Archive for August 2008

• 30 August 2008
  Save Our Cetaceans!
  

  Few people can fail to be moved by the all too frequent whale, seal and dolphin strandings that occur in and around the UK. With an unprecedented amount of strandings to deal with this year, it’s thanks to the organisation BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue) that many of them are returned to the wild, or, if this is unachievable, humanely put to sleep. ICOM UK is proud to have recently provided radio communications to the BDMLR to support the scores of dedicated BDMLR teams around the UK.

  The BDMLR is an entirely voluntary organisation, formed in 1988 when a few like-minded divers got together in response to the mass mortality rate of Harbour seals in East Anglia. Now a committed 24-hour marine animal rescue, recovery and release service, the BDMLR train over 400 volunteer Marine Mammal Medics a year. ICOM UK has supplied the team with six IC-M31s to aid the medical team and support vehicles on their rescues.

  The BDMLR teams are on standby to respond immediately to any marine disaster or marine mammal stranding anywhere in the UK. All volunteers regularly train to refresh rescue techniques, meet socially and raise funds. With 20 whale-rescue pontoons located at strategic points throughout the UK, as well as 13 Marine Animal Rescue Ambulances ready to be dispatched to any incidents, the BDMLR are fully prepared for any eventuality. They also have four RIBs that can be relocated to a site anywhere in the UK within 24 hours to assist with rescues.

  The six IC-M31s ICOM has provided will be placed alongside the rest of the BDMLR specialist marine rescue equipment.  The charity deals with an average of 350 callouts each year, and on larger-scale rescues it is vital to have an excellent communications network to operate between their trained rescue volunteers, veterinary teams, incident co-ordinators and National Headquarters.

  Andrew Ireland, the Regional co-ordinator for Buchan in Scotland responded to ICOM’s donation commenting, “Our rescue work takes place in some of the harshest environments, and sometimes in horrendous conditions. We required quality rugged radios, which could stand up to rough treatment, being covered in sand, submerged in salt water and would still operate after being disinfected from coming in contact with some of the many bacteria that are often carried by the stranded animals we rescue. We looked at what many other waterborne organisations and charities were using successfully, and the ICOM Waterproof range came out on top.”

  “I would like to thank Icom for their generous donation. These IC-M31 radios will go on to be used time after time in rescues which will undoubtedly save the suffering of many marine animals. It is fantastic to have such a reliable set of assets that we know will perform regardless of our situation, and with enhanced communications equipment and networks the safety and co-ordination of our rescues will be much improved. We have used ICOM radios for many years in our RIBs, and have always found them to be excellent.”

  Ian Lockyer, Marketing Manager of Icom UK Ltd remarked,”It has been suggested that the British are a nation of animal lovers. Therefore, it is important that as a nation we recognise the valuable work of the volunteers in the BDMLR. I am so pleased that Icom UK are able to supply Marine VHF equipment to assist them in the important, specialised service that they provide.”

  ICOM would like to thank the BDMLR for supporting UK wildlife, and for promoting the protection and needs of cetaceans around the country.

  All press release images are available for download from our imagebank at: www.icomuk.co.uk/imagebank

• 8 August 2008
  New MarinePod available from Marine Electronic Services
  

  Physically mounting your latest electronic wizardry at the helm can be challenging, and that’s why Marine Electronic Services Ltd has launched a new range of waterproof electronic equipment housings appropriately named MarinePod.  The range is designed to fit both Whitlock and Edson’s steering gear, so suits 9.5” and 12” wide rail systems.

  MarinePod’s unique design allows any pod to fit either system with a template supplied to allow easy drilling for the correct fixing points.  MarinePod is manufactured in the UK utilising a patented UV resistant ABS plastic and specialist seal system.  For a small additional cost, they can be factory pre-cut to suit your equipment from either a template or CAD file – they even have details on file for most popular items such as Garmin’s 4000/5000 Series and Raymarine’s ST60, E and C Series.  The pods fit to the binnacle rail with a series of heavy duty plastic clamps included with the system as standard.  These plastic clamps can also be exchanged for the Edson range of stainless steel brackets if required and the pods are compatible with Edson arms and steering system accessories.

