2024 Boat Buyers Guide: Gear
Courtesy Continental Trailers
Continental Trailers
When it comes time to transport or store your fiberglass investment, you need a trailer from an established brand that you can trust. Continental Trailers has a rich history spanning almost 50 years, marked by a relentless pursuit of cutting-edge technology and a deep understanding of the evolving needs of marine enthusiasts. Through unwavering dedication, the company has consistently delivered durable, reliable and high-performance trailers that cater to a wide range of watercraft. From tilt models that let you launch a skiff nearly anywhere to heavy-duty triple-axle models that can handle boats up to 13,000 pounds, Continental has you covered. continentaltrailers.com —Joe Albanese
Siren 3 Pro
Siren Marine, a sister brand of Yamaha, keeps you connected to your boat even when you’re miles away. The Siren 3 Pro integrates with a number of sensors so you can keep an eye on bilge-water levels, bilge-pump activity, temperature, battery levels, shore-power status and more. You can monitor the boat’s location, tell if doors are opened, sense motion, even know when a cover is unsnapped—all through the Siren Marine mobile app. Sign up for a cellular plan to send unlimited data between the device and the app, or get the SirenSat device and plan for areas without cell service. $796; sirenmarine.com —JA
Lewmar Axis Shallow-Water Anchor
The new Axis Shallow Water Anchor from Lewmar, a Lippert company, gives boating anglers control over their positioning in depths up to 7 feet by deploying quietly in just 8 seconds with the push of a button. It features an electric linear actuator, which means no hydraulic pumps or hoses, making it lightweight and easily installed. The installation kit includes mounting hardware, a control box, an auto resetting fuse with a waterproof fuse holder and a convenient wireless remote control. Despite its light weight, the Axis can keep boats up to 26 feet or 4,500 pounds in place. Available in white and black, the unit is sealed to IP68M standards to survive life on the seas. $1,599; lewmar.com —Jim Hendricks
Shakespeare Dorsal VHF Antenna
Check out the unique shape of the Dorsal 5912-D-VHF antenna from Shakespeare. The low-profile, aerodynamic, fin-shaped design is perfect for boats that can’t easily accommodate a pole-like antenna. The surface-mount Dorsal won’t interfere with style lines or anglers casting for fish, yet it is suitable for VHF ranges up to 10 miles. The ABS body—available in white or black to match any boat’s color scheme—measures only 2.75 inches tall by 4 inches long by 2.3 inches wide, and has a rubber base to seal out moisture. It includes a 26-foot coaxial cable and PL-259 plug, and requires a 1/2-inch hole to install on a horizontal surface. Complete with a two-year warranty. $109.99; shakespeare-marine.com —JH
Rupp Top Gun Vector Electric Outrigger System
Deploy your outriggers with the push of a button using the Rupp Top Gun Vector Electric Outrigger System. The low-profile keypad lets you precisely position a pair of 1½-inch outrigger poles, individually or in unison, without ever leaving the helm. The heavy-duty stainless-steel Vector smart outrigger bases have no hydraulic components, making them compact for flush installs on hardtops. Because they don’t require a hole, they can be installed over obstructions inside a top or enclosed helm. The 24-volt DC-powered unit is nearly silent, and a 12-to-24-volt adapter is available. $8,500; ruppmarine.com —JA
ICOM IC-M510BB Black-Box VHF
Icom’s new IC-M510BB represents the latest in VHF technology, expanding VHF accessibility throughout the boat. All operations, including DSC, can be made from the CommandMic, allowing the VHF radio unit to be installed out-of-sight and as far as 60 feet from the handset. Up to three CommandMics can be connected to the head unit, which allows it to double as an onboard intercom system on large boats. NMEA 2000 networking capabilities provide plug-and-play data communication with other electronics. The radio can also share GNSS (GPS) position, AIS and DSC calls with other onboard equipment. The unit has a last-call voice-recording function that automatically saves up to two minutes of a recent incoming call. A built-in 15-watt amplifier increases the output to an external hailer speaker, and there’s a built-in hailer function that also sounds foghorn patterns. $799; icomamerica.com —JH
Shockwave S5 Sentinel Suspension Base
Take the bumps out of speedy runs to the fishing hole with Shockwave’s S5 Sentinel Suspension Base. This high-tech seat base provides a smoother, safer and more comfortable ride using the latest from Fox, a leading producer of shock absorbers for the motorsports world. The base offers 4 inches of vertical and 1½ inches of forward travel to take the sting out of impacts so you can fish longer and harder. The S5 Sentinel is adjustable on the fly, so you can tune rebound and compression rates to the day’s conditions. Available in white or black, built with corrosion-resistant marine-grade components for a long life, and compatible with just about any marine seat. $1,190; shockwaveseats.com —JA
OceanLED Explore XFM E6 Underwater LED
