<![CDATA[ Blue Frontier - Blog & News]]>Sun, 20 May 2012 07:03:20 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Raymarine price reductions ]]>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:27:12 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2012/02/raymarine-price-reductions.htmlEffective immediately, Raymarine will be lowering prices on their popular C- and E-Wide MFDs.  This is a common first step to a phase out of the product as it looks like they are really banking on their new e-series (e7, e127, etc) to be their flagship models.  However, these are still outstanding machines and Raymarine will continue to support them well into the future.
Click below to open file of new MAP pricing:
 
ray_price_reduct_2012.docx
File Size: 14 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
]]><![CDATA[New England Boatshow, 2012]]>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:24:48 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2012/02/new-england-boatshow-2012.html
Picture
Boatshow season has begun and there are plenty of great new products and ideas to inspire you for the upcoming season.
Blue Frontier has been at the New England Boatshow offering seminars on DSC VHF, AIS, and computer  navigation.  The latter includes discussion about both PC based and the latest "i" navigation craze.
The new Nobeltec software, Trident and Odyssey, are making quite a splash.  These programs are loaded with valuable features and have no shortage of "bells and whistles" either.  If you are running a Furuno Navnet navigation system, this software will seemlessly integrate into the network and it works off the same "Time-Zero" based plotting engine.  Odyssey is being offered at a special introductory price until the end of the February.  And if you are an existing Nobeltec user, you can get into this software for about 50% of the retail price!
Raymarine is debuting their new e-series displays.  Already available in a 7" version, expect to see the 12" on display by Thrusday.  Raymarine also released this week that there will be a price reduction in the C and E Wide series, effective immediately.
Underwater lighting is hitting a new stride at both the high end market and the smaller trailerable market.  Lumishore has introduced LED underwater lights are available that will change colors, limited only by the color spectrum.  These lights can now be controlled by an app on your iPad or iPhone.  Ocean LED continues to expand its offerings with not only small and trailerable boat lights, but also LEDs that can be used out of the water for the trailers themselves or as spreader or deck lights.
Of course, the boatshow is loaded with all sorts of other products from canvas to clothing, electronics, jewelry, fishing rods, magazines, and BOATS!!

Spring is a great time to brush up on boating some skills.  and there are plenty of resources to get some refresher lessons or
maybe add a new feather to your cap.  Whether it is a navigation class,  fly-tying, learning your electronics, a Captain's license, or commiting to getting some on-board instruction to master docking, winter and spring is the  right time.  And book early.  While it may be a mental adjustment to think about boating in February, the longer you wait to enroll, the more likely classes will
be booked.
Check out these friends of Blue Frontier to see what offerings they have for spring classroom instruction.  Then stick with it and
continue with some on-the-water training. 
Boatwise Marine Training
Boston Sailing Center
]]><![CDATA[Blue Frontier Authorized dealer for Rosepoint Navigation]]>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:50:30 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2011/12/blue-frontier-authorized-dealer-for-rosepoint-navigation.htmlPicture
_Blue Frontier has been named as an Authorized dealer for Rosepoint Navigation, the producers of  Coastal Explorer Navigation Software.  This west coast company has achieved tremendous success in the Pacific Northwest with boaters looking for a simple yet powerful navigation software that allows for system expansion and ease of updates.
Call us for more info or visit their site at http://www.rosepointnav.com/
]]><![CDATA[NMEA Convention 2011, Impressive Products #1]]>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:00:00 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2011/09/nmea-convention-2011-impressive-products-1.htmlAfter 2 days of wandering the exhibitors hall and talking to manufacturers and product representatives, it is easy to feel the excitement for the upcoming year in marine electronics.  There are a lot of new products out there and there is a lot of work being done to make the things as easy and accessible for the end-user as possible.
A big theme this year seems to be Wifi and Bluetooth compatibility as well as integration and accessibilty through the mobile computing venues like I-"anything" and Android applications.  Three items in this field really jumped out to me; the Raymarine e7 multifunction navigation display, the Fusion 700 series multimedia entertainment systems, and the Digital Yacht BoatraNet Wireless Server.
Raymarine's newest display is a small MFD at only 7", but there are plans for larger--I was told "much larger"--versions inthe near future.  It handles and performs on all the levels we now expect from an MFD, including radar, AIS, camera inputs, fishfinder, etc.  Options will include integrated charts or built-in sounder module.  touch screen and built-in GPS is standard.  But, it also puts out a Wifi signal that you can pick up with any mobile device, enabling you to create a "repeater screen" in the palm of your hand.  So imagine you are fishing and the main display is at the helm, but you are back on the aft deck.  Using your phone or iPad, you can check what the sounder is showing without having to run back and forth or by another display.  You probably already own the second display!  There is a free Raymarine App available to enable the reception.
On the down-side, it is not a full functioning repeater.  In other words, if you want to switch screens from fishfinder to plotter, you need to go back to the main unit.  But, this unit, which is schedule to begin shipping this winter, will have a very nice price point, making it an attractive option for a base unit to be expanded on over the years.  Base units should be around $1500.

