The concept is simple: locate objects underwater or in the dark by sending out a sound signal and listening for the echoed return. Bats, shrews and dolphins use it. Humans finally caught on about 100 years ago. From the first 2000-pound transducer to the latest forward-facing sonar, the evolution of the fish finder allows anglers a view of underwater fish and structure that would make a dolphin jealous.

45 Million Years Ago: Whales develop echolocation. By sending out clicks and receiving the echo through their jaw bone, animals can see in the dark, underwater and underground.

1490: Leonardo da Vinci invents active sonar by using a long underwater tube to listen for approaching ships.

1913: One month after the Titanic sinks, English meteorologist Lewis Fry Richardson, patents the first Sound Navigation and Ranging device. 

1959: Lowrance introduces the FISH-LO-K-TOR portable sonar, also known as the “Little Green Box.” Over the next 25 years, the analogue flasher sells more than 1 million units.

1971: Tom Mann modifies a do-it-yourself electronics kit to reduce interference and creates the first Humminbird depth sounder.

1984: The first fish finder with an LCD screen and integrated microprocessor replaces paper graphs.

1985: Scientists use a Lowrance’s X-16 paper graph to search for the Loch Ness monster. Operation Deepscan failed to produce any evidence of the monster.

2003: Humminbird’s SmartCast wireless fish finder provides bank anglers with a remote fish finder. Tie the transducer to the fishing line, cast it out and use a smartphone app to watch a live view of the fish and structure.

2009: DownScan sonar transmits multiple sonar signals to create a life-like image of fish and structure. The technology leads to 360 and forward-facing sonar.

2011: CHIRP sonar transmits a range of frequencies in one pulse to increase the power of the transducer signal and improve image detail.

2018: Garmin’s Panoptix LiveScope provides live images of fish and structure in front of the boat. The technology wins Best of Show at ICAST. 

2019: Humminbird Introduced MEGA 360 Imaging followed in 2021 with MEGA Live Imaging, providing a live view of fish and structure in every direction. The technology quickly spreads through the industry providing anglers the most powerful tool to find fish.

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New Siren Marine Connected Boat App

The new Connected Boat mobile app from Siren Marine (a division of Yamaha) delivers a host of resources at your fingertips, including integration with Yamaha outboards and control systems, real-time vessel security, multiple and flexible boat monitoring and tracking functions, and remote digital switching. 

The system also offers special sensors to monitor the security of rod lockers and hatches for protection of your stowed valuables.Through the mobile app, boaters have the ability to access to control all of these features from their smartphones or smartwatches.

“Through Siren Connected Boat, Yamaha and Siren offer never-before-seen innovation and benefits that allow boaters to ‘be’ on board their boat even when they can’t be in person,” says Andrew Cullen, director of connectivity for the Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “The app gives you the ability to leverage Siren technology and all the benefits of remote connectivity, security and monitoring.”

The new app is free for basic service, but requires installation and activation of a Siren 3 Pro main device and cellular service. Hardware starts at $797 with cell plans as low as $18.75 per month. It operates over a global 4G/5G LTE cellular network with the option to add the SirenSat offshore antenna for coverage outside of cell range. Options for sensors include wired and wireless, as well as connection to the NMEA 2000 network. The Siren Connected Boat app is available on the App Store and Google Play Store. For more about the Siren Marine system, visit sirenmarine.com.

New Yamaha F350 4.3L V-6 

The new Yamaha F350 V-6 outboard boasts more displacement, longer stroke, and bigger intake and exhaust valves than the Yamaha F300. “The F350 is the perfect big power, lightweight option for a wide variety of saltwater fishing boats,” says Ben Speciale, president of the Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. This 4.3-liter outboard uses the same diameter electronic throttle valve as the XTO 450. Combined with Variable Camshaft Timing (VCT), the intake manifolds offer 40 percent larger surge tanks than the F300, and the electronic throttle valve is 8 percent larger, enhancing smoother airflow and power delivery. The new fuel injection control mapping produces a longer injector duration for more power than that of the F300. 

The F350 is offered in 25- and 30-inch shaft lengths, and in 25-, 30- and 35-inch for late-stage customized (LSC) lower unit models. A new cowling incorporates a water-draining air duct and a new cowling exhaust port combined with a new stator fan to keep everything cool. The 25-inch-shaft version weighs 629 pounds; 642 pounds for the 30-inch; and 653 pounds for the 35-inch model.