  Thanks to a clever design, the series of five pods can accommodate virtually every item of marine electronic equipment, including multi-function displays from Raymarine, Northstar, Lowrance, Simrad, Furuno and Garmin.  Prices start from £169.95 including VAT for the MP3 which houses three of the popular 110mm format square instruments.

  For further information, go to www.mesltd.co.uk

• 5 August 2008
  BMEA Dealer & Product of the Year Awards. Who wins, you decide?
  

  Members of the general public now have the opportunity to vote for their favourite product and dealer in the BMEA (British Marine Electronic Association) Waterside Dealer and Product of the Year Awards. The winners of the online poll will be announced at the annual BMEA Conference which takes place on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 at the Novotel Hotel in Southampton.

  Ian Lockyer (BMEA Marketing) said, ‘’this year we are opening the voting up to the most important people in the industry… our customers. They will have the opportunity to choose the industry’s dealer and product of the year by simply going to http://www.bmea.org/bmea-dealer-and-product-of-the-year/ and voting.

  Ian said, ‘’when the customer clicks through to this poll they will find two sections. Firstly there will be a list of BMEA waterside dealers from across the UK. Secondly there will be a list of products submitted by Manufacturers or national distributors.’’

  He added,’it really is up to the customer to ask themselves what electronic/electrical product has been really good value for money or innovative from the submitted list? They also need to decide which company/sole trader has given then exceptional service during the 2008 season.’’

  Ian Lockyer said,’’ We simply wanted to give the customer choice and add extra validity to what are already prestigious awards. We believe that giving our customers this opportunity will further raise the profile of our association.’’

• 5 August 2008
  Lowrance takes honours at MAATS 2008
  

  Lowrance, a world-leading brand in innovative marine electronics since 1957, proudly announces that its Broadband Sounder-1 has received top honours in the electronics category of the innovation awards held at the 2008 Marine Aftermarket Accessories Tradeshow (MAATS) convention in Las Vegas, USA.

  The revolutionary sonar technology enables boaters and anglers to distinguish detail in surface clutter, in the water column and on the bottom like never before. The innovative Lowrance LVR-880 fixed-mount, DSC VHF radio with FM also received an honourable mention in the same category.

  Organised by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and judged by a media panel from Boating Writers International, the awards recognise products that have been deemed innovative by industry press. “Professional anglers who have put the Lowrance Broadband Sounder through its paces say its performance is nothing short of amazing,” said Gordon Sprouse, director of marketing, Lowrance. “To have the industry’s leading editors add their stamp of approval by bestowing this prestigious award is truly an honour and a testament to our commitment to providing boaters with exceptional electronics technology.”

  To review the full announcement from the NMMA detailing all the awards made, go to:

  http://www.nmma.org/news/news.asp?id=17418&sid=3

  For more information about Lowrance and its marine electronics visit: www.lowrance.com

• 5 August 2008
  Marine AV Launches a New Range of Sony Marine CD Tuners
  

  Marine AV is delighted to announce the launch of Sony’s new marine CD tuners and waterproof component speakers. Purpose-built for marine use, each CD tuner has a UV and salt-resistant front panel paint finish, conformal-coated circuit boards and plastic covers over their chassis to protect against the high humidity found in a marine environment.

  Each model is designed to operate at angles of up to 45 degrees and sound quality is controlled by Sony’s proprietary DSO2 (Dynamic Soundstage Organiser2) circuitry that can lift the apparent position of the source of the music.

  For almost perfect reproduction, each model incorporates EQ3 Stage 2 graphic equalisers that provide eight preset as well as low, middle and high custom-adjusted frequency responses to suit the boat’s natural acoustics.
   
