Electronics+Navigations

Turn Your iPhone into a Chartplotter

by Adam Cort, Posted September 27, 2011

The iAIS from Digital Yacht is a dual-channel Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver that not only wirelessly transmits AIS data to an iPhone, iPad or iTouch, but can also transmit any other NMEA data available on board, including things like depth, speed and wind information. When coupled with the iNAVx iPhone navigation app INAVx, the result is a portable device that can serve as a

Night Vision for the Masses

by Adam Cort, Posted September 12, 2011

FLIR Systems’ new First Mate MS has the potential to put thermal night vision capabilities into the hands of every sailor, thanks to its compact size and low price. The First Mate MS uses the same technology as FLIR’s other products, like the M-Series, but weighs just 12oz and measures less than a 7in long.Two versions are available, which provide higher and lower resolutions. Both

Up-close

by Adam Cort, Posted August 23, 2011

Broadband 3G radar employs a marine Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radome to provide greater transmit power and better range and target clarity. This enables operators to make out smaller contacts at a greater distance without compromising close-range performance. The 19in radome weighs 16lb, and the system can mark objects within 6ft of the boat. Other 3G features include advanced

A VHF for a Man Overboard

by Adam Cort, Posted August 23, 2011

The featherweight Icom M-24 VHF is an affordable, no-frills non-DSC handheld radio with a nifty “float and flash” feature that causes a red LED to start flashing as soon as it hits the water—even when it’s turned off. In addition to making the radio easier to recover, this can help draw attention to a person who has fallen overboard. In fact, the unit’s light weight and small size make it a

Nav Station to Go

by Ralph Naranjo, Posted June 14, 2011

Perhaps you like to plan your passages when you’re away from your boat. Maybe you spend a lot of time sailing on other people’s boats. Maybe you just like to take your nav gear home at the end of the day, or you like having a backup in a bag. Whatever the reason, there’s a lot to be said for being able to tote along your own tried and proven gear.My own experiences on any number of

Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone

by Sail Staff, Posted May 6, 2011

The Iridium system has gotten more robust and now has 66 low-earth-orbit satellites arrayed in a constellation that delivers Arctic-to-Antarctic coverage. One big advantage of this system is that the company has recently decided to transition to a 2015 upgrade called “IridumNEXT” that will be backward compatible. The new satellites and software will allow current sat-phones to remain fully

KVH Tracphone V3

by Sail Staff, Posted May 6, 2011

KVH has been a long-term industry leader in antenna stabilization and satellite communication. Its latest V3 satellite phone delivers crisp voice calls, competitive data rates and faster connections. The cost per minute is now at a price point that will appeal to more than the megayacht crowd.The new V3 phone utilizes a stabilized antenna and a belowdecks-mounted controller/modem. The

Wireless VHF Remotes

by Sail Staff, Posted April 5, 2011

GHS 20 and GHS 20i full-function wireless remote handsets are compatible with Garmin’s VHF 200 and 300 series radios. They allow you to move about your boat and still have complete control of your radio. Each waterproof handset includes a backlit LCD display, soft keys, volume control, squelch and channel selection, a built-in speaker mike for use in loud environments, a DSC distress function,

Turn Night Into Day

by Sail Staff, Posted November 23, 2010

T300 and T400 series thermal navigation cameras employ FLIR thermal-imaging technology and can be used with Raymarine's E-Series Widescreen and G-Series navigation systems to pick out obstructions,, buoys and other boats in complete darkness. When integrated with the E-Series system, users can control the cameras via Raymarine's proprietary HybridTouch touchscreen feature. The cameras can be

Tank Oracle

by Sail Staff, Posted November 18, 2010

On long passages it’s good to know how much fresh water, gray water, waste, oil, and fuel you have in your tanks. Offshore Systems’s digital MultiTank Level Display allows you to monitor any four of your boat’s tanks on one easy-to-read screen via an NMEA 2000 network. You can choose to have the information displayed as bar graphs, analog gauges, or raw numbers. Alarms can be set for low and high