New Cowl for the Inline V MAX SHO

Yamaha has modernized the look of the Inline V MAX SHO outboards, including the 90 through 175 hp models, emulating the popular styling of Yamaha’s 4.2L V MAX SHO outboard. These motors now sport a complete signature Shiny Black paint job, along with eye-catching raised graphics, paired with sleek striping and the iconic Yamaha “tuning fork” emblems. Yamaha’s Inline SHO outboards offer lightweight power and easy rigging, including simple adaptability to cable-driven foot throttles. Anglers who fish bays and flats aboard shallow-draft boats love the V MAX SHO motor’s powerful hole shot and stingy fuel economy. 

To learn more, visit yamahaoutboards.com.

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Today’s revolutionary technology, specifically the Internet of Things (IoT), has granted anglers the ability to monitor their boat location, security and vital signs remotely via a mobile app. Now, Siren Marine is making that experience even better with the newly upgraded Siren Connected Boat mobile app featuring integration with Yamaha outboards.

Features of the new app include real-time vessel security, multiple and flexible boat-monitoring and tracking functions, as well as conveniences such as remote digital switching for control of onboard systems from a smartphone or smart watch virtually anywhere in the world.

Yamaha Integration

Yet, the biggest news lies in the Siren app’s integration with Yamaha’s Command Link Plus. It enables the app to automatically remind boating anglers and their preferred dealers about scheduled maintenance requirements and due dates based on actual engine use, as well as maintenance records as updated by either the servicing dealer or the DIY boater.

Boat dealers have the ability to install Siren 3 Pro devices at their dealerships. What’s more, some boatbuilders now offer Siren 3 Pro as standard equipment on select boats. The builders include Grady-White, Regulator Marine and Skeeter.

Cellular or Satellite Connection

Siren 3 Pro is the third-generation remote boat-monitoring and telematics platform that operates over a global 4G/5G LTE cellular network with the option to add SirenSat (an offshore antenna) for customers that leave cellular coverage. Options for monitor sensors include wired and wireless, as well as connection to the NMEA 2000 network. There is also a new low-power mode that extends battery life during times when full functionality is not needed, such as during winter storage.

The new app is available now for download in the US. For boaters who already have a Siren Marine system, the app will update seamlessly on their mobile devices. The new app is free for basic service, but requires installation and activation of the Siren 3 Pro main device and cellular service. Siren 3 Pro system hardware starts at $797 with cellular plans as low as $18.75 per month.

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The patent-pending OceanBridge is the perfect companion for any sport fishing vessel’s lighting. The innovative new system takes boat owners and captains deeper into customizable lighting options with universal control of all a boat’s lights from an MFD, smartphone or tablet.

OceanLED set new industry standards for universal light control with the launch of the OceanBridge. The seamless system allows any user to control the entire OceanLED range of lights, as well as third-party lights from a single interface. Even boats installed with only third-party lights can benefit from the OceanBridge, thanks to its open-source connectivity. The result, is a comprehensive system integration solution, suitable for every sport fishing vessel, from the smallest center console to the largest Viking. The OceanBridge is compatible with all MFD units, smartphone and tablets, and is available for just $500.50.

“The OceanBridge represents the culmination of over two years development.” Said Daniele Todaro, Managing Director, OceanLED. “Every aspect has been designed with boat owners and captains needs in mind.”

The OceanBridge is a key component of OceanLED’s strategy to expand its product range with new innovations that take the marine lighting experience to new heights. With the continued growth of the underwater lighting industry, the need for sport fishing focused, integrated, open-source solutions is growing. Leveraging its expertise in advanced electronics, OceanLED’s first MFD integration solution incorporates actual insights from real boat owners throughout the development process. The result is a superb multizone lighting controller, that frees users from the confines of other brands’ proprietary technology. A key component of the experience with the marine lighting that boat owners identified as inconvenient and limiting.

The ideal choice for anyone seeking to elevate their setup and experience next-level immersion when using their boats lights, the OceanBridge boasts OceanLEDs patent-pending light-to-movement technology which translates a vessels movements to light color, speed, brightness, and intensity.