The Fusion 700 Series Entertainment System will have true NMEA2000 compatibility, allowing you to plug it into the N2K network with an unlimited number of remote controls around the boat.  It has four speaker zones which can be named and has built-in amplifiers for 3 of the zones.  There is plenty of power here.  Plus, if you plug it into a wireless router, you will be able to control the player and the various media on it from any i-product or Android device.  And the options are many.  Like the 600 series, you can get a DVD version, or one that has a built-in dock for iPhone/iPod.  Plus, there will be a USB port allowing you to have media (audio or video) from an additional source. 
Because the remotes are all plugged into the NMEA2000 network, they can also show any data from the buss, including navigation, depth, wind, etc. with 2-4 lines of data.  You just scroll through the pages.

The Digital Yacht BoatraNet system is an impressive wireless network server for your boat, allowing you to establish a network on your boat that has a large array of tools already built-in.  BoatrNet establishes a "hotspot" on your vessel which allows you to access it via any web browser on ANY capable devicelike iPod/Pad/Phone, Android phones and pads, PC or Mac computers.
The server accepts input from NMEA0183 and (coming soon) NMEA2000 networks.  It has a USB port for the input of a wide array of formatted files, including music (MP3), documents (PDF), video (MP4), and phots (JPEG).  This data is installed to the system via any USB device or data stick.  once the data is on the server, it can be accessed by up to 250 of the above mentioned devices at any time.  For example, if the kids want to listend to music or watch a video, they can log on and listen on their own device.  And multiple devices can access multiple files at any time.  They do not need to be all listening to the same channel. 
The browser page has an easy to navigate User Interface which has simple icons for the various features.  beyond music and video are a suiote of valuable navigation tools and interfaces including instruments, AIS, and a plotter.  Built in is a Navionics Silver embedded chartplotter system, allowing you to use basic plotter features on your mobile device.  This is a much more solid format than using the straight Navionics app for an iPhone, for example, because the BoatraNet system is accessing the true navigational data from NMEA0183 or 2000 and applying that data to its built-in plotter and charts.  It has an advantage over the previously mentioned Raymarine E7 as the BoatraNet is truly interactive through the device, it is not just a repeater screen.
If you add an optional external boosted WiFi antenna, BoatraNet will seamlessly integrate into an internet hotspot, allowing full browsing access from any of the connected mobile devices.  It is like having a wireless router network on your boat.  this is ideal from folks who spend time at the dock and want to have access to the web but not be stuck on the computer below decks. 
The BoatraNet system is an open platform with the developers rapid adding new features and taking input from customers about the features they would like  to see.  In the near future, expect options that will allow the system to "Tweet" messages that provide data on vessel conditions (when linked to NMEA2000 network) like bilge and battery levels.

