Electronics Intros at 2013 Miami International Boat Show
This month’s Miami International Boat Show (Feb. 14-18) served as the venue for an astounding number of new electronics-product rollouts and announcements applicable to our saltwater-fishing market. I count at least 27 items or offerings I plan to include (or just recently have included) in print and digital coverage.
Electronics companies have continued to develop amazing new tools that bring the world of mainstream consumer gizmos to the waterfront — despite challenging economic times. But this year’s long list seems even more encouraging.
To give you an idea of what to expect on these pages and at dealerships and stores now and throughout the next few months, check out the three videos below of key Raymarine and Garmin products and the photo gallery at this link. Here’s a partial list, as well, of those additional items not shown among the photos or videos:
- New compatibility with Simrad and Lowrance displays/plotters.
- New compatibility with Simrad/Lowrance and Furuno TZTouch
- Fantum Feedback autopilot technology
- TZTouch black box sounder
- TZTouch/FLIR compatibility and software update
- M73 series handheld VHFs
- M400BB fixed-mount transceiver
- Navionics+ electronic-chart solution
- GS25 GPS/GLONASS antenna
THREE VIDEOS
Raymarine’s CHIRP-Powered Dragonfly Sonar/GPS with DownVision Sonar Imaging — yeah, that’s a long title — was designed to deliver an advanced, though easy-to-use, product to the inland freshwater and inshore saltwater markets.
Here are two videos that should help introduce you to the product. The first just shows the basics of the unit. The second gets into the DownVision and CHIRP technology. Street pricing for these units ranges from $649.99 to $719.99, including the transducer.
Garmin’s new GPSMAP 8000 (and 8500 black box w/ monitor) series gives that company a glass-helm system for larger center-console and sport-fishing boats. The video helps explain an integral function of the user interface called SmartMode. Note: The 8-, 12- or 15-inch displays in the 8000 series are multi-touch enabled (offering pinch-to-zoom). Prices for the 8000 series range from $4,099.99 to $6,999.99. (Shot through the lens of a GoPro.)