  All three can play both store-bought and recordable CDs with MP3, WMA and AAC files thereby allowing the use of downloaded music files with myriad tracks loaded on to each CD for hours of entertainment.

  For iPod owners, the CDX-H905IP and the CDX-M50IP also feature hardwired dedicated input cables that allow the connection and control of most models of iPod. All the iPod track data is displayed on the head unit’s display. And, as if that were not enough, all three players also provide an extra AUX input for the connection of a MP3, mini-disc or cassette player.

  Commenting on the latest additions to the Sony Marine range, Marine AV’s Managing Director, David Milner said, “These CD receivers are superb. Designed for the marine environment, they offer so much more than a standard CD/radio player; top quality sound plus all the connectivity and control that any discerning boat owner could wish for.”

  While all three receivers come with wireless remote controls they are also compatible with optional waterproof hardwired remote controls for fitting outside in the cockpit or on the flybridge.

  As well as the CD and iPod functions, the sets also have FM/AM & LW tuners with 18 FM and 12 AM preset buttons. All three allow easy tuning with BTM (best tuning memory) picking up the strongest local stages and automatically setting them in frequency order to the preset buttons. Alternatively, the tuner also allows auto tuning and manual tuning so that the owner can choose which station is stored under each button.

  The boat owner can also choose between red or blue button backlighting to match other onboard instruments. For night navigation, each unit also features a dimmer function that can automatically reduce the brightness of the receiver’s display when the boat’s navigation lights are switched on.

  To complement the three new CD tuners, Marine AV is also introducing Sony XS-MP1650W waterproof component speakers. Comprising of 6 ½ inch tough polypropylene woofer and 1in diameter dome tweeters the speakers provide greater control over the sound dispersion and are ideal for installations where the main speaker cannot be located at ‘ear level’. Capable of 160W peak (50W rms), the speakers come with flush and angled surface mounts.

  Recommended Retail Prices:
  Sony CDX-M30: £169.95 including VAT
  Sony CDX-M501P: £219.95 including VAT
  Sony CDX-H9051P: £289.95 including VAT
  Sony waterproof component speakers: £129.95 including VAT for the pair

  www.marine-audio.com

• 5 August 2008
  The UK launch of the Garmin GHP 10 Marine Autopilot
  

  Garmin has announced its UK launch of the new GHP 10 Marine Autopilot, packed with industry-leading features and functions.

  Garmin’s GHP 10 Marine Autopilot is a new generation of the TR-1 Gladiator autopilot which has become very popular in the US.  Garmin acquired the assets of Nautamatic Marine Systems, developer of the TR-1, in March 2007.  This new system for hydraulically-steered boats will feature Shadow Drive, a patented capability that automatically disengages the autopilot if the helm is turned, allowing for quick manual manoeuvres.  Once a steady course is re-established by the helmsman, the autopilot automatically re-engages.  This technology is extremely valuable – whether performing an evasive manoeuvre or while away from the helm.

  “The GHP 10 represents a new generation in autopilot technology and gives boatbuilders, electronics installers, and boat owners the technology they’ve been looking for,” said Chris Boyle, Garmin’s UK Marine Product Manager.  “Garmin’s Autopilot is there when you need it, and disengaged when you don’t.  And it’s destined to be one of the most reliable and easy-to-use helm controls on the market.”

  For reliability, the GHP 10 does not need a rudder angle sensor – the one component in any autopilot system that is most prone to failure.  In addition, the Garmin’s autopilot incorporates a rock-solid gyro-stabilized heading sensor for maximum performance and reliability in rough seas.  The GHP 10 employs the new industry-standard NMEA 2000 interface, and is designed primarily for 30-foot to 70-foot recreational motorboats that use outboard, inboard, or stern drives that have hydraulic steering.

