High-tech Boating Guide
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday October 13, 1995
Boating will never be the same again. Everything from sails to engines to compasses is developing anew with technology. BOB WONDERS charts a course for the New Age boat person.
THERE have been some incredible advances in recreational boating since the end of World War II, a period which many believe heralded the commencement of boating as we know it today.
Vastly improved fibreglass technology, high-tech resins, space age materials like titanium and carbon fibre, Kevlar sails ... new products seem to hit the market with almost monotonous regularity.
The reliability of outboard engines has improved amazingly, big block engines are using less fuel than before, marine diesels are lighter and producing as much horsepower as petrol counterparts.
However, it's doubtful if any segment of the boating industry has undergone such dramatic change as that of marine electronics.
Some boats are so well-equipped that anyone who was computer-illiterate would be "all at sea" and I don't mean that literally.
What with the sophisticated array of GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) systems, colour radar, auto pilots that can do everything a human helmsman can do - only better, track plotters, night vision scopes, fish finders and depth sounders, someone recently said, "you'd have to be a genius to get lost", and "what chance would a fish have?".
I guess the computerisation of boats is not that surprising when you hear the oft-quoted claim that by 2000 more than half of all Australian homes will boast personal computers.
Let's take a brief look at some of the super-electronics and instruments available to today's boater. One big advantage we enjoy in Australia is that the best equipment on the world market is available here.
Sometimes, we have to wait for foreign multinationals to attend to their own markets before we see their products, but that does not seem the case with electronics.
I've seen equipment released to the US market when I've been attending major US boat shows, and arrived home to find it on sale here.
Companies such as R. W. Basham, Oceantalk Australia, J. N. Taylor Marine, VDO, AMI Sales, Nautilec, Coursemaster Auto Pilots and QM Marine always seem able to offer the very latest equipment available.
Space prevents a full round-up, of course, but I've picked out a few products that stand tall ...
Renowned instrument manufacturer VDO (tel: (02) 905 5909) has its new Logic series, a line of instrumentation combining navigation, engine monitoring, GPS and autopilot functions, for either sail or powerboats, all in one system.
It's an outstanding unit, steering the vessel to compass, wind direction or GPS information.
It can be installed either at a navigation station or on a flying bridge, its night design - with red backlighting - eliminating eye fatigue.
Compasses, of course, are necessary on all boats, and R.W.Basham (tel: 02 319 6027) is the distributor of the Finnish-made Suunto range.
A wide selection of models is available.
There's a Suunto compass for a small dinghy right through to a sophisticated motor yacht.
Racing yachtsmen will appreciate the Suunto C-95 Sail Tac, a compass designed specifically for the task and eminently suitable for Olympic course competition. Suunto has been in the business for more than 50 years, and has developed a sound reputation world-wide.
Sydney-based Nautilec (tel: 02 567 8111) is the NSW distributor for the Koden range of marine electronics.
One unit which I found impressive is the Koden MD-3800 series of high-resolution marine radar.
Four models cover the range from 48 nautical miles to 96 nautical miles, enabling effective and safe navigation.
All boast a clear 12' diagonal screen, designed for day and night viewing and presenting clear, crisp images. Of course, each can be linked to a GPS, gyro compass or fluxgate compass to provide total interface with the vessel's on-board navigation system.
One of the newest products to hit the market is one which I plan on covering more in-depth shortly.
It's the night vision scope technology which is currently all the go.
There have been some trickling onto the market which are European military surplus, and the ones I have seen are best left alone, quite frankly.
However, the Sydney office of WA-based AMI Sales (tel: 02 624 -4075) has the real good stuff, US-made Starlightscopes from ITT.
A development from the Vietnam war, night vision scopes are of tremendous help boating, and there is none better than the ITT Mariner.
AMI Sales is going to put one of the top Mariner scopes in my hands for a comprehensive evaluation - from what I hear any report is going to be favourable; these units really allow one to see in the dark.
To those among you who don't claim to be computer literate, don't let the range of smart electronics bluff you.
Once installed, and when you are using them regularly, they'll become old mates.
The people who find them intimidating are the people who don't use them.
Believe me, an array of on-board electronics puts a real buzz back into boating.
© 1995 Sydney Morning Herald