The OceanBridge allows complete control of light color, music sync, color fade, color transitions, brightness, and the ability to create up to ten zones and dynamic scenes as standard. Boat owners and captains can tailor their lighting options down to the smallest details, allowing them to make changes based on the time of day, vessel or even set timers.

Every aspect of OceanLEDs powerful yet easy-to-use OceanBridge has been designed with boat owners and captains needs in mind. Its clean, all-in-one form is pleasing to the eye, but has maintained it’s core purpose of longevity and robustness. The OceanBirdges ample connections selection make it an easy addition to any existing system or new build. It even comes with a built-in USB port for easy system updates, ensuring the longevity of each system.

And with a variety of connectivity options including direct power line connectivity, NMEA2000 backbone connectivity, and ethernet connectivity, the versatile OceanBridge offers an easy way to connect to any vessel. Users can also opt to go wireless and connect to smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth to enjoy the systems flexible interface while listening to music streamed or saved on their device.

The post OceanLED’s Revolutionary OceanBridge Multizone Lighting Controller Takes Lighting Control to the Next Level! appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Just how big a fish finder do you need? It’s a question just about every boat-owning angler will ask themselves when they buy a new boat, and again when they upgrade their electronics. It’s really, really easy to boil down this question to a one-line answer: the biggest your boat’s helm can accommodate. Period. If you have the room, multiple fish finders are even better.

Cost Equation

Simple, right? OK, now let’s pick apart that assertion a bit. Obviously, the downside to getting a bigger fish finder is additional cost. But ask yourself: What percentage of your boat’s cost would an upsize unit amount to? A pretty good guess is 2 to 4 percent. Next question: Would you want to save 2 to 4 percent on your boat’s cost if you knew it meant you’d catch significantly fewer fish for the lifetime of the rig? Because that’s exactly what’s likely to happen.

Big-Screen Effect

What you have to remember is that you’re trying to represent a vast area of water on a comparatively minute screen. If you’re fishing in 50 feet of water and trying to compress the snapshot of that swath of H₂O onto a 5-inch screen, 30-inch fish will be little more than tiny dots. Trying to spot baitfish will be like trying to spot fairy dust. Oh, and you say you’d like to see the chart plotter at the same time too? That screen just shrank again.

HD Analogy

Do you remember when you upgraded your TV to a jumbo high-definition version, put on the Nature Channel, and discovered that you could suddenly see the hairs on an ant’s leg? The difference is just as stark—and just as illuminating—with a grand-size fish-finder screen.

Easier Navigation

In case we haven’t convinced you yet, note that navigating is a lot easier with a larger screen that allows you to zoom out and still see details such as contour lines and depths. You’ll be more accurate when plotting without having to zoom in and out to find markers and channels. 

How Big Is Big?

Just how big is big enough? Different folks have different opinions, but for most serious anglers anything under 9 inches is usable only for the most basic applications. Upping the ante to 12 inches or larger will make a massive difference. The bottom line is: Bigger is always better. So, stop asking how big a fish finder you need. Instead, measure that helm station and find out just how big a fish finder you can ­possibly put on there.

The post How Big a Fish Finder Do I Really Need? appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

One word describes the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: Big! With multiple venues, hundreds of exhibits, and more boats, motors, electronics and accessories than you can imagine, this show can be overwhelming. But if you’re looking to live large, this is the show for you. The 2023 show did not disappoint. Here are some of the big products for boating anglers I saw at FLIBS this year.

Formula 457 FISH

Formula Boats staged a huge announcement at FLIBS. It introduced a big new center-console: the Formula 457 Fish. The company presented a detailed scale model of the new boat, and the real thing will be at the Miami International Boat Show in February 2024.

“Built to your preference, from hardcore fishing to upscale sport cruising, or a little of both, the 457 will match your boating style,” Formula’s Scott Porter announced. “Opt for foldaway aft seating and pressurized bait wells, plus the bait station and fully appointed tower command for a fishing battlewagon. We will build a boat to suit your wants and needs.”

At 47 feet, 7 inches in length with a beam of 13 feet, 9 inches, the 457 will boast a 700-gallon fuel capacity and up to three Mercury Verado 600-hp V-12 outboards. Two rows of helm seating will accommodate eight crew members in comfort. Speaking of comfort, a fully appointed cabin will make long cruises and overnighting at the islands a genuine pleasure.

