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Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

By Yachting Staff

Updated: January 30, 2009

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

High Times: If you think there’s nothing good on TV these days, think again. The k6 marine satellite-TV antenna system ($9,745) from Intellian Technologies welcomes High-Definition programming from DirecTV into your salon. The trick is to receive the Ka-band signal, which comes at a higher frequency, but a narrower signal width. The k6 uses Intellian’s wide-range search and dynamic beam tilting to find and lock onto that signal and, when matched with a Ku-band antenna, deliver the high-def variety available on DirecTV’s projected 200 channels. Intellian Technologies, (888) 201-9223; www.intelliantech.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

Share and Share Alike: Not everyone can agree on what to watch all the time. That’s where AroundSound’s AS1064AV ($2,495) comes into play. This black-box distribution system allows up to six media sources- including the DVD player, satellite radio, satellite television and CD player-to be shared between four zones, each with its own customized remote control. AroundSound, (401) 683-3590; www.aroundsoundav.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

Raising the Bar: Serving drinks aboard-to everyone but the watchstanders, of course- can be a hassle. But install a Super SideBar($500) and you can dispense preset measures of your favorite five liquors or noncarbonated mixers at the push of a button. No more lugging bottles around or carrying trays of glasses between decks-accidents waiting to happen. Super SideBar, (800) 775-6150; www.sidebarbeverage.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

Listen to the Music: Unleash your inner DJ. Fusion’s MS-IP500 ($400) seals your iPod away from the spray and salt of even the most wide-open flying bridge, yet gives you iPod-like control over your music. Multiple zones mean volume control can be set appropriately for each space: The thumping skylounge dance party doesn’t have to mean blown eardrums in the intimate salon-unless you want it to. Fusion Electronics, (623) 580-9000; www.fusionelectronics.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

The Heat is On: To spend more time with your guests, put a Cook-N-Dine Marinyaki gunwale-mount grill table($5,175) wherever they congregate. Turn up the heat: The 20- by 15-inch electric cooking surface can reach up to 430 degrees-to sear steaks or roast vegetables-and is made from stainless steel that becomes slightly concave to retain cooking juices. An insert makes it a useful table, when the dish is best served cold. Cook-N-Dine, (305) 893-1560; www.cookndine.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

Media Mogul: The Leviathan ($7,900) from KEP Marine lets you store enough movies and music for even the longest passage. The 2 TB (that’s terabytes) system stows a combination of digital files that’s the equivalent of up to 400 DVDs or 35,000 songs, a little something-heck, a lot of something-for every taste. Up to eight optional remote heads mean you don’t even all have to agree on what to watch or hear. KEP Marine, (800) 631-2165; www.kepmarine.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

Eyes Front: To put data at your fingertips, electronics systems are being built around large, flexible displays. The technology in those screens is improving all the time, and the 17-inch Alpha from AmbientNAV ($8,495) will be leading the charge with heavy-duty construction, cool operating temperatures, and clear viewing from any angle. AmbientNav, (425) 248-2096; www.ambientnav.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

Cruising and Connected: KVH’s TracPhone V7 with mini-VSAT Broadband ($32,995, with separate airtime subscriptions) lets you stay in touch via telephone and data from virtually anywhere in the world. So much for getting away. KVH, (401) 847-3327; www.kvh.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

Dark Matter: You’ll never want to get rid of radar, but the Flir Navigator II thermal imaging camera (starting at $5,000) gives a nearly clear-as-day view of the situation when you’re in tight quarters. It can hook up through the video feed on your display, and shows you nearphoto quality images formed from differences in temperature. Flir, (877) 773-3547; www.flir.com

Gear and Electronics: January & February 2009

High Light: The HDS-10 from Lowrance ($2,469-$2,769) puts high-definition power right at your fingertips: It’s an all-in-one unit with fishfinder, charting, optional Sirius Satellite Radio and Weather, and more in a compact and easy-to-use package. Lowrance, (800) 324-1356; www.lowrance.com