Science fiction buffs in e7 heaven

5:48 PM Tue 23 Aug 2011 GMT

'Raymarine e7's multifunction touch screen is a cinch to navigate' Raymarine Sales Click Here to view large photo

In late 1999 I asked a bunch of naval architects to peer into their crystal balls and perceive how production boats of the new millennium would look. The fanciful sketches they drew bore no relation to the conservative and relatively mundane designs we're still currently seeing.

Marine electronics, on the other hand, have surpassed anything that anyone could've imagined back then. Sure we had NMEA capability that allowed different units to 'talk' but it wasn't so many years earlier that mobile phones looked like house bricks and a 747 Jumbo was needed to cart around a GPS.

The unit syncs with an iPhone or iPad - who woulda thought? - Raymarine Sales

The notion of thermal cameras streaming live video to a tablet-style computer or iPhone in real time was the stuff of science fiction. But with Raymarine's new e7 multifunctional display (MFD), making thermal video, navigation charts, radar and sonar information fully accessible and portable is a reality.

On a screen measuring just 7 inches (17.78cm) you get networking for up to six displays plus accessories. With built-in WiFi connectivity the screen can be accessed from anywhere on-board via mobile iOS devices.

Thanks to Bluetooth, the user can control the e7 via the optional remote control unit, which can be mounted on the boat's steering wheel or used as an independent hand-held. Range in, range out, mark a waypoint, the RCU-3 remote controller gives you access to frequently used functions while underway.

The RCU-3 also controls audio playback remotely so that mp3 players can remain stowed away.

A new user interface called Lighthouse brings touchscreen navigation and customisation options together, so through simple drag-and-drop movements your navigation charts can be configured easily.

Three processors provide stunning 3D graphics, brilliant video and instantaneous chart redraws. There's an LCD display backlit with LEDs to improve power efficiency - better still, a Sport Optic coating is combats the 'blackout' effect experienced when viewing screens through polarised sunnies.

Fishermen will love the built-in HD digital sonar, targeting fish and depicting bottom contours and structure with great clarity. The e7D version can be connected to thru-hull or in-hull transom transducers.

Both models have a 48 channel internal GPS and are available with Navionics coastal or inland charts supplied on microSD cards.

For sales enquiries contact Raymarine on (02) 9479 4800.

by Mark Rothfield

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