Grady-White Canyon 386

Grady-White Boats always seems to make big news at FLIBS, and this year was even more spectacular with the debut of the Canyon 386 center console. Mirroring the best design elements of the Grady-White flagship model, the Canyon 456, the 386 offers an immense amount of deck space.

“You’ll find no other boats of its class with the magnitude of square footage that we’ve been able to create in our design process,” said Grady-White Product Designer Christian Carraway. “With an eye toward fishability and luxury, we’ve crafted a boat that’s both rugged and refined.”

With a length of 36½ feet and beam of 13 feet, 2 inches, the Canyon 386 features four luxurious helm seats and a spacious, fully appointed cabin accessed from a sliding door on the helm deck. The roomy cockpit has side doors on both sides, dual 35-gallon transom livewells, and a 291-quart insulated refrigerator/freezer fish box with a digitally controlled thermostat. A fold-away transom bench seat offers extra seating, but tucks away quickly when the angling action heats up.

On the forward console is an inviting lounger and posh seating in the bow. The updated engine area eliminates the traditional motor well and supports triple Yamaha XTO Offshore 450-hp outboards, now available in classic white to perfectly match the iconic Grady-White gelcoat.   

Aquila 47 Molokai

The ranks of big offshore-capable power catamarans welcome a new member at FLIBS: the Aquila 47 Molokai. The double-step 45-foot, 8-inch-long cat hull features carbon-fiber forward and aft main bulkheads to create the structural strength required for up to four powerful 400-hp outboards. High tunnel clearance creates an air cushion and reduces hull noise when trolling. The deck level offers 360 degrees of walk-around space, and the forward platform grants elevation when cast-netting for bait to fill the twin 42.5-gallon transom pressurized livewells. There are 180 gallons of in-sole fish-box capacity and two 74-gallon forward coffin boxes.

Port and starboard side doors ease boarding of crew and big fish. A console sliding door at the helm offers access to the cabin boasting a queen berth and an enclosed head with a shower for cruising and overnighting. Expansive hull-side windows provide cabin illumination. The hardtop integrates stylishly with the full-height windshield, protecting two rows of helm seating for up to seven crew members.

Garmin GPSMAP 9000 Series

Talk about big! Garmin’s new GPSMAP 9000 chartplotter series is available with 19-, 22-, 24- or 27-inch touchscreen displays. The multifunction displays (MFDs) boast stunning 4K resolution with edge-to-edge clarity, and are powered by a processor that’s seven-times faster than previous generations. They also feature the new Garmin BlueNet gigabit network for comprehensive, high-speed connectivity throughout the boat with sensors and other networked devices.

Each new MFD can be flat or flush mounted, and offer in-plane switching (IPS) touchscreen displays that can be seen from all viewing angles, even with polarized sunglasses. The GPSMAP 9219, 9222, 9224 and 9227 come preloaded with Garmin Navionics+ mapping that includes Auto Guidance+ technology for faster and more detailed route calculations.

ICOM IC-M510BB Black-Box VHF

ICOM’s new IC-M510BB represents the latest in VHF technology, letting you expand your VHF accessibility throughout the boat. All operations, including DSC, can be made from the CommandMic allowing the VHF radio unit to be installed in an out-of-sight place and as far as 60 feet from the CommandMic. Up to three of the CommandMics can be connected to the IC-M510BB, which allows it to double as an onboard intercom system on large boats. NMEA 2000 networking capabilities provide plug-and-play data communication with other electronics such as an MFDs. The radio can also share GNSS (GPS) position, AIS, and DSC calls with other onboard equipment. The unit has a last-call voice recording function that automatically saves up to two minutes of a recent incoming call. A built-in 15-watt amplifier increases the audio output to an external hailer speaker, and there’s built-in hailer function that also sounds foghorn patterns.

The post What Caught Our Eye at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

A new breed of autopilot is emerging, and it’s adding even more angling benefits than conventional autopilot systems. It’s all happening thanks to the integration of autopilot systems with electronic throttle and shift controls, steering, GPS, and chart-plotter and heading sensors.

Mercury, MerCruiser, Suzuki, Volvo Penta and Yamaha all offer integrated systems, either factory-rigged or installed aftermarket by qualified dealers.

