InTheBite

New iPhone SOS Emergency Feature is Great for Boaters

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Do not abandon your EPIRB or PLB yet, they are still the best way to sed an SOS in an emergency at sea (or land too). The EPIRB is waterproof, automatic and is required by design to transmit a rescue signal for a minimum of 24 hours at full power while floating on the water or onboard a boat, life raft, etc. There is no fee to use an EPIRB and no subscription. It is an official worldwide service operated by governments and international rescue authorities.

The newest Apple iPhone 14 was recently introduced and, as usual, has many improvements over the previous models. While many of us do not go out and buy a new iPhone just because a new model is available, this time boaters may want to rethink. The iPhone 14 has a Satellite SOS feature that could work in a boating emergency! Apple added an impressive feature called Emergency SOS via satellite connectivity to its all-new iPhone 14 lineup.

What Is Emergency SOS via Satellite on iPhone 14 Series?

There are many regions where cellular towers cannot be reached. Connectivity in these areas can be achieved by communication satellites, hundreds of miles above the Earth. However, limited bandwidth is a major challenge, making it difficult to even send a text message or make a call. To overcome this, traditional satellite phones feature advanced technology, leading to bulky form factor and large external antennas as compared to a sleek and compact smartphone.

With the new iPhone 14, if you are outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage and cannot connect to cellular emergency SOS services, your iPhone AUTOMATICALLY attempts to connect you to the required assistance through a satellite connection. This built-in service shows where to point your phone to establish a satellite connection and how to stay connected as the satellite moves during the message transmission and dialogue with rescue authorities.

Because the bandwidth of iPhone to satellite connection is not capable of standard messaging protocols (SMS), Apple created a custom short text compression algorithm to reduce the size of messages to one-third of the actual data size. A satellite text message may take 15 seconds to a minute to be sent in perfect conditions with a direct view of the sky. This satellite feature is currently ONLY for specialized text messages to a Apple rescue center. Voice phone calls using satellite connection are not available nor are traditional texting to friends using the satellite connection.

What happens once the Apple rescue center receives your SOS?

Once Apple receives the SOS information, they relay your SOS to the appropriate emergency services. Once you are connected to them, you can start a text conversation with emergency responders by sharing your Medical ID and emergency contact information, along with the emergency questionnaire answers. Additionally, your location details and remaining battery percentage can also be shared to authorities.

Supported iPhones and Regions for iPhone Emergency SOS via Satellite

While this feature is a powerful addition to the iPhone, its availability is subject to a few conditions. Here is the official information that Apple has provided but may change as the system matures:

Supported Devices: An iPhone 14 or later running the latest iOS 16 update. (Exception: If you purchased iPhone 14 in China mainland, Hong
Kong, or Macao, you will not have access to the feature)

Supported Regions: The U.S. and Canada (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) as well as international travelers visiting the U.S. and Canada could use Emergency SOS via satellite, except if they bought their phone in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao.

Exceptions: Emergency SOS via Satellite is not available in: Guam or American Samoa and Places above 62° latitude like northern parts of Alaska. This satellite service is provided by Globalstar, a familiar name with boaters.

Sadly, you cannot use the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature right away. It will be available in November 2022 with an iOS 16 software update. Moreover, this is a premium service. But the good news is that iPhone 14 users can access it for free for the first two years.

Business-minded boaters will be interested to learn that Apple is investing in Globalstar by covering 95% of the capital expenditures made by Globalstar to build up its network, including new satellites, to provide the service. Apple will require Globalstar to allocate 85% of its “current and future network capacity” to support the SOS service. It looks like Apple is in the satellite business for the long haul.

This new iPhone SOS feature might just be the reason to upgrade your smartphone, though do not give up on your trusty EPIRB!

When Lightning Strikes

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(Photo/Joe Byrum)

By James Cote

Ask any marine insurance adjuster about trends in lightning claims on recreational fishing boats and you will get an earful. During a recent marine insurance seminar, I remarked that without even seeing the boat I could estimate a direct strike to a new 72-foot sportfish could cause more than $600,000 in damage.

