Boat Show Season Kicks Off with Optimism, Hot New Boating Accessories
The winter boat show season kicked-off last week in New York City where the hottest trends in all things watercraft were showcased alongside a new optimism for the boating industry. The National Marine Manufacturers Association predicts that new boat sales will have ended higher in 2011 than they have for the last five years (read more). But as consumers test the boat-buying waters, they also continue to look for ways to accessorize the boat they already have, and 2012’s hot new boating gadgets don’t disappoint.
Among the most coveted is the Raymarine e7 Multifunction Display, also known as the
smart phone for your boat. The e7’s Wi-FI connectivity lets boaters stream live video from the e7 to their iPhone or IPad so everyone on board can see thermal video, navigation charts, radar, sonar or anything on display. It provides networking with up to six displays along with a remote system control, music over Bluetooth and a sleek, new low profile design with Raymarine’s HybridTouch™ technology. Also on the savvy boater’s 2012 wish list is FLIR’s thermal night vision camera. The heat-seeking technology behind this camera allows boaters to see floating debris, channel markers and other boats in total darkness, making nighttime navigation safe and simple. It’s the ultimate extra pair of eyes when docking in the dark!
Take a dip into the boating marketing and see 2012’s best accessories for yourself at the Naples Boat Show January 26-29th. Be sure to stop by and see us at the Hamilton Harbor booth! Or, check out a few of the boat shows happening nationwide.