Advanced features include the ability to fine-tune boatspeed, keep a boat in position, maintain a heading while drifting, stop and hold the position upon arrival, and more. Most—but not all—are integrated with low-speed joystick maneuvering systems.

Digital Driver

Digital throttle and shift, sometimes known as drive-by-wire controls, for marine engines is the enabler of these new features. Many of today’s outboards no longer rely on mechanical cables to connect the helm controls to the engine. Rather, throttle and shift commands are delivered digitally through wires to the engine via computer modules. 

One feature of this digital merger is the automatic slowing of the boat’s speed during turns as the boat follows a programmed chart-plotter route to a fishing spot. Known as Route Smoothing, it is available on the FishHunter Drive autopilot system, which integrates Furuno’s NavPilot 300 and Suzuki Marine’s SPC 2.0 engine controls on outboards ranging from 115 to 350 hp. It works with single or multiple Suzuki outboards.

“On turns of more than 30 degrees on a chart-plotter route, the FishHunter Drive will gradually slow boatspeed as it approaches the turn,” says Eric Kunz, senior product manager for Furuno USA. This helps ensure the safety of crew who might otherwise be jostled about during a sudden hard turn at speed.

The FishHunter Drive will perform this function on any kind of route programmed into networked chart plotter, including Garmin’s Auto Guidance function, which automatically calculates the safest route around landmasses, shallows, and other hazards based on chart data and the selected waypoint. 

You Have Arrived!

New-age autopilot systems also will deliver your boat to a fishing spot, steering the course to a selected waypoint and slowing or stopping the boat when it arrives. 

Yamaha Marine’s Helm Master EX engages the Track Point feature and Waypoint Arrival function so, as the boat cruises toward a programmed waypoint, it will gradually slow the boat at a distance from the waypoint you choose. You can then enter whichever SetPoint function you choose (StayPoint, FishPoint or DriftPoint) at the final waypoint. It works with single or multiple outboards.

“This will give you and your crew an opportunity to get tackle ready and decide how to fish the spot based on the sea conditions,” says David Meeler, manager of new product introductions for Yamaha Marine. 

The Furuno/Suzuki FishHunter Drive also can slow the boat as it approaches and stop when it arrives. “The boat will automatically slow down and enable Point Lock to stop and hold the vessel over your favorite fishing spot or destination,” Kunz explains. 

Virtual Anchor

Think of a virtual anchor as a form of autopilot, but instead of taking your boat to a destination, it keeps your boat at the destination. Guided by GPS and other sensors, the station-keeping feature generally requires multiple independently steered engines.

The concept was first introduced about eight years ago by Mercury Marine with the Skyhook feature in its Joystick Piloting system. Since then, it’s been refined and augmented with additional features. What’s more, other companies such as Volvo Penta and Yamaha introduced similar functionality soon thereafter. 

“Skyhook was a game-changer,” says Rob Hackbarth, director of controls and rigging for Mercury. Today’s Skyhook functions within Joystick Piloting are available for boats with multiple Mercury outboards, MerCruiser sterndrives or Zeus diesel pod drives.

One of the most useful of Skyhook’s features for boating anglers is BowHook, which maintains the boat position—over a wreck, for instance—but allows the boat to take a natural heading. If you need to adjust the heading, you can do so with a twist of the joystick control.

“You can use the original Skyhook feature, which maintains both position and heading, but it can also require a great deal more steering, throttle and shift,” Hackbarth says. BowHook serves as a gentler and quieter means of holding position, and it saves fuel.

Suzuki’s Point Lock and Yamaha’s FishPoint systems are similar. FishPoint offers the additional benefit of choosing whether you want to put the boat’s bow or stern directly over the spot. This helps anglers adjust for different fishing styles, as well as current and wind conditions. 

Drift Alignment

For anglers who like to drift-fish, functions such as the Mercury DriftHook, Suzuki/Furuno Sabiki Lock and Yamaha DriftPoint can provide big advantages. All are designed to maintain the boat’s heading (as chosen by the skipper) while allowing for a natural drift with wind and current. 

All are great for kite-fishing or working a wreck, and Suzuki touts the hands-free feature as ideally suited for working Sabiki rigs to catch live bait.

