| Navigating on the open water away from land has | | | | depth sounder with a digital readout is a good |
| always been challenging and very exciting. Boating | | | | option, being cheaper. |
| can be a very rewarding experience provided | | | | Automatic Identification System: It is considered |
| your boat features the proper tools to provide | | | | an important electronic tool for marine navigation. |
| the complete safety. Good quality marine | | | | It provides other boats with your vital information |
| navigation electronic equipment on board ensures | | | | as well as their information to you such as the |
| faster and safer boating. | | | | exact position of the boat, longitude and latitude, |
| It is recommended to make sure that, the boat is | | | | Time stamp, Rate of turn, Course over ground |
| equipped with certain marine electronics. The | | | | etc. While the boat is on its way, the AIS shows |
| minimum requirement for safety is to at least | | | | the above data every 2 to 10 seconds, whereas |
| have a VHF Marine Radio and a compass before | | | | when the boat is anchored, the information is |
| leaving the shore. Other desirable electronic | | | | shown every 3 minutes. Apart from providing the |
| devices include a GPS plotter, fish finder or depth | | | | above-mentioned information, it also provides |
| sounder, radar, and auto pilot. Other more | | | | information about other boats or ships concerning |
| sophisticated but nice to have items include an | | | | their dimension, location, and type of the boat or |
| Automatic Identification System and a networked | | | | ship. It is the comprehensive electronic instrument |
| navigation system | | | | for collision avoidance. |
| Marine navigation electronics equipment operation | | | | EPIRB: The Emergency Position Indicating Radio |
| and uses are discussed below: | | | | Beacon (EPIRB) also known as distress radio |
| Auto Pilot: It is a highly recommended tool for | | | | beacon is a transmitter, which helps rescue |
| mariners set to go on a long voyage. Auto Pilot | | | | services to locate boats in distress. The |
| helps to steer the boat automatically and thus, | | | | transmissions are rebroadcast from satellites |
| relieves the person at the helm from fatigue. | | | | around the world to the various rescue services. |
| Auto Pilot is of great help for those that troll while | | | | Watercraft operators wishing to have an EPIRB |
| fishing controlling the boat way automatically, | | | | must use a digital 406MHz unit. The International |
| allowing the captain to join and enjoy the fishing. | | | | Copas-Sarsat Satellite System stopped monitoring |
| This tool is very helpful, as it allows to save fuel | | | | for all but 406MHz signals for distress alert and |
| by maintaining the boat on a steady heading. | | | | location data for rescue operation throughout the |
| Fish finder: Those who fish for pleasure or hire | | | | world.. |
| enjoy the help provided by a good fish finder. The | | | | GPS Plotter: The GPS system now takes over |
| fish finder operates using SONAR. In principle, the | | | | the duty of the old Loran navigation system. GPS |
| sonar works by sending a signal down trough the | | | | signals are broadcast from satellites all over the |
| water column until it strikes and object with ample | | | | world that are maintained by the US government. |
| mass to return a signal to the devise, thus | | | | GPS can be read in digital or map format. The |
| rendering an image on the screen. Thereby, | | | | preferred method is on a plotter that is loaded |
| showing the depth of the fish relative to bottom | | | | with digital maps of the area you are boating in. |
| structure. If a fish finder is not desired then a | | | | |