  Boaters can expect Garmin simplicity when it comes to configuring and controlling their autopilot as well.  The GHC 10 is a dedicated full colour control unit designed to match Garmin’s new GMI 10 instruments.  Up to three GHC 10 control units can be fitted per system allowing autopilot control at different locations on the boat.  The control sports an easy-to-read 3.5-inch colour display, three soft keys, and a dedicated “standby” button, making it very easy to use and set up.

  Recommended retail prices:
  Garmin GHP 10 - £1399.99 inc VAT
  Garmin GHC 10 - £499.99 inc VAT

  Visit www.garmin.co.uk  for more information.

• 5 August 2008
  Garmin Goes High-Definition with its Marine Radar Offerings
  

  Garmin today announced improvements to its two most popular marine radomes – the GMR 18 HD and GMR 24 HD.  These now provide better target separation and clearer definition, particularly at close ranges.

  “These new radar scanners process up to eight times the information of their predecessors, which helps take the guesswork out of identifying the precise location of targets,” said Chris Boyle, Garmin’s UK Marine Product Manager.  “And unlike many competing products, these new units are completely backwards compatible with the current Garmin marine line up.”

  Both radomes also offer a full 4kW of transmit power.  The GMR 18 HD features a 5-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, which allow for accurate target acquisition and separation, and boasts a best-in-class range of 36 nautical miles (nm).  The GMR 24 HD features an industry-leading 3.6-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, and has a maximum effective range of 48 nautical miles.  For navigating in tight quarters, skippers can switch the GMR 24 HD’s rotation speed from 24 RPM to 30 RPM for rapid target updates. 

  Like other Garmin radar (and unlike most competitors), these new units process signals within the radome via a digital signal processor, and is dynamically presented on a Garmin Marine Network compatible chartplotter/multifunction display (MFD).  Digital processing allows for more precise recognition, enhancement, and filtering of radar echoes – making the finished display easier to read and interpret.

  The new units support all of the following features when paired with the appropriate Garmin MFD:
  • MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) collision avoidance capability, which allows boaters to track the course, speed, and predicted closest approach (by both time and distance) of multiple targets.  Requires an optional heading sensor.

  • Chart overlay capability, allowing boaters to reconcile radar signatures with known objects on the chartplotter.
  • Split the screen between standard radar presentations and radar overlay.

  The GMR 18 HD and GMR 24 HD feature sensitivity and tuning controls, including gain, sea clutter, and rain clutter – which allows boaters to spend less time tuning the unit and more time navigating.  The units also boast selectable interference rejection, which mitigates the effect of nearby radar transmissions

  The radomes communicate with the Garmin Marine Network through a waterproof 100-megabit per second plug-and-play proprietary network – which affords users the ability to expand their boat’s system as needed.  A Marine Network cable connector kit is also included for customizing installation.  Like its counterparts, these new scanners come with a full two year warranty. 

  Recommended Retail Prices:
  Garmin GMR 18 HD - £1099.99 inc VAT
  Garmin GMR 24 HD - £1599.99 inc VAT

  Visit www.garmin.co.uk  for more information.

• 5 August 2008
  New CF80 Onboard PC From Digital Yacht
  

  Digital Yacht, the Bristol-based manufacturer of marine PCs, has introduced a new model called the CF80.  The system measures just 28 x 19 x 17cm yet boasts one of the latest Intel dual core processors and ruggedized, anti-vibration shock-proofed 100Gb hard drive.  It is optimised for running the latest demanding marine charting applications, such as 3D bathymetric views and aerial overlays.  It has also been engineered for low power consumption and can be powered directly from the ship’s 12V DC power supply with no requirement for a separate inverter.

  Digital Yacht can supply either Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems and the CF80 is supplied with 5 NMEA ports for interfacing with other onboard electronics such as GPS, instruments, AIS or radar.  It also has 4 USB connections for devices like digital cameras, iPods or mobile phones, and a standard VGA type output for the display.

