This product has been around for a while, but you might have missed it. And that's a shame because keeping the boat free of barnacles and growth is typically a high-maintenance job requiring yearly haul-outs and headaches. And all you need to prevent this is a sound.
"Barnaclean utilizes electronic resonators that emit low-frequency sonic waves to create a micro-thin layer of rapidly moving water over the hull, drive system or running gear. This movement makes it difficult for fouling organisms to attach themselves. To further protect, the low frequency mimics a predatory sound, creating a hostile environment for foulants."
If you'd like a more detailed view on things like NMEA-0183 and GPS, have a look at Peter Bennett's website.
"The NMEA 0183 Interface Standard defines electrical signal requirements, data transmission protocol and time, and specific sentence formats for a 4800-baud serial data bus. Each bus may have only one talker but many listeners."
"The National Marine Electronics Association has introduced the long awaited NMEA 2000 interface standard. The standard contains the requirements of a serial data communications network to inter-connect marine electronic equipment on vessels. It is multi-master and self configuring, and there is no central network controller. Equipment designed to this standard will have the ability to share data, including commands and status with other compatible equipment over a single channel."
Yachting World is running a review on ruggedized digital cameras, but here's a new one from Minolta that should do the trick as well. Although originally developed for the construction business, it is waterproof and perfect for usage in a marine environment.
"From Konica Minolta, a new ruggedized digital camera that�s aimed at one specific market � the construction business. The 3.34 megapixel DG-4W meets the oh-so-strict (we�re assuming they�re strict) requirements of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and is designed to absorb shocks and is both dust and water proof. We�re guessing that the camera also works at other places besides construction sites."
The Marine Maintenance Magazine features a how-to guide on keeping your drinks and food cold on board by correctly servicing your refrigerator. Lot's of tips and tricks that will save you money and frustration by preventing that things will fail to work...
"Most marine refrigeration systems are ignored until they fail. Provided foods remain cold and it's making ice, there's no great urgency for you to inspect the refrigeration system when there are so many other maintenance jobs calling your attention. Often systems are buried in a locker or under a berth - "out of sight, out of mind." The day will arrive, probably during a heat wave, when you open the icebox lid and are greeted with the nauseating smell of spoiled food. This might have been prevented had you added refrigeration to your maintenance log."
Yachting World's April issue has (at least) two interesting stories, on radars and on rugged digital cameras. The articles are not available online, so get your copy at the news stand or subscribe to the magazine.
"All you've always wanted to know about radar: YW staffer Mike Kopman, himself a fully qualified superyacht captain, looks at the nuts and bolts of modern radar, examines the various functions and explains how they work - and their possible pitfalls. So, if you don't know your MARPA from your EBL then this is for you - plus a round-up of the latest sets."
"If your sights are set on simpler things, we've tested several water-resistant digital cameras and if you're new to digipix, there's a gentle introduction to the art of digital photography on board as well."
Came across a company, Kent Modular Electronics, supplying marinised multipurpose LCD displays. They have a new 23.1'' model. Great for displaying instrument data, but even better for watching "A Perfect Storm" in the cockpit when anchored in a nice and calm Caribbean bay... Not sure if it is an NEMA 4/4X industrial grade monitor, but if it isn't you can always go for Stealth's 21'' monitor, which is waterproof.
"KME has ruggedised a high resolution TFT panel and a versatile analog-digital converter board. A milled aluminium front plate gives exceptional stability to the construction. Brightness is dimmable for night operation by rotary control on the front plate. The AC power indicator (LED) luminance is controlled by a photo-diode for automatic dimming as the ambient lighting reduces. The Dimming Ratio is > 2000:1. Resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 pixels can be displayed with superb image quality. A multi-layer coated toughened glass panel gives contrast enhancement as well as protection to the TFT panel itself. The MP version will also display PAL/NTSC signals."
