We went to Navico’s new Spanish headquarters in Alicante, Spain, to try out the range of all four of the brand’s brands-B&G, C-Map, Lowrance, and Simrad-directly on board. Thanks to the presence of Navico experts and ambassador boats, we also saw the instruments in action in stressful situations, on different boats and in various conditions.
Navico
Let’s start with Navico’s new multifunction displays. These have an operating system and interface that is increasingly similar to that of tablets or smartphones, and thus are increasingly intuitive and easy to use. Boating has been booming in recent years, and the number of boat owners and boaters has been growing steadily. For this new audience of enthusiasts, it is essential to find tools that are easy to use once in the boat, without having to spend too much time learning advanced and little-used functions.
The more experienced owner, on the other hand, needs advanced functions that take advantage of the highly precise instruments to return a better level of detail. These features are now available using the same tool, which has the ability to be approached easily for basic but comprehensive use, while at the same time can be explored gradually as experience is gained.
Navico – Ranieri Voyager 26
On board the Ranieri Voyager 26 we found Simrad Halo 20+ radar, xSonic Airmar B275LH-W transducer and Simrad NSSevo3S nine-inch multifunction display with C-Map Discover and Reveal charts. Thanks to the SolarMAX IPS screen, the readability of information has always been optimal from any angle even in beating sun, and wearing glasses with polarized lenses, colors do not change.
By using the radar in Dual Range mode, two different distances can be monitored at the same time, having an always up-to-date view that takes advantage of the rotational speed of 60 rpm (up to a range of 1.5 nautical miles). The radar can be set in different modes (Harbor, Open Sea, Weather) to monitor approaching weather events, and Birds, perfect in combination with ActiveTarget for fishermen to track potential fishing areas manned by birds. Check out Navico’s fishing instrumentation here.
Navico – Axopar 37
On the Axopar 37, however, we tested the new fully touchscreen chartplotter and fishfinder, the Simrad NSX, in its largest, 12-inch version. Equipped with the new operating system that offers a more modern and user-friendly interface, the NSX is super easy to install and learns from our habits. The installation wizard makes it easy to learn the essential functions, calibrating the tool to your needs.
Integration with Simrad’s Android and iOS device app makes it possible not only to keep maps and chartplotter data up-to-date without having to insert SD and microSD cards, but also to control many of the display functions directly from your smartphone. With the mirroring function you can create routes and waypoints from your cell phone, laptop or tablet and import them u na once on board in a snap, thanks to the network connection. For the Finnish shipyard, Simrad prepared a special customization of the graphics and user experience, which we particularly appreciated.
Navico’s instrumentation for powerboats under 12 meters.
Article by Federico Rossi
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