Boating

ENGINE MONITORS

W

hen it comes

to saving fuel,

the advent

of NMEA 2000 proved

a major breakthrough.

An industrywide

communications protocol,

NMEA 2000 is what lets

your engine, bilge pumps,

tanks, tabs, engine trim,

video cameras, TVs and,

yes, even your sound system

all communicate with your

MFD, allowing you complete

control from the helm.

Obviously, your fuel-flow

monitor will be a crucial

facet of saving money. With

it, you can determine your

boat’s optimum cruising

speed in any condition and

at every trim angle. You’ll

be amazed at the difference

even a hundred or two

rotations per minute can

make in economy. With

digital electrical systems

aboard, you can turn any

system on or off from the

helm. That includes air

conditioning, ice makers,

lights or anything that has a

wire attached to it.

AUTOMATIC

IDENTIFICATION

SYSTEM

A

utomatic

identification system

(AIS) is an automatic

tracking system for ships

that uses a VHF radio band

and vessel traffic services

(VTS, the monitoring system

used in major ports to track

vessels coming and going).

Today, AIS is available to

recreational vessels as well.

With it, you can see a ship

miles away, as well as get

its heading and speed, and

thereby avoid any last-

minute questions in the case

of a crossing situation. With

more-affordable Class B

(versus commercial-grade

Class A) transceivers, it’s

an inexpensive insurance

policy and provides

interesting information too.

However, to use AIS, you must

have an appropriate antenna.

Another reason to consider

installing (or purchasing

a system with) AIS is the

government’s new program

of virtual aids to navigation

(V-ATONs). This trend will

see the removal of some

physical buoys and lights,

replacing them with notes on

your electronic charts. These

notices will be broadcast

via AIS. In other words,

without AIS you will not be

able to see these V-ATONs.

Obviously, your fuel-fl ow monitor will be a

crucial facet of saving money. With it, you can

determine your boat’s optimum cruising speed

in any condition and at every trim angle.

AIS (automatic identifi cation

system) lets you keep tabs on

nearby boat traffi c to safely

avoid collisions with ships and

other commercial vessels in

the area. PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) COURTESY VOLVO PENTA, COURTESY MERCURY, COURTESY MARINE TRAFFIC

70 BOATINGMAG.COM APRIL 2016