Yamaha enhances its DriftPoint feature with DriftPoint Track, which guides the boat to drift along a route programmed into a networked chart plotter. This is really handy when trying to follow a depth contour for species such as flounder.

“When you want to repeat the drift, simply select the waypoint at the top of your drift route and select Track Point,” Meeler explains. “Helm Master EX will use its autopilot to take you back to the beginning of your drift to start over again, notifying crew of Waypoint Arrival before it gets there.”

Editor’s Tip: When buying your next saltwater fishing boat, carefully consider whether to include a joystick system as optional equipment, keeping in mind that these systems are not solely for maneuvering in tight quarters or to ease the task of docking. Because joystick systems integrate digital engine controls, steering, GPS and more, they also enable the advanced autopilot features and angling benefits discussed in this story. -Jim Hendricks, Electronics Editor, Fishing Group

The post 2023 Boat Buyers Guide: Engine-Integrated Autopilot appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

I am a fan of gadgets. That probably makes me well-suited to the job of an electronics editor. I can spend hours tinkering with anything electronic. That’s why I was excited to have a look at Garmin’s new quatix 7 smartwatch.

When the original quatix debuted, it was a bit too big and bulky for my size-small wrist, but I was able to wear a Garmin Fenix 5s, which introduced me to the whole genre of wearable computers. I even received an Apple Watch as a gift not long ago, but was soon reaching for the Fenix. It simply does everything… and easily.

The new quatix 7, released in April, does even more. And, it features a slender profile and much lighter weight than its predecessors. I instantly felt at ease with its 47 mm display. The 7 comes in three models — Standard, Sapphire, and Solar (with a 52 mm display) — and offers loads of new options including new boating features. Here are just a few:

• MFD control (not just remote viewing), anchor drag alerts, integrated tide data. Compatible with:
GPSMAP 7×2/9×2/12×2 Plus
GPSMAP 10×2/12×2
GPSMAP 7×3/9×3/12×3
GPSMAP 7400/7600
GPSMAP 8400/8600
GHC 20 autopilot control
GNX Wind
GNT 10 transceiver

• New touchscreen display (in addition to traditional buttons)
• The Solar model features a built-in LED flashlight.
• Sapphire edition boasts an always-on AMOLED display for sharp clarity and brightness.
• Battery life ranges from up to 16 days for the Sapphire edition and up to 18 days for the Standard version to up to 90 days for the Solar model when it’s in battery-saver mode.
• Optional BlueChart g3 coastal or LakeVu g3 charts.
• GPS and 30-plus built-in sports apps for activities from running, walking, HIIT, cycling, and hiking to kayaking. It’s preloaded with SkiView maps and more than 42,000 golf courses from around the world.
• Enjoy 24/7 wrist-based HR, Pulse Ox, Body Battery energy monitoring, sleep score and more for health and wellness.
• Smart notifications, Garmin Pay contactless payments and Connect IQ app personalization.

Read Next: Wrist-Mounted Electronics That Can Help You Fish

The quatix 7, quatix 7 Sapphire and quatix 7X Solar range in price from $699.99 to $1,199.99.

The post Video: Unboxing the Garmin quatix 7 Smartwatch appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The 2022 Miami International Boat Show marked the public debut of some cool new technology and marine electronics. We took our video camera to the show and captured footage of six products, including the new user interfaces from Garmin and Simrad, Airmar’s SmartBoat, Raymarine’s YachtSense Ecosystem, Harman’s tower speakers and Roswell’s telescoping helm.

Read Next: Bonnier Best Electronics Awards 2022

The post Video: New Technology and Marine Electronics Debut at the Miami International Boat Show appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

After a year off in 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic concerns, the Miami International Boat Show is coming back for 2022 (Feb. 16-20). And it’s set to do so in spectacular style. After being exiled to Virginia Key for five years, the world’s largest boat show will return this year to its original popular venues, including the Miami Beach Convention Center and the Sea Isle Marina in downtown Miami.

Now officially known as the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, this event is the place to be if you want see and demo the latest in boats, marine engines and gear, including marine electronics. You’ll find electronics on display inside the brand-new convention center at factory exhibits and retailers such as The GPS Store. To help you get ready for the show, here are some of the latest, must-see new marine electronics to look for in Miami.