  Power consumption is typically between 2 and 3 amps, even when running a demanding application, and the system can be delivered with Digital Yachts’ patented solid state hard drive technology if required.
  A remote panel will shortly be launched, allowing the PC to be hidden away in a locker with a remote panel, providing a CD drive, on/off switch and remote USB connections.  The standard system is priced competitively at £799.00 including VAT, and is available immediately from Digital Yacht.

  For further information go to www.digitalyacht.co.uk

• 5 August 2008
  New ‘TracBack’ GPS Sensor from Digital Yacht
  

  TracBack is a new ultra-mini GPS sensor from Digital Yacht, which measures just 70 x 45 x 20 mm.  It incorporates a long-life lithium ion battery pack so that the system can be self-powered.  GPS data is sent through either a standard USB connection directly to a laptop or via Bluetooth for a wireless-type link.

  TracBack’s unique feature is the ability to log your trip and record position and track information in its internal memory.  When hooked up to a PC, your track is automatically downloaded onto a Google Earth Map with a snail’s trail of the track history.  It also comes complete with a useful software application which allows any digital photos you have taken along your route to be referenced and overlaid onto the map by comparing date and time stamp information.  This does, of course, rely on you having the same date and time set in your digital camera, but the application is a really nice way of recording where you have been, and building up an electronic log book.

  The internal battery lasts for approximately 15 hours and can be recharged using either the supplied mains charger or USB connection.  The mind boggles at potential applications, such as tracking vehicles, yacht racing or even sharing your track history with other friends and colleagues.

  For further information go to www.digitalyacht.co.uk

• 5 August 2008
  New Nobeltec Software - VNS and Admiral MAX PRO
  

  It’s been over a year since C-Map, the popular marine electronic chart supplier, was snapped up by the American giant Jeppesen (a Boeing Company).  The results of the marriage are beginning to bear fruit, with the launch of Nobeltec’s VNS and Admiral MAX Pro software.  Nobeltec, who make marine navigation software products, and who are already part of the Jeppesen family, now utilises C-Map’s innovative MAX Pro charting.

  Their simple-to-use PC programs turn a laptop or onboard PC into a full function chart plotter, radar sounder and can even integrate with an AIS receiver.  Most importantly, they utilise C-Map’s new MAX Pro cartography, which not only provides fantastic detail and clarity, but also a quick, real-time update service via the Internet or user-saved files which can be uploaded through a memory stick or data card.  Once charts are installed on the PC, the user can access the Internet to check for any ‘Notice to Mariner’ updates, which will be automatically applied to the installed charts.  All charts come with a one-year subscription which can be renewed annually.  Another feature of C-Map MAX Pro cartography, is that charts can be rented for a 4-motnh period at a discounted price – ideal if you are planning a cruise where you are unlikely to return in the future.  True global coverage is guaranteed with a database of over 30,000 charts.

  In addition to all the normal chart plotting features, such as track and position overlay, course up or north up chart presentations and a comprehensive routing and waypoint facility, VNS MAX Pro can offer radar capability for a full chart plotter-radar system. MAX Pro cartography also offers a high-resolution satellite image overlay, enhanced 3D views with shaded relief, dynamic tides/currents overlay and an anti-grounding technology which checks your routes for potential underwater hazards based on your boat’s draught.

  The Admiral version of software offers even more sophisticated functionality, with support for up to two radar scanners and multi-monitor capability, allowing a single computer to display alternative presentations on separately configured displays.  In addition, Admiral MAX Pro offers networking capabilities to allow for data sharing between multiple computers – ideal for larger systems, superyachts or commercial vessels.

  VNS MAX Pro is priced competitively in the UK at £239.95 including VAT, and Admiral at £599.95.  Radar systems add about £1100 including VAT to the price.  A Wide chart region from C-Map MAX Pro’s collection costs £249.95 including one year of updates.

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