The folks at Rose Point Navigation Systems have released a beta of the new Coastal Explorer 2010 product. Navagear readers already know that I use Coastal Explorer 2009 aboard my boat. So my "executive summary" of Coastal Explorer 2010 should come as no surprise: the best navigation software on the market is getting better.

No, I'm not paid by Rose Point. My only compensation is that I get free software to test and review, which I then put to use aboard my boat, if I like it. And I like it. Of course, I am obligated to remind readers that this discussion encompasses my experience with unreleased beta software that may or may not include all the features discussed.

So what's new in Coastal Explorer 2010?

The list of new features is actually quite short. Jeff Hummel, Rose Point's Director of Sales and Marketing, explains why: "It's not about features, features, features. It's about making the features you already have better and easier to use."

Sometimes I hear long-range cruisers suggest that a flare gun could be a suitable pirate-defense weapon. While I’m in no position to offer a judgment on the merits of such a strategy, how about a flare gun Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud of? :-)

Captain Richard Rodriguez over at BitterEnd seems to be featuring gear and gadgets recently. He periodically posts quick reviews of products he uses under the heading “Things That Work.”

I’m always learning something new from Captain Richard Rodriguez of the BitterEnd blog.

On my little boat, I don’t usually worry much about chafe. But during a minor blow during which I put my 6-kg Rocna anchor to the test, I was a bit surprised to see that my anchor line had chafed a bit more than I would expect for a simple overnight stay, at the bow roller.

You know, folks, I do my best, but there is just an awful lot of marine technology to keep up with these days!

[It’s a press release, of course, but the concept makes sense to me. Any of our talented Navagear readers have experience with marine toilets that can use either fresh or seawater? —Tim]

Wow!

[Navagear readers will appreciate this piece by Lenny Rudow over at MadMariner today. —Tim]

Regular readers know that I like to fiddle with new technology on my boat, including the unique challenges that always seem to emerge when it comes time to mount something permanently.

The word "permanent" isn't accurate, of course, especially in the realm of marine electronics. So my strong preference, whenever possible, is to avoid drilling holes I might not want later. This is especially true when it comes to holes drilled into surfaces exposed to the elements.

Another priority for me: I want to fit all my beloved electronics into the relatively small space available aboard my 22-foot boat. It can be difficult to find a spot for a new item. I want to be able to access the item easily, except in the case where the item is a behind-the-scenes "black box."

Once the right spot is identified, of course, the real challenge presents itself: how to physically mount the component there? Which brings us to my other big priority: saving money. I appreciate quality, and I value ergonomics slightly higher than aesthetics, but they're all important to me. While there are plenty of custom fabricators and off-the-shelf mounting solutions enabling us to mount virtually any electronics component in virtually any position, I almost always avoid them.