Dometic SeaStar Standard Trim Tabs

Dometic Marine’s new SeaStar standard trim tab system features an intelligent actuator system and intuitive dial for precision ride control. Turn the dial in the direction you want to level the boat to quickly to adjust the ride. There’s also single-press manual Bow Up and Bow Down inputs and a Favorite button that saves a desired tab position. Bright LEDs indicate port and starboard tab positions. The controller also features Auto Brightness to sense ambient light and adjusts dial illumination. The rugged electric actuators feature a planetary gearbox, high-torque DC motor and ball-screw mechanism for durability and fast response. MSRP starts at $1,115; dometic.com.

New Furuno Dome Radar

For 2022, Furuno is adding a new model to its popular NXT radar series. The DRS2DNXT features a compact 19-inch radome, and is compatible with brand’s popular NavNet TZtouch, TZtouch2, or TZtouch3 MFDs. The dome radar systems boast the same features and modes as provided by larger 24-inch NXT, including Furuno’s NXT solid-state Doppler technology, known as Target Analyzer. With a 48-nautical-mile range, the DRS2DNNXT radars also offers RezBoost to sharpen the target returns, achieving the equivalent resolutions of a larger antenna array. The new radar also features a bird mode to automatically adjust gain and clutter to detect flocks or even individual birds feeding on baitfish. $2,400; furunousa.com

Garmin Boat Switch

Garmin’s new Boat Switch is an all-in-one digital switching solution lets you operate up to 20 circuits right from your compatible Garmin GPSMap or EchoMap chartplotter instead of using physical buttons or switches. It offers four different switch types, including on/off for bilge pumps and nav lights, press-and-hold dimmers for cabin lights, momentary outputs for horns and timers to circulate your livewell pumps. Plus, it provides a built-in tank sender detection and calibration for as many as four tanks — including fuel, water and graywater. It installs without special tools and allows you to easily add and name switches on your chartplotter display. $999.99; garmin.com

Fusion XS Series Wake Tower Speakers

Fusion XS Series Wake Tower Speakers amplify every moment on the water with crystal-clear audio and vivid multicolor LED illumination. Affordably priced and designed for a variety of boat applications – from wake and tow boats to center consoles and pontoons – the XS Series Wake Tower Speakers feature powerful audio reproduction and clarity, even at high volumes, plus a compact design and multiple mounting options for added versatility around the boat. Fusion True-Marine engineering and an IP67 rating means the XS Series Wake Tower Speakers are built to perform season-after-season in harsh marine environments. $449.99; fusionentertainment.com

SiOnyx Nightwave D1

The Nightwave D1 from SiOnyx is an affordable, compact fixed-mount camera built around SiOnyx’s patented Black Silicon CMOS sensor. Generating color images in 1080p, Nightwave requires only faint starlight as the sole illumination source to help boaters see and identify low-lying hazards such as timber or lobster-pot buoys in the water as far out as 150 yards. With a 40-degree field of view, Nightwave covers a wide swath over the waters ahead. Measuring five inches in diameter and six inches tall and weighing just under two pounds, the IP67-waterproof-rated Nightwave camera is designed to mount on hardtop in either top-up or top-down configurations. It also has a ¼-inch 20-thread receiver for using the camera with a Ram mount. To network with major brands of multifunction displays, the Nightwave D1 features an analog video cable connection that plugs into the analog video port of an MFD. The camera also offers Wi-Fi video streaming to mobile devices using the SiOnyx Nightwave app. $1,495; sionyx.com

Simrad NSX Series MFDs

Simrad has unveiled its latest generation of MFDs—the NSX series—with a new operating system that features additional functionality, easier integrations and support for a wide range of third-party applications. Boating anglers can utilize NSX with Active Imaging sonar, chirp sonar, SideScan, DownScan and FishReveal.  Available in 7-, 9- and 12-inch touch-screen sizes, the MFDs feature high-resolution bathymetry showing contour lines down to one-foot interval with compatible charts. NSX also includes a Setup Wizard that makes it easier and faster for boaters to include displays of engine and tank parameters, optimize the autopilot, calibrate the radar and more. Boaters can edit NSX displays with a drag-and-drop system to suit their needs. NSX features extensive 3^rd party app integration to support the widest range of functionality. Starting at $1,049; simrad-yachting.com.

