A tool bar running across the top of the screen allows anglers to quickly interface with the trolling motor or other devices in the boat. (Photo by Brad Wiegmann)
Do You Have Total Boat Control?
By Brad Wiegmann
The buzz word in marine electronics is integration. Your IT experts in the office might call it “networking.”
Integration of marine electronics covers everything from the bow to the stern of the boat.
The announcement from Garmin at ICAST that it will be integrating with Power-Pole means now every major marine company can control shallow water anchors from compatible marine devices. This was just the icing on the cake as integration has become a focus for marine electronics.
Although the integration revolution is a positive step for better communication between compatible marine electronics, don’t be fooled. Marine electronics companies are doing their best to keep consumers buying just one brand of products. This was a trend, but has slowly been reversing as total boat control requires one brand of products to interface.
Garmin has OneHelm and advanced boat control integration. OneHelm is directed towards large boats and controls various third-party marine systems, devices and switches. Otherwise, Garmin’s chartplotters/fishfinders can be networked with different marine outboard engines for sensor inputs to display data such as rpm, fuel flow, alarms and more.
Lowrance boasts the Ultimate Fishing System to produce bow to stern as they dive into marine electronics integration. The Ultimate Fishing System controls everything from Power-Poles, autopilots, engines, radar and more. Similar to other marine electronic networks, Lowrance can interface with Mercury, Yamaha, Honda Marine and Suzuki outboard engines.
Mercury VesselView Link is another great example of how outboard marine engines are working to integrate with marine electronics. VesslView Link is a module installed on the outboard engine allowing an angler to monitor data on compatible Lowrance chartplotters/fishfinders. Mercury Smart Connect is the same product, but for Garmin and Raymarine compatible marine electronic units. The data from the Mercury VesselView Link is shown on the display screen and depending on the unit can be customized to how the screen appears.
Mercury VesselView Mobile is a similar product, but attaches a module onboard to the engine that wirelessly connects to your mobile device through Bluetooth. It keeps track of fuel usage, rpm, and more accurate than analog gages. Plus, the app can keep track of engine hours and when routine maintenance is due.
Stand alone marine electronic units are a thing of the past
with the drive for total boat control with sonar units.
Humminbird’s One Boat Network allows an angler to automatically navigate using chart data, connect to built-in MEGA Imaging motors, command Minn Kota shallow water anchors, and make your Smartphone the brains of your boat and more.
What’s truly amazing is the integration between chartplotters/fishfinders and Trolling motors. Lowrance, Garmin and Humminbird can steer, anchor lock to a spot, adjust thrust and more through a tool bar located on the screen of the chartplotter/fishfinder or off a mobile device if connected. This allows anglers to create routes for trolling or lock into one spot to fish.
Again, one thing to remember about integration is that in most cases, it only works with a single brand, keeping anglers loyal to the one brand they choose.
From Springdale, Arkansas, Brad Wiegmann is a professional photographer, videographer and outdoor writer published in dozens of print and electronic media outlets all across the nation. Every month Wiegmann will be providing CrappieNOW readers with the latest and greatest information on the ever-changing world of fishing electronics. He is also a well-known guide, podcaster and social media influencer. Learn more about Wiegmann and his lengthy experience and expertise at BradWiegmann.com.