Underwater lights add serious fish-attracting abilities to your boat. They also enhance visibility and look pretty cool too. OceanLED Explore XFM E6 Underwater LED Lights use an innovative, efficient reflector optic to produce a focused, 20-degree beam that penetrates further underwater. In addition, a 90-degree top beam lights up a large area of water, flooding it with light. The Explore E6 puts out 11,000 lumens per fixture, and is available in single, dual, or full RGBW colors. Control the lights with a push-button switch, touch-sensitive buttons, or a handheld remote. Installation is easy, thanks to the built-in driver that minimizes the size of the unit and simplified clamping kit. $1,759 and up; oceanled.com —JA
Seakeeper Ride System
Ride can eliminate up to 70 percent of pitch and roll using a pair of rotary actuators (one on each side of the bottom of the transom) that adjust at mind-boggling speeds. The actuator modules, which attach using high-strength adhesive, eliminating the need to drill mounting holes, interface with electronic three-axis-sensing hardware that understands how the boat is behaving in terms of pitch, roll and yaw in real time. Software sends commands at light speed to the rotary actuators to instantaneously control bow oscillation and keep the boat from rolling from side to side while underway. It also has the ability to “learn” the boat and sea conditions to deliver the most comfortable and fuel-efficient ride. A compact keypad on the helm lets the captain turn the system off and on, but Ride also networks with compatible multifunction displays that offer graphic illustrations of operational parameters and touchscreen control. Ride is offered in three models with varying blade sizes, including Ride 450 for boats 19 to 26 feet ($4,500), Ride 525 for boats 27 to 30 feet ($7,500), and Ride 600 for boats 31 to 35 feet ($10,500); seakeeper.com —JH
Garmin inReach Mini 2 Marine Bundle
The new inReach Mini 2 Marine Bundle from Garmin is a satellite communication and navigation device with two-way messaging and SOS capabilities bundled with a helm mount. In an emergency, boaters can trigger an interactive SOS message to the Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center, which tracks their location and notifies the most appropriate response agency for their unique situation. The inReach Mini 2 automatically records activities and passively stores routes traveled. The TracBack features guide boaters back to their point of origin, helping them find their way even if a thick fog rolls in. Measuring 4 inches tall by 2 inches wide, the IPX7 waterproof-rated device takes up minimal space, and wirelessly pairs with Garmin GPSMap series chart plotters and quatix 7 series marine GPS smartwatches. The bundle includes an internal, rechargeable lithium battery and a 12-volt power cable. $449.99, with plans as low as $11.95/month; garmin.com —JH
Battle Born Batteries Trolling Motor Kit
Lithium ion batteries are one of the fastest-growing segments of boat technology, and for good reason. The new battery chemistry holds more power in a lighter container. If you have a trolling motor or other high-draw device onboard, consider one of the new 100Ah Trolling Motor kits from Battle Born Batteries. They have a kit for you whether you have a 12V, 24V or 36V trolling motor, complete with a smart charger. Battle Born Batteries can handle the vibrations that come from life on the high seas, and have a water-resistant seal, perfect for marine applications. $1,008 to $3,024; battlebornbatteries.com —JA
Airmar Medium-Frequency Ultra-Wide-Beam Transducers
Airmar Technology Corp. has introduced a new line of three medium ultra-wide transducers featuring single-frequency elements. These chirp-ready medium-frequency (60 to 100 kHz) transducers have 1 kW output and feature a unique concave, ceramic-array design that delivers an incredible ultra-wide beam width ranging from 57 to 73 degrees port and starboard, and a 16-degree average beam width fore and aft. Ideal for anglers seeking species down to 1,300 feet, the new medium B175MW and SS175MW ultra-wide transducers are low-profile, tilted element models that also include water-temperature sensors. The TM185MW ultra-wide uses the same ceramic array in a urethane-bodied transducer with a stainless-steel transom bracket. Tilted-element models are available in 0-, 12- and 20-degree angles. When the new medium ultra-wide models are paired with other Airmar models, anglers are equipped with a broad set of frequencies (low, medium-wide, high-wide) to find fish deep and shallow. airmar.com —JH
Starbrite Products
Starbrite has everything you need to clean, wash, wax, polish, shine and otherwise protect your favorite vessel. Its line of boat washes is perfect for use after every outing, and the variety of hull cleaners makes quick work of scum lines, fish blood or whatever hard-to-remove stain that makes its way onto the boat. A full suite of polishes and waxes protects fiberglass and other surfaces. Its metal-care products keep brightwork shiny, and teak-protection products extend the life of wood accents. You can even keep your bilge fresh with a variety of products. Starbrite has you covered in the offseason too, with mold and mildew control that works even under the confine of shrink-wrap. starbrite.com —JA
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