical and easy to use. The chart set includes a download of digital charts, including free navigation software, plus the free nv charts Mobile App for iOS and Android mobile devices. The App includes free digital updates for this chart set for 2016/17.

iNavX, the benchmark marine navigation mobile application, in partnership with Fugawi X-Traverse, today launched its chart and map in-app purchase program. Now enabled with one-touch purchase and download, iNavX gives boaters the most streamlined access to the broadest set of marine charts and maps from multiple providers. iNavX users will gain intuitive download capabilities for all of their favorite chartsand navigation data such as Navionics’ worldwide chart catalog, Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) charts; Fugawi Aboard quilted Canadian and US charts; NV Charts for Europe, the US and the Caribbean; Theyr weather; Waterway Guide…

B&G, the world’s leading sailing navigation and instrument specialist has upgraded its latest software for the full range of Zeus2 and Vulcan chartplotters. The new software upgrade enhances B&G chartplotters, allowing users to wirelessly download high-resolution weather information using PredictWind* GRIB files to store meteorological forecasts. This new functionality helps in trip planning or developing strategy for top-level competition. PredictWind is recognized as the leading global supplier of weather data for inshore and offshore sailing, with forecasts ranging from low-bandwidth offshore route planning to specialized, highly detailed local area forecasts of 1km resolution.

Lowrance, a world-leading brand in fishing electronics since 1957, announced today the release of a new, premium Elite Ti standalone series of fishfinder/chartplotters. The Lowrance Elite-5 and Elite-7 Ti touchscreen fishfinder/chartplotters offer anglers high-performance at an incredible value. With an easy-to-use touchscreen interface, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity, proven Lowrance navigation technology and high-performance sonar – including CHIRP sonar, StructureScan HD and DownScan Imaging – the Elite Ti Series is a robust, feature-rich, yet compact solution – all at an affordable price. The Lowrance Elite Ti is designed for anglers who want a complete view of the area beneath their boat.

Marine safety products manufacturer Vesper Marine has released a new Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS), the XB-6000. The black box transponder includes a built-in NMEA 2000 gateway and GPS antenna that integrates AIS, GPS and NMEA instrument data to display vital safety information on any AIS-compatible chartplotter, multifunction display (MFD) or personal computer. The Vesper Marine XB-6000 offers convenient access to AIS safety information instantaneously while on the water.

Lowrance, a world-leading brand in fishing electronics since 1957, announced today the release of a game-changing,sonar-imaging system – Lowrance StructureScan 3D. Lowrance StructureScan 3D allows anglers to easily see fish, underwater structure and bottom contours in a stunning three-dimensional display on their HDS Gen3fishfinder/chartplotter. StructureScan 3D imaging quickly scans underwater terrain and fish-holding structure to createhigh-resolution, 180-degree super-wide, three-dimensional views – in depths to 300 feet and as far as 600 feet port and starboard. Yielding captivating images withunprecedenteddetail, StructureScan 3D…

Navionics, the leader in content and location-based services for the recreational boating and outdoor markets, announced today the latest details of its award-winning SonarChart Live. Now offering compatibility with Raymarine Dragonfly PRO and Wi-Fish systems, boaters can connect GPS chartplotters, sounders and fishfinders with their mobile devices using Wi-Fi to view an HD bathymetry map in real time while navigating. Raymarine Dragonfly PRO and Wi-Fish users can also take advantage of the unique split-screen view within the Navionics Boating app, enabling them to display both charts and DownVision sonar in the palm of their hands. SonarChart Live is also now available for use with any sounder or plotter connected to a compatible Wi-Fi router, such as Digital Yacht’s Sonar Server.

Cruden is unveiling its new high speed boat simulator at the 7th HSBO Forum (Lisbon, May 4-6). Using detailed modelling and motion cueing techniques, as well as professional image generation developed in the automotive and motorsport industries (including Formula 1TM), the simulator is designed to set a new training standard for offshore, coastguard, naval, search and rescue, and security and control applications. The simulator was developed with data gathered from the Dutch military on its fast interceptor vessels and Florida powerboat specialists.

GoFree – the provider of digital content and services, and part of the Navico family of marine electronics brands including Lowrance, Simrad Yachting and B&G – announced today the release of six updated mapping products for use in both inland and coastal U.S. waters. Greatly improved for 2015, Lake Insight® and Nautic Insight® cartography packages are each available in three versions: PRO, HD East and HD West. Delivering high-quality maps for the lower 48 United States including the Great Lakes, GoFree’s Lake Insight v15 now features an updated database of 9,000 lakes with depth contours, including 2,300 detailed charts with contours at 1- to 3-foot intervals.

Lowrance announced the upcoming software update for the HDS Gen3 fishfinder/chartplotter series — enabling wireless compatibility with the complete line of C-Monster compatible Power-Pole products. These efficient hydraulic anchors and all-electric Micro Anchor products quickly and quietly anchor fishing boats and kayaks in shallow-water situations. A simple touchscreen control on the Lowrance High Definition System (HDS) Gen3 display allows anglers to wirelessly engage the anchor — saving anglers additional steps and minutes, so they can focus on fishing. First announced in December 2014, the HDS Gen3 7-, 9- and 12-inch models offer a unique combination of professional-level features and easy-to-use operation.

Lowrance®, a world-leading brand in fishing electronics since 1957— announced today the renewal of its Insight Genesis™ College Cup. In its second year, the 2015 College Cup kicks off January 1st and continuesthrough December 31, 2015.Anglers registered with Bassmaster Collegiate Series or FLW College Fishing are eligible for the competition. Contestantscan win monthly prizes – including HDS-12, HDS-9 and HDS-7 Gen2 Touch fishfinder/chartplotter models --- simply bycapturing and uploadingthe most acres of sonar recordings to the online Insight Genesis map-creation tool. TheLowrance fishfinder/chartplotter prizes will be awarded to first-, second-, and third-place individual monthly winners, respectively.

Marine Safety Leader Releases Industry’s  Vesper Marine First AIS Devices With Built-in High Speed GPS Auckland, New Zealand – Vesper Marine, a leading manufacturer of innovative marine safety products, announced today powerful updates to its award-winning WatchMate Vision and XB-8000 product lines. Now, in addition to transmitting and receiving position, course, speed and vessel details for collision avoidance, both devices feature high-speed 5Hz GPS receivers making them the first Class B AIS transponders that can be used as a primary positioning sources for any chartplotter, multifunction display (MFD), autopilot or instrument display on an NMEA 2000 network.