No, you don't need to slap all the gear you see here onto your
Visa to have a good time. But start with one piece of
electronics, any piece. See if it doesn't make you feel more
confident and see if it doesn't tilt the odds for fun in your
favor.
MARINE RADIOS
We think everybody should have a VHF marine radio on their boat.
Never gonna cruise far enough to lose sight of land? Fine. A VHF
still makes it possible to call for a tow or for directions if you
have a problem, because chances are someone is listening. A cell
phone won't work offshore, and isn't much help in many remote
inland areas, either.
Uniden Oceanus (photo
left): One of the better dash-mounted units is the
Uniden Oceanus. It's water-resistant and monitors all the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather channels,
issuing an alert if something's up. We also liked the Quik Command
channel changer on the microphone, which allows you to scroll up or
down without reaching back to the base unit. Price: $149 Contact:
westmarine.com;
800-BOATING; uniden.com
Also recommended:
* Shakespeare SE-2510 Price: $295.95 Contact: shakespeare-ce.com
* Raymarine Ray 106 Handheld VHF Price: $680 Contact: raymarine.com
VHF ANTENNAS
Shakespeare 5226-FLT (photo
right): You need an antenna for radio
communications. It should be made of quality coaxial wire with
rugged connectors encased and protected from salt and elements. A
retractable antenna is essential so it doesn't interfere with
bridges or storage clearance when not in use. One that fits the
bill is the Shakespeare 5226-FLT VHF Antenna. Price: $229.95
Contact: shakespeare-ce.com;
803-276-5504
Also recommended:
* Glomex 1' VHF Antenna with Cable Price: $59.95 Contact:
866-383-1888; plastimousa.com
GPS UNITS
Garmin 176C (photo left): With a
GPS receiver, you can record your location and where you want to be
with latitude/longitude coordinates. You can also determine
distances to locations and how much time it will take to get there.
You can conveniently move a handheld from car to boat and
double your return on investment. Among the more impressive
dash-mounted units is the Garmin 176C, which displays additional
offshore details, depth contours, restricted areas and more in a
sharp picture with 16 colors. Price: $685.70 Contact: garmin.com; 800-800-1020
Also recommended:
* Lowrance iFinder Atlantis Price: $299 Contact: lowrance.com
* Magellan SporTrak PRO Price: $299.99 Contact: magellangps.com
* Standard Horizon Magnum Nav-40 Price: $180 Contact: standardhorizon.com
COMPASSES
Ritchie Trek (photo right): The Trek's dial is designed
with extra-large numerals and distinguishable degree increments for
easy reading. You have a choice of bracket or surface models with
three color combinations. The bracket is adjustable and allows a
mounting range of over 300 degrees so you can install it on a
windshield or console. It's great for runabouts, center consoles,
water ski/wakeboard boats, flats boats and bass boats. Price:
$29.99 Contact: ritchienavigation.com;
781-826-5131
Also recommended:
* Plastimo Offshore 75 Price: $50.95 Contact: plastimousa.com;
866-383-1888
SUNGLASSES
Costa Del Mar Peninsula (photo left): Blinding
glare can be brutal and prevent you from seeing subtle color
changes that indicate shallow water. Polarized glasses cut the
glare, improving your ability to see navigational
markers while protecting your eyes from ultraviolet rays. We
especially like Costa Del Mar's lenses, which enhance
definition and color at the same time. The Italian-designed
Peninsula is the newest frame in Costa's Island series. Price: $159
to $299 Contact: costadelmar.com; 800-447-3700
Also recommended:
* H2Optix Thresher Price: $99.99 Contact: h2optix.com
* Maui Jim Kapalua Price: $249 Contact: mauijim.com
* Serengeti Sedona Cascade Price: $119.99 Contact: serengeti-eyewear.com
OPTICS
Bushnell 2.5x42 mm Monocular w/Audio and Illuminator (photo
right): This 17-ounce night vision model is compact and has a
built-in infrared illuminator, which is ideal for enhancing images
when ambient light is very low. It also features a sound
amplification system with a microphone and a detachable earpiece.
So, you can see and hear what's moving in the
nocturnal waterworld while navigating at night. Price: $433.95
Contact: bushnell.com;
800-423-3537
Also recommended:
* Nikon NightSearch Monocular Price: $1,999.99 Contact:
nikonusa.com
* Navy One 7x50 Marine Binoculars Price: $469
Contact: weems-plath.com
* Pentax 7x50 PCF WP Binoculars Price: $180 Contact: pentaxusa.com
