The Latest Tech in EPIRBs

The Latest Tech in EPIRBs

What started out decades ago as a military tracking device has become standard equipment on offshore cruising vessels: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). Fortunately for today’s coastal and offshore cruisers, numerous manufacturers compete to give us the best EPIRB technology, battery life and ease of use. When we sailors go shopping for marine products, we have the advantage of choice and competitive pricing, and the same goes for EPIRBs. McMurdo, RescueME and ACR Electronics are among the leaders in both technology and competitive pricing. The McMurdo SmartFind G8 Automatic EPIRB is a revolutionary device, the first to combine both…
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Streamline your electrical system with a new panel

Streamline your electrical system with a new panel

by Bill Morris As a vessel and its crew evolve together, new electrical systems replace the old, and often new switches are added on separate mounts in odd places throughout the cabin and pilothouse, creating a confusing and potentially hazardous living space. Installing one or more new electrical panels, including a few extra switches for future equipment add-ons, will alleviate the headache and cluttered appearance of a cabin full of multicolored lights glowing like a Christmas tree. With the multitude of manufacturers and panel styles, both AC and DC, available on the market, you should have no trouble picking out…
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Icom’s M510 named Best VHF Radio at NMEA 2023

KIRKLAND, Wash. (September 2023) – At this year’s NMEA 2023 awards banquet, Icom’s popular M510 radio was presented with the Best VHF Radio Product award for the second year in a row, making this the tenth consecutive year that one of Icom’s VHF marine radios have received this award. The M510 perfectly fits today’s sleek and modern glass helms and is a powerhouse tough enough for the commercial market yet refined for the recreational boater. Easily command and control the M510 using front and back CommandMic™ connection ports or wirelessly from your smartphone using the RS-M500 app (iOS®/Android™). With the ability to receive…
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Marine Electronics, December 2022

Marine Electronics, December 2022

With all the advertising and dockside chatter surrounding satellite cell phones and the cost of monthly plans, it is comforting to know there are still active marine SSB nets for cruisers all around the globe. As a matter of fact, SSB transceivers, along with ham radios, are still the norm among offshore cruisers.  However, because we offshore sailing folk do not (but should) comprise the huge customer base it takes to shape economies of scale, we are relegated to limited sources for some of our specialized electronics, particularly single-sideband AM radios. Which explains why three manufacturers — ICOM, Furuno and…
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Marine Electronics, January 2022

Marine Electronics, January 2022

With all the advertising and dockside chatter surrounding satellite cell phones and the cost of monthly plans, it is comforting to know there are still active marine SSB nets for cruisers all around the globe. As a matter of fact, SSB transceivers, along with ham radios, are still the norm among offshore cruisers.  However, because we offshore sailing folk do not (but should) comprise the huge customer base it takes to shape economies of scale, we are relegated to limited sources for some of our specialized electronics, particularly single-sideband AM radios. Which explains why three manufacturers — ICOM, Furuno and…
Read More