EDITOR'S NOTE: This blog is no longer active.

It was reported today that an offer has been made for Raymarine by an unknown entity.  Speculation abounds as to the buyer with Furuno, Garmin and Navico (Simrad/Lowrance) mentioned as likely candidates. 

I can't imagine Furuno is in the game at all so there's nothing to discuss there.

Now I'm on a roll.  Check out Navionics YouTube channel with some nice Platinum video.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/Navionics

Raymarine's needs some help, but here you go..

http://www.youtube.com/user/Raymariners

I have no idea if these have been posted somewhere before, but I just came across them today.  There is a whole YouTUBE channel for NavNet3D with some rough but interesting live seatrial videos.

That's Furuno's Erik Kunz, lead product developer and all around good guy,  playing host.

Nobeltec is still on schedule to release their new VNS and Admiral software come mid-April.  As discussed before, VNS will use C-Map MaxPro cartography which will boost their coverage from about 12,000 to 30,000 charts.

 As usual, current Nobeltec customers will be eligible for upgrades.  (no not free!)

Look for more information on VNS MaxPro soon..

Furuno started taking orders from their dealers and distributors today and expects to start shipping NavNet3D the week of April 28th.  The 25kW radar antenna and chart data outside of the US is expected late (CORRECTION) Spring or Summer. 

I have been informed that the Bahamas and Canada charts will be available in April also when the equipment ships.

SPOTMuch has been written about the SPOT Personal Tracker.  It is clearly a crossover product judging from the various sources covering it.  Ben Ellison has covered it extensively on Panbo, I've read about it in the New York Times and

Waiting..  waiting.. 

NuviPhone

I've just returned from an extended business trip to Taiwan and China where I visited some of the major boat builders with factories in both countries.  This was my third trip to Taiwan over the years and first to China.  In the last 15 years or so Taiwan has really come into it's own as a quality boat building region.  I've seen firsthand many times the poor quality of Taiwan built boats of the 70' and 80's but it is disingenuous to compare those days to the product being delivered from there today.