While passengers aboard a boat can kick back without a care in the world, the captain knows there is plenty to stay on top of out on the water. If you are juggling numerous switches and fuses to monitor tanks, batteries, bilge pumps, lights and more, the helm can become cluttered fast. Garmin digital switching technology promises to change all that, delivering a smart-home experience right on your vessel.
Garmin digital switching and integrations let you reduce your reliance on traditional switches, circuit breakers and fuses by weaving digital controls and monitoring into your boat’s electrical architecture. In practical terms, you can view and operate every onboard electrical function directly from your chartplotter screen or a compatible smartphone, all while keeping your helm crisp and clean.
Garmin offers three solutions depending on where you are in your boat-ownership journey, whether you are upgrading a boat you already own and love or purchasing a brand-new one.
For boaters who want a modern digital experience without the complexity of custom configurations or graphics, there is Garmin Boat Switch. It is a straightforward, preconfigured solution designed to add digital switching to operate onboard electrical functions with minimal fuss.
Boat Switch ships with a preconfigured module, harness and pre-labeled connectors featuring 18-inch flying leads for easy setup by a professional installer. It replaces your fuse box and physical switches and communicates via the NMEA 2000 network to control up to 20 circuits from the screen on your GPSMAP or ECHOMAP chartplotter.
Once you have assigned customizable switch names to on-off toggle switches — think nav lights and bilge pumps — you can control switch behaviors directly on your touchscreen. Adjust interior lights with press-and-hold dimmers and control horns through momentary switches. You also get built-in tank sender detection and calibration for up to four tanks, covering fuel, freshwater, graywater, blackwater or livewell. Boat Switch includes a built-in livewell timer that automatically cycles your pump to keep water fresh for your catch while reducing continuous runtime to help extend pump life. Monitor analog voltage on your house and start battery, as well as bilge pump operations. And you always have the option to use physical switches for backup. It is your boat — now even smarter.
Building a new boat opens up the greatest opportunities to create the most connected smart-boat experience on the water with digital Garmin EmpirBus systems. These systems encompass digital integration, controls, monitoring, automation and custom graphics. You can work directly with your manufacturer to make sure the new boat functions exactly how you want it to, with next-level setups that include sensor alerts and system monitoring. Customized automated modes help set the onboard mood or enhance boater peace of mind with easy-to-control security systems when cruising, fishing, relaxing and docking.
If you have a fishing boat, you may need automated controls for livewells and outrigger operation. On cruisers and sailboats, you can add more automations akin to smart-home functionality, including grouping lights and monitoring system data. You can even tailor light settings to change automatically based on the time of day.
In each case, you gain a boatload of control over your vessel. From your MFD, you can manage a full array of exterior lights, cabin temperature, pumps and more. Control interior features as well as entertainment, security, mechanical and electrical systems. You can extend control beyond the helm by using the ActiveCaptain app on a compatible mobile device within Wi-Fi range of your MFD, or add a conveniently placed keypad in the salon for quick access. Physical buttons can be added to your most critical features for redundancy and peace of mind. If you need multiple screens or system access points on your boat, consider networking in the TD 50 touchscreen display as a companion instrument for access around your vessel, not just at the helm.
Have a third-party input device such as a steering wheel with input keys? No problem. The EmpirBus Connect 50 allows third-party inputs to be programmed as remote input devices for chartplotters. It can be configured for a variety of functions, including favorite keys, function-specific keys, media controls and complete display navigation, all seamlessly integrated within your Garmin system and compatible OneHelm ecosystem.
Controlling your boat from anywhere just got easier with the Garmin OnDeck Hub. You will have access to your boat’s data right on your mobile device. Whether you are on board or somewhere on shore, receive text alerts and updates about the status of your boat through the free ActiveCaptain app and an active subscription to an OnDeck plan.
Once you have downloaded the ActiveCaptain app, enable alarm notifications for real-time monitoring of your boat. See boat battery, bilge activity, shore power, temperature changes and more right from your smartphone. Take control of switches on board with the OnDeck Hub and ActiveCaptain app. Users can manage up to five relay switches and critical onboard systems, such as battery chargers, ice makers and more.
To track the movement and security of your boat, the built-in internal GPS sensor updates every 15 or 30 minutes. If your boat moves outside of the geofenced area, you will receive text alerts.
Whether you are designing a new boat for future adventures or adding capability to your existing vessel, Garmin has solutions that will help you get the most enjoyment from your boat-ownership experience — and it is all just a few touches away.
An active subscription plan is required for OnDeck text alerts. Both the OnDeck Hub and the user’s compatible smartphone or tablet must have connectivity via Wi-Fi or 3G/4G or above network. See cellular coverage area for OnDeck. NMEA is a registered trademark of the National Marine Electronics Association.
