High tech gear that won’t let you down

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    While good boat hardware and mechanical equipment is usually in production for years with little change, many marine electronics are outmoded the moment they hit the retail stores. Chances are that many of the marine electronics we tested in 2006 wont be around in 2007. In fact, some are already being upgraded, and at least one product we rated tops in 2006, the West Marine CS Plus handheld GPS, is already out of production. While the next evolution of these products (digital radar will soon be the rage) will be faster and more powerful, the following five products should serve sailors just fine for years to come.

    High tech gear that won’t let you down

    RADARS
    When we set out to choose the best marine electronics tested in 2006, the Furuno 1834C NavNet VX2 radar ($3,816, http://www.pyacht.net/) immediately came to mind. Not only was it the least expensive radar unit in our six-model test, it outperformed all others, scoring Excellent in all six tests, including long- and short-range target resolution. The second least-expensive unit, the Garmin 3010, was $400 more than the Furuno. 

    PLOTTER/SOUNDER COMBOS

    High tech gear that won’t let you down

    The Lowrance LMS 337C DF ($700, http://www.pyacht.net/) took top honors in Aprils plotter/sounder combo shootout, beating out two units from Garmin and one from Si-Tex. The test focused on units with color displays of 6 inches or smaller. The Lowrance excelled in all areas, starting with price. At $699, it was the least expensive and the only test unit that was NMEA 2000 compatible. Apart from price and networking compatibility, the Lowrances resolution was much better than its competitors.  

    HANDHELD VHF UNITS
    In our test of handheld VHF radios priced from $100-$175 (October 2006), the Uniden MHS350 ($150, http://www.westmarine.com/) bested strong competition from Icom and Standard Horizon. PS tested transmitter power output, frequency accuracy, and stability and receiver sensitivity. Battery life was also tested. Other units edged the Uniden MHS350 in the battery-life test, but only the Uniden comes with two batteries.

    DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY
    While it is impossible for us to compare worldwide accuracy in a realistic time frame, our digital cartography test (February 2006) did reveal a clear leader in this field. The new Navionics Platinum ($500, http://www.basspro.com/) series charts are powerful, intuitive and loaded with features. Chart displays were rated for accuracy (in our test area), readability, and the amount and presentation of data such as marina information, zoom-in cartography, and aerial photos. Downside? Only a few machines are capable of running this software. For the budget-minded cruiser, our second pick, the Navionics Gold Series would be the preferred choice.

    NAVIGATION SOFTWARE
    Feature laden, quick and easy to use, Maptechs Chart Navigator Pro ($500, http://www.maptech.com/) stood out in our rigorous test of nav software (September 2006), which focused on stability and user interface, rather than bells and whistles. For Mac users, MacENC is the clear choice. Both performed better and were less expensive than other software  products in our test. The Furuno 1834C NavNet VX2 radar was our clear winner in our test of 10-inch radars.High tech gear that wont let you down.

    FURUNO
    360/834-9300
    furuno.com

    LOWRANCE 
    800/324-1356 
    lowrance.com

    UNIDEN 
    800/297-1023 
    uniden.com

    NAVIONICS 
    508/291-6000 
    navionics.com

    MAPTECH 
    978/792-1000
    maptech.com

    Darrell Nicholson
    Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.