[Read more…]

InTheBite Dock Talk: Northern Lights Announces New Technicold Ice Maker

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON and DEERFIELD BEACH, FLORIDA (USA) – Premier Marine Power Generation, Climate Control & Refrigeration Products Manufacturer Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI) is pleased to announce the development and introduction of our new, industry leading Technicold ice maker:

  • ROBUST DESIGN WITH STEADY ICE PRODUCTION OUTPUT RATED AT 500 POUNDS PER DAY
  • MARINE GRADE STAINLESS STEEL, COMMERCIAL GRADE QUALITY
  • PROFESSIONAL, MEGA-YACHT FINISH
  • PRODUCES HIGHER ICE YIELDS THAN COMPETITIVE MODELS AT DESIGN TEMPERATURES
  • SAFETY PROTECTIONS FOR ALL SYSTEM COMPONENTS
  • ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND OPERATION
  • PRIMARY AND SECONDARY WATER FILTRATION PROVIDED
  • COMPACT, MODULAR DESIGN BUILT FOR EASY HOOK-UP, MAINTENANCE, AND SERVICE
  • DESIGNED FOR EASE OF INSTALLATION

First units are expected to be available the end of Q2, with pricing to be announced in the near future.

A future model which produces 1000 pounds of ice per day is expected to be announced by the end of the year.

Sam Hill, President of Northern Lights, adds: “We are proud to bring this new ice machine to the market in our continued efforts to provide the most reliable, durable, and highest quality products.  As a leader in the Marine industry for over 60 years, we maintain our focus, drive and passion to provide the best marine power generation and climate control/ refrigeration solutions to fulfill our customers’ needs and to enhance their boating experience for generations to come.”

For more information about Northern Lights and Technicold products, visit www.technicold.com.

The Seakeeper 2 Wins 2019 Edison Award in Transportation Technology Category

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Seakeeper 2 Earns Gold Designation in Transportation Technology Category

CALIFORNIA, Md. (April 5, 2019) – Seakeeper, Inc., the leader in marine stabilization, received an Edison Award at last night’s Awards Gala for the Seakeeper 2.

The Edison Awards honor excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation. The Seakeeper 2 was chosen as a finalist in the Transportation Technology category earlier in the year and last night received a gold award, the highest available. Products were judged on their concept, value, delivery and impact and finalists were chosen by a steering committee and small group of industry experts where necessary. The finalists were then submitted to a panel of more than 3,000 judges comprised of senior business executives and academics who then cast ballots for gold, silver and bronze winners.

“We’ve been relentless at working to change a fundamental human experience by making boating more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, and the introduction of our smallest product, the Seakeeper 2, is a huge step in realizing that mission,” said Seakeeper President & CEO Andrew Semprevivo. “We’ve been pushing ourselves every day for 11 years to bring our best innovations to market, and we’re honored to be recognized as a leader and proud to stand next to the other incredible Edison Awards winners this year.”

The award was presented at the Edison Awards’ annual black-tie event at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York, NY. Events earlier in the day included a Meet the Innovators Forum and an Innovators’ Showcase where participating companies had the opportunity to connect with other finalists and innovators and share their product.

Mazu Sportfishing App: Access or Download ROFFS Reports When Offshore

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Download the FREE mazu SportFishing app and you can view and download your ROFFS fishing forecast hot spots while offshore. ROFFS data is digitally overlaid directly onto detailed sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll, current and altimetry charts in the mazu SportFishing app for iPad. Captains and crew also have access to ROFFS comprehensive descriptions and information directly through the app. Visit www.mazu-marine.com for details and to download the app!

Gamefisherman Introduces New 50-foot Walk Around

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Launching of the NEXT GEN
50′ WALK AROUND

Designed to Fish & Travel
We are very excited to announce that Gamefisherman will soon be adding another member to its list of family members.  In April, we will be starting the latest in our series of new builds.  As we approach the West Palm Beach Boat show we wanted to give you a brief description of what this new model is all about.