Siren Marine/Yamaha Outboards

Siren Marine will display with the Yamaha Outboards at booth MB2200 for the first time after the recent acquisition by Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. You can check out an interactive display of Connected Boat technology and Siren Marine system integrate with Yamaha’s CASE Strategy (Connected, Autonomous, Shared/Service & Electrification), designed to make boating better and easier. Siren Marine’s Smart Boat Monitoring system allows boaters to remotely track their boats’ location, bilge pump activity, battery levels, water levels and more. Together with the Mobile App, the Siren 3 Pro system provides peace of mind through real-time data and alerts. $749.99; sirenmarine.com

Suzuki/Furuno Fish Hunter Autopilot

Suzuki Marine has teamed with Furuno to unveil new Fish Hunter Drive autopilot capabilities for all Suzuki “drive-by-wire” four-stroke outboards from 115hp to 350hp. It works with single or multiple engine installations. Furuno’s NavPilot 300 can now plug-and-play with the new Suzuki Precision Control (SPC) system to deliver exclusive features like Speed Control, Point Lock, Route Smoothing and Sabiki Lock. These features let the autopilot electronically manage shift and throttle to maintain boat speed, automatically stop at fishing spots, maintain heading while drifting, or hold position over a wreck or bait schools.  It will be featured at the Suzuki Marine booth MB1914; suzukimarine.com.

Raymarine Cyclone Radar

Winner of the Editor’s Choice Award in the Bonnier 2022 Best Elex Awards program, the Cyclone chirp pulse-compression solid-state radar series from Raymarine sports a radical open-array scanner with the profile of an aircraft wing. Designed to fit onto a wider range of vessels, the scanners are only 13.2 inches tall and weigh 51 pounds, and the aerodynamic design allows it to start and run in wind speeds up to 100 knots. Cyclone will be offered with a 3-, 4- or 6-foot antenna arrays and with either a 55-watt/6 kW-equivalent or 110-watt/12kW-equivalent pedestal and variable rotation speeds up to 60 rpm. It features both Doppler and conventional scan modes, as well as RangeFusion technology lets Cyclone combine short- and long-range pulses into a single high-clarity images that requires only one pane to view. A 50-target ARPA target tracking system is standard on all models. Cyclone models network seamlessly with Raymarine Axiom, Axiom+, Axiom Pro, and Axiom XL chartplotter multifunction displays.  Starting $6,999.99 for a 3-foot 55-watt model, and topping out at $9,749.99 for a 110-watt 6-foot model; raymarine.com.

Icom IC-M510 VHF with WLAN

VHF radio and mobile phones have merged Icom’s sleek, state-of-the-art IC-M510 fixed-mount VHF with WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) functionality.

The M510 offers built-in wireless command and control of the radio using a smart device such as mobile phone via Icom’s WLAN function. By downloading the Icom RS-M500 app on an Android or iOS device, you can turn your mobile phone into a wireless mic or a remote controller for the M510 VHF. This serves as a substitution for the Icom remote CommandMic using the phone’s Wi-Fi function. The M510 VHF can connect with up to three smart devices. But this VHF offers many other features, as well, including an available integrated AIS receiver to show real-time AIS traffic information on the M510’s excellent color TFT LCD display. With built-in GPS, this VHF also can guide you to a designated waypoint. It allows you to assign up 100 destinations as waypoints. $599.99; icomamerica.com

Koden Multi-Function Intelligent Display

Koden’s new KM-1100 and KM1210 Multi-Function Intelligent Display Systems are engineered to bring professional-grade navigation and data management networking to a range of commercial and recreational vessels, and will be initially offered with a 10.4-inch display (KM-1100) and 21.5-inch display (KM-1210).  Both offer a feature-rich Android operating system and an advanced non-air-gap, multi-point capacitive touch screen for viewing from any angle. The units include a built-in AIS transceiver with AIS targets overlaid onto charts and variable range rings for dynamic tracking.  The MFDs are designed to control advanced Koden black box sonar, sounder and radar modules The KM-1100 and KM-1210 also support a variety of electronic chart platforms, including S-57, S-63 ENC Charts and C-Map Max. The system also makes it easy to overlay satellite images and user layers onto the charts, providing additional critical data and a three-dimensional presentation. Starting at $1,699 for the KM-1100, $3,699 for the KM-1210; si-tex.com.

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