Keeping Up with The Latest Marine Tech from Garmin
Keeping up with the latest tech can be quite the task. Just when you get used to some high-tech widget, program or device, something newer and better comes along.
Our friends at Garmin are dedicated to bringing the latest and greatest in gadgets and remaining on the cutting-edge. . Here’s an update on some of their new and improved products within the marine realm.
Garmin’s free, downloadable navigation app, Garmin ActiveCaptain, has been upgraded to provide even more integration between your onboard navigation electronics and your favorite handheld device: smartphone or tablet. Garmin offers this app for both Android and iOS systems.
Here’s some of what this app can do:
Improved charts and graphs. You can still utilize the BlueChart Mobile charts and graphs on your old system, and access the new OneChart storefront to update or purchase and download new charts. The app syncs automatically from handheld device to your onboard MFD.
Smart Notifications. When you’re onboard, you usually tuck your phone or device safely away. Sometimes, you do that on purpose, because who wants to keep getting those pesky emails and texts while out on the water? Well, sometimes you need to keep in touch, and the ActiveCaptain app will send texts and messages directly to your helm screen for review.
Join the community. ActiveCaptain puts you in touch, in real time, with other captains’ comments on marinas, reported hazards and weather conditions. There’s a lot going on out there, and this app keeps you in touch.
Route plans. ActiveCaptain allows you to plan your next trip with easy route and waypoint synchronization. The app also offers MFD screen mirroring and control of the former Helm app. The app automatically updates all planning between devices and the onboard system.
Quickdraw. Easily upload and download the latest community-made Quickdraw Contours chart and map content.
Automatic updates. With ActiveCaptain, any new upgrades or features are automatically uploaded into the app. You don’t have to ask…it just happens!
Garmin last fall introduced its new GPSMAP 8600 Series, a combination chartplotter, fish sonar and helm control system.
For the most detailed, clear, and concise charts and maps, the 8600 Series Sonar is preloaded with BluChart g3 coastal cartography and LakeVu g3 inland mapping featuring Navionics data. The charts and maps also include Auto Guidance technology, which shows a suggested route to a destination based on your boat’s specifications. The expandable memory allows you to upgrade your maps with accessory map purchases such as BlueChart G3 and LakeVu G3 Ultra.
The system offers built-in support for Garmin’s industry-leading sonar, including dual-channel 1kW traditional CHIRP, CHIRP ClearVu, and CHIRP SideVu scanning sonars, plus built-in support for Ultra High-Definition scanning sonar (no black box required). It also supports the entire Panoptix all-seeing sonar line (transducers sold separately).
NMEA 2000 networking and the Garmin Marine Network allow you to easily build your full marine electronics suite – from radar and autopilots to cameras, instruments, and forward-looking sonar – controlled from your chartplotter and shared across multiple screens. In addition, Garmin’s exclusive OneHelm system coordinates many third-party manufactured onboard marine products to bring full control of systems, such as digital switching, lighting, stabilization, and more – conveniently to your chartplotter screen.
Built-in Wi-Fi technology lets you pair with the free ActiveCaptain app for access to OneChart, smart notification, Garmin Quickdraw community data and more. You can also control video streaming from Garmin’s GC 100 wireless camera and VIRB action cameras. In addition, built-in ANT wireless technology connects you directly to quatix marine watch, gWind Wireless 2 transducer and wireless remote controls.
If you think your boat’s systems are a generation (or two) behind the times, stop in and let us evaluate. Our team can help recommend some of these new electronics designed to make your boating experience safer, more enjoyable and focused on fun.