The 50’ walk around will be powered by quad outboards.  Since delivery will be in 2020, the owner has reserved his right to choose motors further into the build.  Early indications say that some of outboard manufacturers will have 500+ HP outboards available by then.  The new 50’ walk around will come with a huge cockpit and full mezzanine seating for up to six people.  It will be outfitted with a Marlin Tower with a four sided enclosure so the bridge deck will have full temperature control.

The Gamefisherman 50’ walk around is designed to fish and travel. It will have two large insulated in deck fish boxes and a 50 gallon livewell built into the transom.  Belowdecks it will have a master stateroom forward with a full walk around queen.  The master will have its own private head and shower.  The interior will feature a large galley with refrigeration, microwave, and stovetop with fridge and freezer combo below.  A separate aft stateroom will feature four separate bunks.  In addition, the boat will have a second head and shower that can accommodate the rear stateroom guests. The quad outboard engines are predicted to push her to a cruise speed of 40 MPH, with a top end approaching 52 MPH.  This model will be equipped with a Gyro to be located in the cockpit.  This new setup will be sure to capture the attention of others in the tournaments circuit in Florida.

50′ Walk Around SPECS
LOA: 50′ | Beam: 15’9″ | Draft: 2’8″
Displacement: 36,000 lb. | Fuel: 800 gal.
Water: 150 gal. | Power: Quad Outboards- HP and model to be determined

InTheBite Dock Talk: Mazu Marine Sportfishing

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InTheBite Dock Talk— The new Mazu Marine Sportfising App: An all in one marine solution for satellite imagery, boat monitoring, staying connected offshore and much more. The Mazu system consists of an App and a hardware system that can be used anywhere– the hardware makes it possible to stay in contact while beyond cellphone coverage.  Learn all about the wide ranging system and their great introductory offer as well as the many reasons Mazu can be a great addition to your boat.

CLICK to DOWNLOAD MAZU SPORTFISHING

 

Broker Listing: Donnie Caison 49’ Custom Carolina Express “SPARHAWK”

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Meet your next fishing machine! The 2010 Donnie Caison 49’ Custom Carolina Express, “SPARHAWK”, is a true cold-molded Custom Carolina built sportfish.  She is a proven fish raiser and tournament champion with a ride and fuel efficiency that are unparalleled for a vessel of her size.  “SPARHAWK” is the recipient of meticulous maintenance, continuous custom upgrades, and an electrical refit in 2018 in excess of $300,000.  If you are in the market for a beautiful, head turning, hard core custom express boat, your search should start and end with “SPARHAWK”.

Below please find a summary of highlights onboard The “SPARKHAWK”:

  • Cold molded custom Carolina construction
  •  Unparalleled ride and fuel efficiency
  •  Mezzanine seating
  •  C 9 CAT power
  •  Zeus pod drives with Joystick control
  • Skyhook dynamic positioning system
  • 2018 extensive refit
  • 8000 series GARMIN fully networked electronics package
  • FLIR night vision
  • EPLEX state of the art electrical system with touch screen breaker panel and ship board monitoring system
  • SAT TV and phone system
  • Custom full anodized aluminum tower with clear ceramic coating
  •  Ice chipper
  •  Water maker
  •  Custom faux teak painted transom and toe rail
  •  Miya Epoch US9 super HD electric teaser reels (NEW 2018)
  •  2018 custom SEA DECK on helm deck
  •  Unprecedented rod storage for over 30 rods out of sight in custom storage lockers
  •  Fresh bottom paint and prop speed 6/18 SEE MORE ON THE 2010 Donnie Caison 49’ Custom Carolina Express, “SPARHAWK” HERE

InTheBite Dock Talk: Explorer Satellite

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Satellite communications are perfect for offshore sportfishing when faced with no other alternative once away from land-based cellular/GSM networks.

Explorer Satellite keeps you equipped at sea, selling systems and service that work even in the most demanding weather and sea conditions.  Depending on the application, one or several solutions may make the most sense.

