Next-Gen Elec-Tech
Five innovations in big-boat electronics and systems to watch for in 2015.
Compared with a small-boat electronics market that’s become a veritable arms race with everything from submersible, indestructible, orbit-capable handheld VHFs to James Bondstyle GPS gadgets with—literally—bells and whistles, the evolution of superyacht electronics might appear a more conservative, slow-paced game. (Chess anyone?) But as to be expected in the superyacht realm, the stakes are higher, the buy-in is greater, the opponents are formidable and the payout is priceless.
Tasked with the ultimate challenge to make the impossible possible, this big-boat battlefield of glass bridges and fiber-optic freaks of science often represents the absolute cutting edge in technology. We contacted some of the most respected brands in the industry to find out what’s in store for this year … and beyond. From the responses we received, here are fi ve innovations poised to make waves in 2015.
TEAM ITALIA i-BRIDGE MT
Amid the glass-bridge revolution, Team Italia has developed i-Bridge MT, a customizable touch-screen helm station. The versatility of i-Bridge MT and the modular i-Chart table enables owners and captains to determine the final layout of their yacht’s helm station while allowing captains to further customize the equipment layout to their own personal preferences.
With i-Bridge MT, all command systems and subsystems (radar, chart plotter, monitoring, navigation, etc.) are integrated into a multi-touch-screen panel, where a range of schematic designs presents the data most pertinent to real-time cruising conditions. i-Bridge MT allows for remote monitoring, and other onboard devices can be integrated into the system without the need for additional hardware or structural alterations to the helm. Most important, the i-Bridge will accommodate updates to the onboard systems, keeping the owner in stride with the fast pace of technology.
It’s a win for new builds especially, as the yard can craft a helm station to satisfy the owner’s aesthetic preferences without having to take into account, in advance, all the systems that might eventually be integrated. Additionally, captains can manage their control console many months before the yacht is delivered, testing system operation and inserting needed modules without affecting the helm’s aesthetics.