Wakeboarding - June 01, 2018

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102 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JUNE 2018

A composite of two underwater views

PHOTOS: (COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) CRAIG HASHIMOTO, COURTESY LOWRANCE, COURTESY THOMAS & DARDEN INC.

Now the best of these two

technologies has been com-

bined into a single view known

as FishReveal.

New software upgrades

make FishReveal available free

of charge to owners of current

Lowrance and Simrad multi-

function displays equipped

T here are two basic ways to peer beneath your

boat with electronic eyes — with an up-and-

down fish finder or with down-imaging sonar.

A fish finder — especially a chirp system —

clearly defines fish arches, while down imaging

paints photolike images of the bottom and

topical structure.

with both StructureScan and

chirp fi sh-fi nder transducers.

Once the software is installed,

you can access FishReveal in

the StructureScan mode in

both brands. Select DownScan,

then activate FishReveal with

the press of a button.

Described by Simrad as

“a massive leap forward in

fi sh-fi nding technology,”

FishReveal results in a hy-

brid view that integrates the

critical data from both chirp

sonar and DownScan. As with

down imaging, the bottom

appears with startling, albeit

monochromatic, clarity.

Wrecks often bear the ghostly

image of a sunken ship, and

you frequently see the individ-

ual pilings, rails and road bed

of a submerged bridge.

With FishReveal — and

unlike the capabilities of down

imaging alone — fi sh emerge

in a contrasting color and in

the familiar arches you see on

fi sh-fi nder screens. Fish and

bait schools are much easier to

discern and target with Fish-

Reveal, and the underwater

environment in which these

fi sh live is a cinch to interpret.

The software upgrades also

include High-Visibility Color

and Enhanced Sonar Imaging

for Lowrance HDS and Simrad

NSS evo3 series, respectively,

as well as C-Map Easy Route

and Navionics Dock-to-Dock

Routing for current Lowrance

and Simrad MFDs. To learn

more about the free upgrades

for Lowrance and Simrad, visit

lowrance.com and simrad-

yachting.com, respectively.

WHY DO AIS

TARGETS JUMP

FROM POSITION

TO POSITION

AND SOMETIMES

DISAPPEAR?

ASK KEN ONLINE

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electronics content, visit

boatingmag.com/askken.

The new Kube from Thomas & Darden is a remote marine speaker on steroids

that doubles as an insulated cooler. Designed for boats, beach parties and other

outdoor festivities, the portable wireless twin-speaker Kube features audio

capabilities that rival the most sophisticated home surround-sound systems.

With a digital 350-watt amp and thunderous 122 db volume output, you could

rock the entire sandbar with distortion-free 360-degree audio, and do so for

50 hours (10 hours at full volume) thanks to the built-in rechargeable lithium-

ion battery pack. An illuminated, waterproof control panel lets you adjust

volume and other functions.

The 18-inch-high-by-23-inch-long-by-16-inch-deep Kube also carries an IPX4

water-resistance rating, so you can take it on a boat or transfer it to the beach

party where the built-in lighted 37-quart cooler will keep your drinks chilled

and keep you entertained with songs from your smartphone’s music library or

streaming music app. It will connect via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You can also use

the Kube at home by the pool or deck.

You’ll want to get your money’s worth because this initial product offering

from Thomas & Darden is not cheap. It lists for $2,249 at kubesound.com.

AIS (automatic identification

system) signals are not

transmitted constantly. Their

transmission periods can

vary depending on the type

of vessel, as well as its speed

and movement. Class A AIS

(required on most commer-

cial vessels) transmits its

signal every three minutes

when at anchor and up to

every two seconds when

exceeding 26 mph or

changing course.

Class B AIS (common on

many recreational boats)

transmits its signal every

three minutes when at

anchor and at speeds up to

2 mph, and every 30 seconds

at speeds above 2 mph. This

accounts for the jumping

movements when viewing

AIS targets on your

chart plotter.

AIS signals have the same

limitations as your VHF radio.

Their range is basically line

of sight and can be blocked

when behind a hill, island

or other obstruction. Most

importantly, AIS places you in

command by providing infor-

mation to make better and

safer decisions. —Ken Englert

ICE KUBE