 

Learn more in this edition of Dock Talk with Explorer Satellite owner, Andy Cool –

New High-Resolution Charts and Maps From Garmin

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Garmin® adds high-resolution relief shading to its premium BlueChart® g3 Vision and LakeVü g3 Ultra cartography

New charts and maps offer unrivaled detail and enhancements

OLATHE, Kan./Feb. 13, 2019/Business Wire – Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), today announced that it has added high-resolution relief shading to its exclusive BlueChart g3 Vision and LakeVü g3 Ultra cartography products for coastal and inland fishing and boating. High-resolution relief shading brings an entirely new level of detail to the ocean floor and lake bottom, making it easier than ever to find structure, artificial reefs, underwater shelves and more – the kind of detail anglers and divers depend on.

With industry-leading coverage, clarity and detail, Garmin’s new g3 cartography blends the best of both Garmin and Navionics content together, and offers enhancements like built-in Auto Guidance1 technology that searches through relevant charts to create a suggested route based upon the user’s desired depth and overheard clearance. For mariners who want the most feature-rich data available, the premium BlueChart g3 Vision and LakeVü g3 Ultra accessory cards and downloads include everything available with g3, and now for the first time, add high-resolution relief shading that combines color and shadow to give mariners an easy-to-interpret, clearer view of bottom structure than contour lines alone. Garmin’s high-resolution relief shading is available with coverage for U.S. coastal waters – east coast, west coast and Gulf of Mexico – along with more than 150 Garmin-surveyed lakes.

“The recent upgrades we’ve made to our g3 cartography products – more detail, dimension and routing sophistication – is a true testament to our long-standing commitment to continually improving our cartography to give our customers the highest quality and most detailed, accurate charts and maps on the water today,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin worldwide vice president of consumer sales. “We’re excited to offer high-resolution relief shading to our premium BlueChart g3 Vision charts and LakeVü g3 Ultra maps and look forward to continuing to bring even more detail to our customers.”

The new Garmin g3 cartography products brings unrivaled detail and convenience to users with navigational aids, spot soundings, depth contours, tides and currents, and detailed harbors and marinas. The data offers seamless chart presentation with up to 1-foot fishing contours that provide a more accurate depiction of bottom structure for improved fishing charts and enhanced detail in canals, marinas and port plans. Raster cartography that gives the chartplotter paper-chart like views of NOAA nautical charts, has also been added to the new g3 cartography product line and is available as a free downloadable feature via the Garmin ActiveCaptain® app.

In addition to high-resolution relief shading, BlueChart g3 Vision also includes high-resolution satellite imagery that provides the user with a realistic view of their surroundings. Unique 3-D views, including MarinerEye and FishEye, provide additional perspective both above and below the water line, and aerial photography shows exceptional detail of many ports, harbors and marinas, which is especially useful when entering unfamiliar ports. For inland customers, LakeVü g3 Ultra includes maps of more than 17,000 lakes with up to 1-foot contours. Of those, over 150 are Garmin Elite surveyed lakes with high-resolution satellite imagery, multi-beam sonar views shore-to-shore, side scan photos and photos of notable spots above the water too.

The new BlueChart g3 Vision and LakeVü g3 Ultra accessory cards and downloads vary in price from $249.99 to $349.99 and will be available with high-resolution relief shading in Q2 2019. At this time, high-resolution relief shading and raster charts are only available for the U.S. Availability for other regions is expected in Q4 2019. To learn more, visit garmin.com/maps.

Garmin is the world’s leading marine electronics manufacturer2 and was recently named Manufacturer of the Year for the fourth consecutive year by the NMEA, an honor given to the most recognized marine electronics company for support of products in the field. Garmin’s portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high-resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation, audio, entertainment and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and ease-of-use. Other Garmin marine brands include FUSION Entertainment, Navionics, a premier supplier of electronic charts, and EmpirBus.

For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary markets, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, instagram.com/garmin or youtube.com/garmin.