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Detroit Free Press Mike Wendland Column: High Tech on the High Seas (and the Little Lakes, Too)

Posted on: Friday, 17 February 2006, 06:00 CST

By Mike Wendland, Detroit Free Press

Feb. 17--In what may be the surest sign of impending spring, the annual Detroit Boat Show opens this weekend at Cobo Center.

More than 1,000 boats will be on display -- almost all of them bristling with electronics and high-tech gizmos and gadgets or offering them as options.

The same technology that has transformed the automotive industry is turning boats into floating entertainment centers equipped with everything from high-speed Internet service to satellite TV and movies.

"This business has really changed," says Ron Brooks, owner of RB Marine Electronics of St. Clair Shores, who has been selling boating gear for three decades. "The technology is pretty intricate now. Almost unbelievable from when I started."

Take navigation gear, for example. Although combined chart plotters and fish finders have been around for several years, Global Positioning Satellite direction finding -- up-to-the-minute satellite overlays of weather, combined with radar, sonar and 3-D imaging -- allows onboard marine electronics to provide never-before-seen detail.

The other day, as Brooks was packing up his gear for the boat show, he gave me a demo of what he says are the most advanced navigational devices he's ever seen: the Raymarine E-Series Multifunctional Navigation Displays. I've put together a video of his show-and-tell that you can see at www.pcmike.com.

After calling up a cartographic rendering of Florida's Biscayne Bay, he showed the traditional two-dimensional chart familiar to most boaters. By turning a couple of switches and adjusting a contrast knob, the 12-inch screen began to overlay actual satellite pictures of the Intercoastal, showing the high-rises that dot the waterway, the bridges, streets and harbors.

As with the Google Map feature familiar from TV news shows and to those who have played with aerial photography on the Internet, he could change camera angles, pull back or zoom in. Then -- combining all the different features -- he could work through an assortment of split-screen views that also showed an underwater fish finder, Doppler radar of what's ahead and animated weather forecasts from Sirius Satellite Radio's new Marine Weather Service.

Brooks zoomed in on a marina. The chart showed its layout. But with a push of a button, the chart gave way to an actual head-on file photograph of the marina. The detail was amazing.

The system can actually control the boat, too. Just set the destination and it plots the course -- right down to an accuracy of 4 feet.

"Guess there's no excuse for anyone to ever get lost out on the water again," said Brooks.

How much does all this cost? You know the saying: If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

With all the extras, the E-Series display is about $10,000.

But don't balk. That's a bargain.

"This technology is really straight from the military," Brooks said. "A couple of years ago, it started showing up with commercial shippers. It cost around $50,000. That recreational boaters can now tap into it is pretty amazing."

The other big trend Brooks sees has to do with on-boat entertainment. Home theater systems with surround sound are now available for boats. "The hottest thing is satellite TV," he said. "Next most popular is the Internet. People want the same conveniences on their boat." Figure about $5,000 for a satellite TV system that also accesses the Internet. Then add about $80 a month for service.

Why is it so costly? Because unlike your home, the boat is always moving and the antenna has to always stay pointed at a satellite that is orbiting 23,000 miles up in space.

Brooks and about 200 other dealers will be showing their wares at the boat show -- this is the 48th annual show -- from Saturday through Feb. 26. More than 75,000 visitors are expected.

What the auto show in January is to the car industry, the Cobo boat show is to Michigan's boating industry. But unlike auto show exhibitors, boat show exhibitors are actually selling their boats and gear.

More than 1,800 boats, worth an estimated $64 million, are expected to be sold during the nine-day run, says boat show manager Van Snider.

More information is available at www.detroitboatshow.net.

Read MIKE WENDLAND'S blog at www.pcmike.com. You can contact him at 313-222-8861 or

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Copyright (c) 2006, Detroit Free Press

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Source: Detroit Free Press

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