Navigating on the open water away from land has always been challenging and very exciting. Boating can be a very rewarding experience if your boat is equipped with the proper tools to ensure your safety. Good quality marine navigation electronic equipment on board aids easier, faster and safer navigation.

It is recommended to make sure that, the boat is equipped with certain marine electronics. The minimum requirement for safety is to have at least a VHF Marine Radio and a compass before leaving the land. Other desirable electronics include a GPS plotter, fish finder or depth sounder,radar, and auto pilot. Other more sophisticated but nice to have items include an Automatic Identification System and a networked navigation system

Marine navigation electronics equipment operation and uses are discussed below:

Auto Pilot: It is a highly recommended tool for mariners set to go on a long voyage. Auto Pilot helps to steer the boat automatically and thus, relieves the person at the helm from fatigue. Auto Pilot is of great help for those that troll while fishing as it controls the boat direction automatically, relieving the captain to join the fishing. This tool is of great use, as it allows to save fuel by maintaining the vessel on a steady heading.

Fish finder: Those who fish for pleasure or hire enjoy the help provided by a good fish finder. The fish finder operates using SONAR. In principle, the sonar works by sending a signal down trough the water column until it strikes and object with ample mass to return a signal to the devise, thus rendering an image on the screen. Thereby, showing the fish depth in relation to bottom structure. If a fish finder is not desired then a depth sounder with a digital readout is a good option, being cheaper.

Automatic Identification System: It is considered an important electronic tool for marine navigation. It provides other boats with your vital information as well as their information to you such as the exact position of the boat, longitude and latitude, Time stamp, Rate of turn, Course over ground etc. While the boat under way AIS shows the above information every 2 to 10 seconds, whereas when the boat is anchored, it shows the information after every 3 minutes. In addition to providing the above information, it also presents useful information about other boats concerning their dimensions, position, and type of the veselboat. It is the ultimate electronic tool for collision avoidance at sea.

EPIRB: The Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) also known as distress radio beacon is a transmitter, which helps rescue services to locate boats in distress. The transmissions are repeatedly transmitted from satellites around the world to the various rescue services. Watercraft operators wishing to have an EPIRB must now use a digital 406MHz unit. The International Copas-Sarsat Satellite System stopped monitoring for all but 406MHz signals for distress alert and location data for rescue operation all over the world..

GPS Plotter: The GPS system now takes over the duty of the old Loran navigation system. GPS signals are sent from those satellites worldwide, that are maintained by the USA government. The GPS can be presented in digital or map format. The best way is on a plotter that is loaded with computerized maps of the area you are boating in. Most new VHF radios now have the capability to broadcast your location with a distress signal if connected to a GPS

Northstar Marine Electronics

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Finally, you have that boat that you have dreamed about for so many years. However, before you decide to go out for a great day at sea , you have to outfit it with electronic accessories that will make your boating safer and more enjoyable one . Northstar Marine Electronics knows exactly what you need to get the maximum enjoyment from your boat.

To begin with , a VHF radio is a safety feature obligatory for every boat . If you or your boat is in distress, a VHF radio can make the difference between finding help right away and being left to your own devices. The NS100 VHF radio is available in single station and dual station models. They feature dedicated distress call button that transmits your MMSID and location until an acknowledgment signal is received. It can access all marine VHF channel banks, even the weather ones. The Northstar Explorer 721 and 725 have a built-in barometric pressure sensor that gives weather and fish activity predictions. The “Happy Fish” icon on the LCD screen helps you determine the likelihood of finding fish. The 721 and 725 can each be equipped with wireless handheld units, in addition, the 725 has a “Track Your Buddy” feature for locating up to three boating companions and placing their locations on your chart display .

Northstar Marine Electronics has a range of navigation tools, including the Chartplotter 8000i, a multipurpose instrument with a 12 inch touchscreen display. If you intend to buy one piece of equipment beside than a VHF radio, then you might want to consider the 8000i. It features the following goodies: chartplotter, depth sounder, radar, video monitor, network camera monitor, DVD player, CD player, music jukebox, fuel and engine management system, and instrument repeater.

If you are just looking for a chartplotter / sonar combo , then you should opt for the Explorer series, models 660, 657, and 650. Each model has a built in 32 megabyte background maps with intricate cartographic detail. It allows you the option of using C-MAP NT MAX chart technology provided by cartography leader C-MAP.

The Explorer 538 is a stand alone chartplotter with a simple menu system and daylight viewable screen. It comes with standard 16 megabyte background map and has a slot for the C-MAP NT MAX cartridge. The 3.8 inch screen is “transflective” with high contrast so you can read it in daylight easily. This chartplotter is a good companion electronics component with the Explorer 438 fish finder. The 438 has a 640 x 480 screen that gives you great detail. It has digital sounder technology to provide you with the highest quality sonar pictures. Advanced displays include A-scope, split screen variable zoom, and a variety color palettes. With 256 colors, you can see the nature of the floor structure and detail that will help you identify fish habitats.

Choosing marine electronics doesn’t have to be an exercise in frustration. Northstar has the marine electronics equipment that will help you enjoy your boat safely and comfortably while using electronic equipment that’s at the leading edge of technology.

Once you have the boat you’ve always wanted, the next exciting thing to do is to outfit it with electronics that will keep you boating safely, finding the fish, and navigating to where you want to go. Furuno Marine Electronics is my personal favorite marine electronics outfitter. Of course, the first electronics you should outfit your boat with should be a safety system. Beyond the mandatory safety equipment, there are many other devices that can help you greatly if you find yourself lost or in distress of some kind.

A VHF marine radio is a top choice for boating safety. It is equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and will allow you to communicate with the Coast Guard or another boater. You can choose a fixed VHF radio or a hand-held transmitter. You can get VHF marine radios that are simple and compact to those that are commercial grade and compliant with Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) compliant. Furuno Marine Electronics makes these in several price ranges, and they also make GMDSS integrated satellite and terrestrial radio communication systems for boats.

A Global Positioning System (GPS) is a great thing to have. The DSC capability on your VHF radio won’t send your position to the Coast Guard unless you have GPS coordinates. Plus, GPS devices are amazingly useful, as you know if you have one on your car or cell phone. Furuno has GPS receivers with Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capability, that makes your coordinates as accurate as possible. Furuno Marine Electronics also makes GPS chart plotters with up to the minute technology.

If you’re a bass fisherman or a professional, a Furuno fish finder is one of the best you can get. { They come in many designs , including fish finders that are integrated with GPS chart plotters and others that connect up to your NavNet display or Ethernet hub}. Furuno Marine Electronics fish finders have digital filters and gain optimization to give you defined pictures of the conditions underwater, and some models can show fish near the seabed.

An electronic satellite weather system from Furuno will give you extra peace of mind with up to date information and forecasting. Their systems provide the possibility to overlay reports, sea surface temperatures, and radar , enabling comprehensive marine weather syste.

Started in 1938 in Nagasaki, Japan, Furuno Marine Electronics now has subsidiaries in Europe and the Americas as well as in the Far East. Their reputation is one of supplying the best quality marine electronics available. In the past five years, they’ve developed the first dual frequency search light sonar, opened facilities in China and Germany, and set up a training center in Denmark to train commercial crews in the use of Integrated Navigation Systems. They have also developed automatic identification systems (AIS) receivers for fishing boats and recreational vessels. They’re great , reliable friends to have when you are out on the water taking pleasure of your boat.