SYDNEY BOAT SHOW: Garmin gearing up for fishing and sailing

Garmin will be doing deals on its GPSMAP 752xs/952xs and 1022xsv/1222xsv series chartplotters at Sydney boat show, with buyers entitled to receive (via redemption) a Garmin BlueChart g2 Vision HD chart or TOPO Lite Australia and New Zealand map valued at up to $400.

Available with 7in (752xs) and 9in (952xs) touchscreens, these GPSMAP units are equipped with 1kW traditional CHIRP sonar, CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar, as well as support for Panoptix all-seeing sonar. Built-in wireless connectivity for Garmin mobile apps and VIRB action camera integration is also standard.

THE 10Hz GPS/GLONASS receiver is said to deliver smooth on-screen navigation, while preloaded premium mapping features include Australia/New Zealand BlueChart g2 HD charts, and Quickdraw Contours personalised HD mapping software.

The units offer full-network compatibility for the Garmin Marine Network, which allows support for sharing sonar, maps, user data, radar and IP cameras across multiple units. There’s also NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 support for autopilots, digital switching, VHF, AIS and other sensors.

For those who prefer a keypad / rotary control knob interface, the new 10in (1022xsv) and 12in (1222xsv) units have the same GPS, connectivity and sonar features as the GPSMAP touchscreen series, with the addition of CHIRP SideVü scanning sonar. They come preloaded with a worldwide basemap, with SD card slots to accept Garmin BlueChart g2 Vision HD charts.

RADAR ACTION
The latest GMR Fantom 18/24 radomes are solid-state pulse compression units that offer MotionScope Doppler technology and 40W of power — said to be the highest in the industry for its kind.

Available in an 18in or 24in footprint, they bring Garmin’s award-winning Fantom technology to a smaller size and lower pricepoint, making them an attractive option for boats where open-array radar isn’t an option.

With its pulse compression technology, the Fantom 18 and Fantom 24 provide high resolution while maximising energy to enhance target detection. Pulse expansion can then maximise target size to help differentiate real targets from noise.

The Fantom 18 features a 5.2-degree beam width, while the Fantom 24 offers a narrower 3.7-degree width that paints a very precise, high-resolution image. Both Fantom radomes offer excellent range performance from 6m to 48nm.

MULTIBEAM SONAR
The Panoptix PS51-TH is a new phased-array multi-beam thru-hull transducer delivering FrontVü sonar. This narrow beam, forward-looking sonar focuses on the bottom in front of the boat, up to nearly 100m ahead of the boat at 8-10 times the current depth.

The PS51-TH also delivers LiveVü Forward, which shows targets moving toward or away from the boat, even while stationary, in real time. Compatible with a wide range of Garmin units.

VHF RADIOS
The VHF 110i and VHF 210i AIS marine radios are built to complement the stylish design of Garmin’s latest GPSMAP chartplotters and multi-function displays (MFDs), and offer full integration with Garmin systems.

The VHF 110i offers 25W of transmit power and Class D Digital Selective Calling (DSC) compatibility. The VHF 210i AIS adds a built-in AIS receiver for improved situational awareness and greater confidence on open water, as well as a two-way hailer system that can be connected to a hailer horn or external speaker.

Like the VHF 110i, the VHF 210i AIS provides standard DSC functionality, including distress calling and direct calling with user-programmed Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI).

More at the 50th Sydney International Boat Show opening August 3-7 and Garmin at Garmin.