More to come....]]><![CDATA[NMEA Annual Conference, 2011]]>Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:00:00 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2011/09/nmea-annual-conference-2011.htmlThis year's annual NMEA convention is in Ft. Meyers, FL.  The convention is an "insider's" show for manufacturers, dealers, and others and provides an opportunity to get together and discuss many of the issues and topics that effect the Marine Electronics industry and, consequently, you the customer.  This includes input from organizations such as the FCC, the US Coast Guard, and numerous smaller working groups.
One of the highlights of the convention is the Exhibitors Hall, where manufacturers set up displays of their latest products, often prototypes, in an effort to woo dealers and installers.  Essentially, it is not unlike a boatshow environment, but everything is Marine Electronics.  This year has over 50 manufacturers booths covering smaller markets like Software manufacturers, underwater lights, thermal cameras, and NMEA2000 products all the way to the "big players", like Raymarne, Garmin and Furuno.  It is a great way for Dealers, like myself, to see what is coming and to use that knowledge to help you find the best product for your needs.
Another unique opportunity is in the real time demostrations where numerous manufacturers rig out boats for true, on the water experiences with theri equipment.  Those of you who know me know that one of my big caveats with marine electronics is that "Everything looks good on the show  room floor".  In other words, we can be really drawn in  by the LOOKS of a product at boatshows or in show rooms.  But the true test is how it performs in real world environments.  These on the water demos provide a glimpse into that reality.  I am currently signed up for two such demos; one with Geonav, to look at their displays and highly praised Autopilot and another with FLIR, the thermal imaging company who now owns Raymarine.  FLIR also has close ties with Furuno as well as Nobeltec navigation software (more on that later).  A third trip is scheduled as a fishing trip, sponsored by various manufacturers.  Not sure how that will play out yet.  Either way, I intend to present feedback about each trip for you to hear about how products behaved in real, on the water use.
Stay tuned....]]><![CDATA[NYYC Invitational Cup, 2011]]>Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:02:45 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2011/09/nyyc-invitational-cup-2011.htmlPicture
As many of you know, in addition to Blue Frontier, I am the acting captain aboard a sailboat down in Newport, RI.  It is  New York Yacht Club Swan 42.  Admittedly, this somewhat schizophrenic existence can make my scheduling and availabilty a bit tighter than normal during the busy months of May, June and July.  It is during these months that I spend about 1/3 of my time in RI prepping and racing the boat that I "run". 
As "captain" my duties include building the boat in the spring, rigging and stepping, and tuning the mast, making sure the bottom is sanded smooth and race ready, prepping the interior equipment, and overseeing the launching and delivery of the boat arounf New England for racing.  While we are racing, I am just another member of the crew.  The Swan 42 class has very strict one-design rules (all the boats are as identical as possible) including one that says the owner of the boat must be the helsman during racing. 
This week I have the privelige of sailing in what has quickly become an international sailing phenomenon, the New York Yacht Club's semi-annual Invitational Cup.  This regatta brings together some of the best teams of amatuer sailors ffrom around the globe to compete in the strict one-design racing.  The 2011 event includes 4 US teams, all of whom had to compete in elimination qualifier series' in order to attend, as well as teams from places like England, Japan, Argentina, Ireland, Finland, Norway, and Austrailia.  The boat that I run, Apparition, won the right to be the "home team" for the NYYC and essentially "Defend the Cup". 
The racing is based in Newport, RI Tuesday through Saturday, September 13-17 and overlaps with the Newport Boat Show. 

Please follow us online at www.invitationalcup.org where you will find results, photos and commentary from each days racing.  There is also some very interesting data available at www.kattack.com where you can watch GPS, computer generated replays of each race.  In the results pages and photos we are listed as New York and we are hull number 15.
]]><![CDATA[Blue Frontier new dealer for DeepSea underwater lights]]>Sat, 23 Apr 2011 06:56:19 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2011/04/blue-frontier-new-dealer-for-deepsea-underwater-lights.html
Blue Frontier recently became a Authorize Dealer for DeepSea Under waters.  DeepSea is based out of San Diego, CA and has a strong background in commercial underwater lights and cameras.  They have broken into the recreational underwater light market with some very unique and powerful products.
At this point, every boater should be beginning the change-over to LEDs on their boat.    While the up front cost of these lights can seem a bit imtimidating, it is the long-term savings that must be recognized.  And LEDs can be put just about anywhere a standard incandescent bulb once inhabited.  Common uses now are as courtesy lights in the cockpit or helm areas as well as in the cabin, running lights, and now, underwater. 
The benefits have been well documented over the last few years as LEDs really exploded onto the marine market.  But here is a quick recap to justify the cost.   Imagine a light that lasts upwards of 30,000 hours!  Many incandescent and halogens are measured in the HUNDREDS of hours.  And in fact, replacing a halogen is not exactly cheap, either.  By the time you replace the incandescent or halogen bulbs enough times to equal the longevity of the LED, you have likely paid for the LED many times over. 
Incandesacents (and haolgens) also suffer from significant inefficiancy in heat loss.  Your battery power goes only partially to creating light.  The rest is lost as heat generated from the filiment and thus creating the limited lifespan.  LEDs do generate heat, especially the new "Super Brite" versions.  However, their efficiency is much higher than incandescents.  In fact the overall power draw is significantly less, often measured in milli-amps.  This means u
So, less power draw, more efficient, significanlty longer life.  There are very few downsides to the LED phenomenom.

