Garmin® is pleased to announce worldwide coverage availability for the updated 2011.5 format for BlueChart g2 and g2 Vision, replacing the previous 2011 version.  The well known BlueChart g2 and g2 Vision charts complement and enhance our marine and handheld product line with multiple user benefits:

Deep water depth contours in the Fishing Chart display included in both BlueChart g2 and BlueChart g2 Vision formats

Seamless data transition between zoom levels and harmonious transition across chart borders

Lower cost, BlueChart g2 electronic option for the Garmin handheld series and lower-end plotters

Marine Electronic Services, the sole UK distributor of Vesper Marine’s unique Automatic Identification System (AIS) equipment for sail and powerboats, will be showing the recently launched WatchMate 850 at this year’s Southampton Boat Show. Visitors will be able to get their hands on the unique AIS WatchMate 850 and see for themselves just how easy it is to improve safety at sea.

Vesper Marine is a leading manufacturer of AIS for marine collision avoidance and the WatchMate 850 is the latest addition to its highly regarded range. This Class B transponder has particularly low power consumption and comes equipped with a built in GPS system. Not only can users ensure they are seen at all times, but they can quickly and easily track and avoid other vessels.

The Navionics charting app for the iPhone and iPad has been a popular choice for sailors, but a limitation has been connecting it to your onboard systems.  Digital Yacht has produced a new product called iNavConnect which acts as a wireless gateway for your onboard systems. 

Raymarine currently support waypoint transfer from their popular C and E wide series multi-function displays, to the Navionics iPad or iPhone application, which allows you to create routes and waypoints on the mobile device.  You can then transfer them across to your onboard system, which  connects via WiFi, so no cumbersome cables are required.  Many other manufacturers who utilise Navionic’s charts may add this functionality for the future, but at the moment it is just Raymarine’s popular C and E series.

On Stand G067 at Southampton Boat show 2011

Leading electronics manufacturer, Standard Horizon, has further added to its range of marine radios with the GX1600E. 

With a compact and ultra-shallow case that measures just 5.90in wide, 3.55in deep and 3.35in tall (147mm x 90mm x 85mm) the GX1600E is easily one of the shallowest fixed VHFs on the market. This enables bracket mounting the GX1600E almost flush with a console or wall in a position where cutting a recess is not desired or possible.

Waypoint navigation, a feature previously only available on Standard Horizon’s premium sets the GX2000E and GX2100E, has been added to the GX1600E.  This feature means the GX1600E is able to store 100 waypoints which can be selected and navigated to using the compass screen and can also display the LAT/LON, SOG/COG and bearing and distance to a waypoint. This feature is further enhanced by its large dot matrix display. (Requires GPS input)

Digital Yacht has launched a new hi-power WiFi internet access system called the WL510 - an upgraded model of the existing WL500.

Internet access whilst afloat is becoming increasingly important with boat owners wanting access to news, weather, email and business systems whilst on board.  The WL510 allows users to connect to WiFi hot spots with a range of up to four – six miles depending on conditions.

It uses a powerful modem and amplifier unit together with a 1m high quality external WiFi antenna and connects to the boat's PC or laptop computer via an ethernet connection.