Electronics to see at the 2023 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

The advances in marine electronics are moving at such a rapid pace that something that was cutting-edge a decade ago seems slow and obsolete today.

That’s because the marine electronics field is hard at work constantly evolving to make the boating experience easier and better for everyone who uses their products.

One of the biggest showings of new products this year will be marine electronics specialist Raymarine with several planned Australian debuts.

Raymarine has recently announced a big shakeup of its more premium chartplotters with the Australian debut of the Axiom 2 Pro aimed at offshore anglers who find it just as important to locate the right fishing spot as it is to sound out the fish.

Beside the Axiom 2 Pro will be the very latest in motor yacht and sailboat chartplotters, the Axiom 2 XL. This is the latest in “glass bridge” technologies that use a single interface, in this instance a multifunction touchscreen, to connect an entire boat’s system, meaning you can use one screen to monitor everything from engine status to lighting, trip planning and using a forward-mounted camera to check the anchor is set properly.

Also on show will be the Raymarine RVM1600, a new-generation CHIRP sonar module that introduces RealVision MAX and high-definition sonar to Axiom multifunction screens.

The RVM1600 refines how it uses sonar to create even clearer pictures of what is under a boat and display it in high contrast.

Raymarine will also have the CAM300 marine camera on its display. The new camera has a much wider field of view, meaning you can see more, as well as better night vision to help skippers navigate dark marinas safely. Again, the cameras are specifically designed for Axiom-based systems.

On display in Australia for the first time will be the plug-and-play marine power group EcoFlow.

It will have a range of products on display including the EcoFlow Power Kit, a modular 48-volt power system optimised for boats.

Versions of the kit have already been installed on several yachts including the Elan 31, Bavaria 42 and Azimut 45, and are built around either a 2.0kWh or 5.0kWh battery. The systems are designed with a number of repowering optins in mind, including solar panels and generators.

EcoFlow will also have its Glacier fridge-freezer, Wave 2 portable AC heater and River 2 portable power station on show.

Yacht Controller Australia and New Zealand will use Sanctuary Cove to officially launch its new Maximo wireless controller system for IPS-equipped boats.

The new V.IPS controllers include a new three-axis joystick that can manage lateral and rotational movement in all directions with buttons also providing control of individual thrusters and up to two anchor winches.

On the software side of things, Sanctuary Cove will introduce Tracket, an Australian-developed app that greatly simplifies boat and jet ski maintenance and management.

The app acts like a digital filing cabinet for everything from keeping track of servicing costs and fuel to reminding owners when their insurance is due to roll over.

The app also takes a lot of the guesswork out of buying or selling a boat, providing an accurate log of how well it has been maintained.