Be careful when speeding on the water since new technologies are becoming available that will easily track and identify you....
"When a ship is in distress and sends alert signals, these are received as text messages by other ships and port facilities or authorities on shore that also have Navi-Monitors. Other than sending alert signals of trouble, the Navi-Monitor can detect targets committing speed violation or course violation. There are also a number of options for adjusting alarm message signals, parameters and acknowledgement procedures. While doing all these, its software allows users to lay down vessel traffic separation schemes."
Nice article on Original Design Manufacturers (different from OEMs) in the consumer electronics industry. How long before we will see major effects on marine electronics industry? I think most GPS devices are already being made in Taiwan, but further standardization of formats, protocols, etc. would certainly help to extend this developments to other product segments. In the end it could mean lower prices and more focused innovation, always nice benefits...
"ODM stands for Original Design Manufacturer, and I can guarantee you'll be hearing these initials a lot more in the coming months and years. ODMs are companies in Asia, almost all of them in Taiwan, capable of creating sophisticated electronics -- MP3 players, notebook computers, DVD players, personal digital assistants, LCD TVs and more -- for the big companies whose brand names are familiar to U.S. consumers. The big-name companies get products at very low prices with little upfront investment."
Every now and then a story comes along which proves that without skills, electronics won't do you a lot of good. Here's another one (free subscription required).
"Borgueta recalls how one day he helped lead a 36-foot cabin cruiser to shore in the fog, when the boater got lost near Beavertail. At the time, the harbormaster didn't have high-tech navigational tools, so Borgueta guided him safely by using a wrist compass and his knowledge of the sights and lights along the shore. "The guy said, 'I want to see the electronics you have on your boat,' " Borgueta recalled. He simply tapped his wrist. "He had probably $20,000 worth of electronics on his boat and he was following a $2 wrist compass," Borgueta said."
Yachting World has published their ARC Surveyresults. So if you would like to know what equipment is being used by yachts in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers.... It's sort of the ultimate field-test for all kinds of electronics, so make sure you check it out. Instruments that were subject to this survey include Autopilots, Charting Software, Generators, HF Radio, Inmarsat B/C, Iridium, Mini M, Sailing Instruments, Water Generators, Watermakers, Wind Self-Steering and Wind Generators.
The Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show was held last week in Las Vegas. Two interesting marine electronics won a Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award during that event.
"EchoPilot's CASS (Collision Avoidance Sonar System) is a wideband active surf zone sonar based on military research that can see floating and semi-submerged objects up to 1,200 yards ahead of the boat in real time. The system transmits using multi-frequency (a "swept chirp" of 20 -80 KHz), which ensures greater performance in rough waters, according to NMMA."
"Equally impressing to the judges in the Aftermarket Electronics category was Vexilar�s AlumaDucer, the only transducer designed to transmit through aluminum with zero signal loss. Built like other transducers, it is designed to automatically compensate for the loss of signal strength when mounting a transducer on an aluminum hull, the association reported."
NOAA has created XML-feeds of their weather forecasts so that they can easily be integrated in websites or other applications. Although private weather companies are urging NOAA to stop providing these feeds, I believe marine software companies should take advantage of this development by integrating weather forecasts in applications like chartplotters. Since NOAA uses web service standards this should be relatively easy and we can expect to see some innovative uses. With more and more boats being permanently connected to the internet, it could prove to be a very valuable feature.
"In addition to the SOAP technology, this service exploits XML to enhance the ease with which NWS customers and partners can integrate NDFD (National Digital Forecast Database) data into their computer applications. XML is a W3C standard that allows its users to create languages with HTML-like tags and attributes. The NDFD XML language is called Digital Weather Markup Language (DWML) and its schema can be found at the following link."
Like I said before, security is a hot issue. Besides Motor Boat & Yachting's special feature on this topic, Yachting World has one as well in their June 2004 issue. So if you can't get enough...
"The modern way to protect your boat is to use the latest remote technology to keep an eye on it for you. Mike Kopman reports on alarms, tracking devices and electric fences"
Would like to win a $1,000 shopping spree, redeemable on purchases from any West Marine retail store, catalog or web site? It's just the 2nd prize to be awarded in West Marine's 36th anniversary sweepstake.
"36 years after opening for business, West Marine is the world's favorite boating supply source. To celebrate we're giving away a wealth of prizes - including a Hunter Sailboat, a $1,000 West Marine Shopping Spree and Raymarine electronics. Enter at any West Marine store between May 13th and the 23rd!"
Nice to see how your marina can be managed using dedicated software. Would be even better if they provided a web-based interface where you, as a yacht owner, could select certain services you need at a certain time at your slip. Power, internet access, cleaning, etc.
"As you see in the example image above, Dock Slips provides an interactive, user-friendly map of a marina. When you purchase Dock Slips, the map will be a fully-customized layout of YOUR marina."
If you're shopping for a GPS device, you might find some interesting prices over at Yachting & Boating World's Marine Store.
"The ybw marine store has lowered its prices, with upto 20% off Garmin and Magellan products delivered to your door, yacht or marina. If you order before Saturday 15 May you will also get free postage and packaging. The ybw marine store offers you over 8,000 items of chandlery for both yachts and motorboats."
Be careful when speeding on the water since new technologies are becoming available that will easily track and identify you....
How long before we will see major effects on marine electronics industry? I think most GPS devices are already being made in Taiwan, but further standardization of formats, protocols, etc. would certainly help to extend this developments to other product segments. In the end it could mean lower prices and more focused innovation, always nice benefits...
Every now and then a story comes along which proves that without skills, electronics won't do you a lot of good. Here's 
Yachting World has published their ARC 
Two interesting marine electronics 
The system transmits using multi-frequency (a "swept chirp" of 20 -80 KHz), which ensures greater performance in rough waters, according to NMMA."
"In addition to the SOAP technology, this service exploits XML to enhance the ease with which NWS customers and partners can integrate NDFD (National Digital Forecast Database) data into their computer applications. XML is a W3C standard that allows its users to create languages with HTML-like tags and attributes. The NDFD XML language is called Digital Weather Markup Language (DWML) and its schema can be found at the following 
Like I said 
Would like to win a $1,000 shopping spree, redeemable on purchases from any West Marine retail store, catalog or web site? It's just the 2nd prize to be awarded in West Marine's 36th anniversary 
Nice to see how your marina can be managed using dedicated 
If you're shopping for a GPS device, you might