A company called Altobridge has a solution that will allow you to make a call, or send an SMS, with your regular cellphone (GSM or CDMA) anywhere at sea, all over the world. It requires you to have an always on internet connection, but that should be no problem if you're willing to spend $25K for using your favorite Nokia in the middle of the Pacific in the first place. Calls to and from your cellphone are charged to the to your normal 'home' account and appear on your bill like any other roaming call.
Oh, and if you're coming in range of land, remember to switch the GSM off. It might cause interference or adds to the terrestrial GSM signals, which the local operator will have probably paid large licensing fees for...
"Altobridge's basic shipboard GSM system will cost Eur 25,000; for a little bit more it can be expanded to also pick up 802.11 and Bluetooth, standard short range wireless networking protocols, and CDMA, another mobile phone system."
By the way, if you have an always on internet connection and you're not willing to spend this extra money to use your Nokia GSM, consider a Wi-Fi SIP phone.
We talk a lot about wireless communications on board, but let's also look at some of the other cords that can be removed. Start with the vacuum cleaner.
"Take a cord out of your boating life with DeWalt's DC500. The cordless/corded DC500 is a fully-loaded vacuum cleaner designed for industrial-strength jobs. It can run on optional 12-, 14.4- or 18-volt batteries, and is compact enough to use around those hard-to-reach spots on-deck. The DC500 handles heavy-duty debris with its 2-gallon filter"
Awarded by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), is Marelux's Yacht Controller. It's not cheap (think $5K), but it's a great 'gadget'. A do-it-all remote control for operating your yacht, even if you're not on board...
Marelux Yacht Controller allows an owner with minimum boating experience to use a small handheld device to totally control the movement of the yacht, and is especially useful for docking. "You can even step onto a dock and handle your own dock lines (though it�s probably a good idea to have someone onboard ready to take over if something goes amiss)."
This article in CNET is not discussing the possibilities for satellite internet access at sea, but touches upon a couple of issues that might be relevant to it. Standards and scale. If both happen this will also have a positive effect on costs and innovation with regard to satellite internet at sea.
"Last week, Hughes took one step aimed at cutting satellite broadband costs, endorsing the Internet Protocol over Satellite (IPoS) standard, which sets a common language for devices and applications to work with a satellite broadband service. The hope is to rally support among manufacturers who make PC devices such as handhelds, Wi-Fi hubs and Net phones. If manufacturers all develop products based on those standards, then broadband satellite equipment will become cheaper, the thinking goes. Thus far, Hughes has not announced any manufacturers who have endorsed its standard."
This product has been around for a while, but you might have missed it. And that's a shame because keeping the boat free of barnacles and growth is typically a high-maintenance job requiring yearly haul-outs and headaches. And all you need to prevent this is a sound.
If you'd like a more detailed view on things like NMEA-0183 and GPS, have a look at Peter Bennett's 
Yachting World is running a 
The Marine Maintenance Magazine 
"All you've always wanted to know about radar: YW staffer Mike Kopman, himself a fully qualified superyacht captain, looks at the nuts and bolts of modern radar, examines the various functions and explains how they work - and their possible pitfalls. So, if you don't know your MARPA from your EBL then this is for you - plus a round-up of the latest sets."
Came across a company, 
"KME has ruggedised a high resolution TFT panel and a versatile analog-digital converter board. A milled aluminium front plate gives exceptional stability to the construction. Brightness is dimmable for night operation by rotary control on the front plate. The AC power indicator (LED) luminance is controlled by a photo-diode for automatic dimming as the ambient lighting reduces. The Dimming Ratio is > 2000:1. Resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 pixels can be displayed with superb image quality. A multi-layer coated toughened glass panel gives contrast enhancement as well as protection to the TFT panel itself. The MP version will also display PAL/NTSC signals."
A company called Altobridge has a 
We talk a lot about wireless communications on board, but let's also look at some of the other cords that can be removed. 
Awarded by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), is Marelux's Yacht Controller. It's not cheap (think $5K), but it's a great 'gadget'. A do-it-all remote control for operating your yacht, even if you're not on board...
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