In applying these desirable features to underwater lights, there are a few things to consider.
The fact that these lights last so long, has allowed manufacturers to get creative with mounting styles.  Unlike Halogens, which may "expire" while installed and need to be changed while the boat is in the water, many LED UW lights are surface mounted.  You typically may only need a small 1/2"-3/4" hole in the transom to feed the wire through.  A traditional Halogen is in a 2" or larger housing that allows for cooling and access from inside to change the bulb.
LEDs come in an array of colors that are straight from the diodes themselves.  So there is no colored lense to  scratch or fade (imagine how older running light lenses fade to nearly white with age).   There seem to be varying theories about what color lights to put in different regional waters.  Here in the Northeast, we dont have the clear blue water like Florida and the Bahamas.  However, according to Erik Goodin, Sales Manager of DeepSea lights, "The blue LEDs tend to be preferred for seawater conditions.  It typically travels further than the white or green, and also gives the water a nice, “clean” look.  The green LEDs tend to be preferred for fresh water applications and the white LEDs are a good option when color rending is important (i.e. identifying a fish based on its markings)."
The cooler running LEDs mean with many models, you can leave the lights on while you are underway, a flashy feature which is sure to turn heads.  Just remember, any additional lights on a boat cannot interfere with your required lights.  DeepSea has taking this feature a step further.  Some of their models have a "self preservation" feature.  If you are running with the light on and the light begins to heat up because you are on a plane and the transom is now out of the water, the lights will self dim to reduce heat.  Some models will simply shut themselves off.  This is a feature in the circuitry designed to preserve the long-life of the LEDs. 
This leads to another unique feature from the DeepSea lights.  Two of their models are dimmable.  Early on, the expense of dimming and LED was a legitamate negative.  But, the DeepSea 12LED On-Hull light and the new Micro Matrix can be put to a knob for dimming.  This is desirable if your lights are perhaps just a little too bright for a marina or anchorage or just to mellow the mood out a bit.
For fisherman, the DeepSea LEDs can be connected to a switch for strobe effect.  This will be good to attract bait fish.  Then you can turn on to a solid light to see what the strobe has attracted.  The SAME light can work all three ways: solid on, strobe, dimmable. 

As we approach launch season, give Blue Frontier a call to ask about installing some underwater lights.  Or, if you are beginning the process of switching over your incandescents to LEDs, we can help with selection, layout and wiring.
]]><![CDATA[Letter from the Coast Guard about your DSC VHF Radio..]]>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 06:24:21 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2011/03/letter-from-the-coast-guard-about-your-dsc-vhf-radio1.html
Last month, Rear Admiral Day of the USCG wrote an open letter to the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) and its associated members.  Most of those members include marine electronics dealers, installers, retailers, and boat dealers.  In the letter, the Rear Admiral asked NMEA for its help in furthering the efforts to educate boaters about DSC and to help those boaters make certain that their DSC VHF radios are properly installed and registered.

The letter asked NMEA to help in creating a more universal interface standard to accommodate the DSC radios gathering information from GPS.  However, it also addressed a number of other problems that continue to plague the DSC system from the end-users perspective.  The primary issues the CG continues to have are 1) failure of boaters to have a GPS integrated with the VHF, and therefore failing to deliver the vessels position in a distress call. 2) Failure of boaters to register their DSC radios with their MMSI numbers, ie, entering the number into the radio.  This means the CG is unable to determine WHO is sending a distress signal.  3) The need for follow-up voice communications on Channel 16 once the DSC distress call has been sent. For those of you who know me or who have attended my classes for Boatwise, you know how hard I emphasize these points.  

Your first step is to upgrade your VHF radio to a DSC capable one.  These radios have been on the market for over 10 years now and the Coast Guard has reached critical mass in its Rescue 21 system that allows for DSC radios to deliver digital encoded signals in the case of distress.    As of this winter, in the USA, a DSC radio must meet the requirements for “Class D”.  The basic RTCM 101 minimums are no longer acceptable.  A basic DSC radio will run you about $150.  You can spend more and it will get you some added “bells and whistle”.  But at minimum financial output, you can gain huge returns on safety. You can use your existing antenna; no upgrades are needed. Shop around or call Blue Frontier with your questions.

Your next step is to go online to any number of websites and register for your MMSI number.  I recommend either www.boatus.com or www.seatow.com.  Either of these sites will allow you to register for a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) without cost and without having to sign up for any of their services.  In other words, you do not need to be a member of either organization to use their site to acquire your MMSI.  Once on either site, a quick search will get you to the online form.  You will need information like your vessels registration number, but NOT any info about your VFH radio, ie, serial number.  Once you have filled out the form, the site will send you your MMSI number.  This is a 9 digit number that you then need to take to your VHF and enter it.  More on that below.

