New PLBs can be real lifesavers
March 2008
Emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) have long been required equipment on commercial vessels and a smart addition for all larger boats. The introduction of the personal locator beacon (PLB), a smaller and manually operated version of the EPIRB, has spread the use of maritime distress beacons to smaller boats and to inland users on both land and water.
First electronics rule: Do no harm
February 2008
Every now and then I’ll hear someone at a tackle shop or out at a launch ramp give advice on caring for electronics that stands my hair on end. The most frequent category of advice is how to clean LCD screens or, more accurately, the protective lenses that cover them.
Track plotters don’t get respect
January 2008
Early GPS units were pretty clunky by today’s standards — and approximately 30 times more expensive. Today’s units are faster, more accurate, and most importantly, have a lot more memory. Now, we can look at a detailed on-screen map of the area around us and see ourselves on it. We can also see the locations of places we visited and saved as waypoints, and getting between them is as simple as selecting one with a cursor and hitting a Go-To button.
Time to consider changing to LEDs
December 2007
The lights on your trailer are your boat’s first line of defense against collisions. Running lights show other drivers that you have a boat behind you when towing in the dark. Brake lights and turn signals can help keep tail-gating drivers from turning your stainless steel prop into a hood ornament, night or day. That is, of course, if your trailer lights work.
Is that on-screen fish really a fish?
November 2007
Fish I.D. features that display cartoon-like fish symbols have been around since fish finders became computerized and incorporated LCD screens, and the controversy about whether the feature helps or hurts your fishing has been around just as long.
Trouble-free batteries not always best
September 2007
Full-maintenance marine batteries are usually less expensive and lighter than maintenance-free models with the same amount of cranking power and reserve capacity.
Magic ‘reset’ button a time-saver
August 2007
A friend called the other day and asked if I would help him change the sonar transducer clamped to the bottom of his trolling motor. He thought he could handle the job but wasn’t sure, and since I live a short distance away, he asked for help.
Avoid spring cleaning for electronics
May 2007
The whole idea of spring cleaning is impractical in a climate where we can boat all year so it behooves us to knock down those electrical gremlins each time they stick their heads up.
Be sure to use right battery for job
April 2007
Marine batteries come in three types, and they are not interchangeable. Each is designed to do a particular job, and while some can be used in cross-over applications, doing so can result in a reduction of battery performance and life.
Currents
Marine Electronics 
