Periscope Down
Given some of the gloriously clear waters we boaters ply, it’s only natural to want a snorkel-free portal into the underwater world of coral, fish, crustaceans and more. Aqualuma‘s Luma-Vu CCTV camera ($999) is exactly that — a type of under-water window. Each camera has 1920×1080 HD resolution, a low-light, high-sensitivity sensor, and a fixed aperture of f1.8. The 2-megapixel camera also has Aqualuma’s polymer housing, which the Australia-based company describes as “definitely shark-proof.”
Reliable Comms
Icom has re-released its M802 ($3,420), the only single sideband radio designed for recreational boaters. The unit has 150 watts of output power, built-in digital selective calling, an LCD screen and a maximum of 1,355 channels. When paired with an optional modem, the M802 can send and receive email and weather faxes as well. The radio has an input for an optional GPS receiver, is NMEA 0183 compatible and can simultaneously communicate — globally — with multiple parties.
Just Sayin’ Halo
When Simrad released its Halo radar in 2015, it became the first marine-electronics manufacturer to bring solid-state radar with pulse-compression technology to recreational boaters. Now, Simrad is offering an aftermarket software update ($500 for as many as two Halo radars per vessel) that lets users “unlock” Simrad’s VelocityTrack processing feature. Users can access the feature as long as the radars are paired with one of Simrad’s compatible multifunction displays or marine processors.
