With products engineered for life outside, the tech company Garmin is giving customers the chance to spend time pursuing their passions. From GPS navigation to wearable technology, Garmin is changing the game in the marine world to make for an even better day on the water. Fish finders, chart plotters, radars, marine smartwatches and security cameras are just a few of the many products Garmin offers to boaters and marine fanatics. Here’s some of the terrific marine tech found on the market today.
With Garmin chartplotters, everything is at your fingertips to quickly and easily plan your route and set course. The GPS Map 8600 Series features 10- to 24-inch full HD IPS touchscreen displays for wider viewing angles, superior clarity and sunlight readability, even with polarized sunglasses. Multiple displays can be flat mounted edge-to-edge to create a sleek glass helm look or can be mounted flush. It offers built-in support for its industry-leading sonar, including dual-channel 1 kW traditional CHIRP, CHIRP ClearVü and CHIRP SideVü scanning sonars, plus built-in support for ultra high-definition scanning sonar (no black box required).
The multisport GPS smartwatch Quatix 6X Solar lets you make the most of your time on the water. It combines the best of the fēnix® 6X Pro Solar watch with solar charging capabilities and specialized marine features for all your passions. Take the helm, and leave the cord at home. Solar charging lets you get up to 24 days of battery life. With its rugged design, this co-captain is made for all conditions.
inReach looks very much like a walkie talkie, and to an extent, it is. These handheld satellite communicators are designed for the outdoor enthusiast who wants to roam farther and experience more. Using the worldwide coverage of the Iridium satellite network, these go-anywhere portable devices let you exchange text messages with any cell phone number or email address — while using GPS to track and share your journey’s progress. Every inReach device comes with free access to a cloud-powered Garmin Explore website to plan your trips with routes and waypoints, create preset messages and quick texts.
ActiveCaptain is an app that can do a number of things while on your watercraft. Found in Google Play’s store for android phones and in Apple’s App Store for Iphones, the free all-in-one app creates a powerful connection between your compatible mobile device and chartplotter, charts, maps and the community. Notifications from phones, including text messages and calls, appear on the compatible chart plotter. There’s also the ActiveCaptain Community where you can get the inside scoop on marinas and more from fellow boaters.
