Garmin’s main focus at Icefish 2008 will be in its 5000 and 4000 series GPSmaps®, along with the new Autopilot, managing director Rikardur Sigmundsson told World Fishing.
He described the 5000 series as the company’s “flagship product” – it is a GPS system with Touchscreen displays featuring high resolution screens housed in a new waterproof design. It can be immersed in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes and a wireless mouse or remote control are optional.
Features of the series are:
• Satellite Image Overlay – combining high resolution satellite images over land or water cartography for a clear view of surroundings
• Aerial Photographs – detailed high resolution photographs of ports and harbours
• Mariners Eye 3D – to view land and sea contours in 3D
A new product – launched in November last year, but due to be released this autumn – is the GHP 10 Autopilot.
The GHP 10 is a revolutionary new autopilot for boats up to 70ft with any type of hydraulic steering. The patented Shadow Drive technology gives the freedom to steer the vessel by hand with the autopilot still engaged. To return control to the autopilot, the skipper just needs to steady his course and then let go of the wheel.
This product belonged to US company Nautamatic, under the name TR1 Gladiator and Mr Sigmundsson says that back then it did not even have an LCD screen, only buttons and LED lights. However, Garmin has developed the interface to make it user friendly – it now has a bright, full screen, dedicated Standby button, and three keys for course selection and control for a number of preset manoeuvres for MOB, fishing or search patterns.
Garmin opened its office in Iceland in April this year which is used for distribution, marketing and service operations. The company plans to open a showroom within the office in September.