The MMSI is a federally regulated number.  If you want, you can go to the FCC and apply for the number, but it will cost you money and you will not get it immediately as you will with the above sites.  If you already have an FCC issued radio license, there are you should contact the FCC about have to transfer that to your MMSI.

Finally, you must enter your newly acquired MMSI number into your VHF.  READ THE MANUAL!!!  Because this is a federally regulated number, you are given just TWO chances to enter the number correctly into your VHF.  If you fail to do so, the radio must be removed and sent back to the manufacturer for reset.  It cannot be done in the field.

I strongly recommend you read the manual and familiarize yourself with the buttons and menus on your VHF.  Find the menu where you will enter the number and read the manual as to how to do so.  Not all radios have full keypads, so it will likely be series of “knob turns” or “up arrow, down arrow” commands.  Once you are ready, go ahead and enter the number.  Most radios will require you to enter it twice to verify it was correct.  

Once your MMSI number is registered, you now have the power of DSC radio and the USCG Resue 21 system available to you in an emergency.  If you spent a little more for the “bells and whistles”, you will also find a host of other fun little tricks that DSC will give you, including individual calling to your friends and position polling so you can find out where they are catching all the fish without giving away the location over the open airwaves.  Position polling is also a popular with sailboat race committees during regattas and long distance rallies.

Keep in mind, if you purchased a boat that already has an MMSI entered in the radio, you MUST re-register that number.  The number stays with the boat.  You don’t want the CG calling the former owner instead of your emergency contacts in the event of a distress call. 

This is topic that will likely be revisted often on these pages.  If you have questions about DSC or features available on different models, give us a call at Blue Frontier.  

]]><![CDATA[Raymarine Introduces 3 Year Warranty]]>Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:00:00 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2011/02/raymarine-introduces-3-year-warranty.html
Last month, Raymarine announced their new 3-Year Warranty program. Effective January 1st 2011, all new Raymarine products will be eligible for a three year warranty at no additional cost; users simply need to register their new products online at www.raymarine.com and the standard two year warranty is automatically extended by an additional 12 months free of charge.
To qualify for the additional year of warranty coverage, customers must register their new Raymarine products online during the first 90-days of ownership. Registration is fast and easy and can be completed in just a few minutes time at: http://www.raymarine.com/warranty.
The new 3-year warranty compliments our recently announced Raymarine Rapid Care Warranty service plan, and delivers a comprehensive package of benefits that gives your customers complete confidence and peace-of-mind about their Raymarine purchase decision.  Furthermore, if you have your Raymarine electronics installed by a Certified Installing Dealer, the warranty is for "on Board" service.
This is a pretty big deal.  Until now the only other manufacturer with a similar warranty was the unsung Standard Horizon, who offers a virtual "no-questions-asked" 3 year warranty on all of their VHF radios and Chartplotters. 
Fortunately, for those of us here in Northern New England we have the additional benefit of being able to drive to Merrimac, NH and literally hand a piece of broken gear to a Raymarine tech.  Depending on their backlog, it may be possible to have the item fixed by the end of the day.  Like most other manufacturers over the past few years, Raymarine fixes out-of-warranty items on a flat rate basis. 
]]><![CDATA[B&G unveils brand new Sailing Navigation System with Broadband Radar™]]>Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:04:14 -0500http://blue-frontier.com/1/post/2010/12/bg-unveils-brand-new-sailing-navigation-system-with-broadband-radar.html
B&G, a world leader in the development of advanced instrumentation and autopilot systems for cruising and racing yachts, has launched the new Zeus Multifunction Displays (MFD) and Broadband Radar at the Southampton Boat Show.

B&G Zeus has been developed to provide a new fully integrated high performance navigation system with bright, sunlight viewable displays and featuring unique and dedicated sailing functions. Zeus now brings the benefits of B&G’s performance to the cruising sailor in an easy to use and understandable format.

Paul Heys of Key Yachting commented on choosing the new Zeus system: “B&G has always been the choice of racing sailors for Instruments & Autopilots, but the dedicated sailing features available in B&G’s new Zeus Radar Chart Plotter, is just what cruising sailors have been waiting for. We are delighted to install the first full B&G navigation system on our new Grand Soleil 46 at Southampton Boat show and expect to receive much interest and demand for the new B&G navigation system, from both racing and cruising sailors alike.”

Read More....
]]>