Discover the Magic of Winter Boating
When most people think of Kiwi boating, they picture warm, sunny days with a gentle breeze blowing through their hair. There's no denying the appeal of a summer day out on the water, but winter boating in New Zealand has its own unique charm too!
Here are some of the perks of winter boating…
Settled Weather
Winter often offers periods of blue skies and plenty of sunshine, perfect for a peaceful day on the water.Stargazing Skies
Clear night skies and longer nights make winter an excellent time for stargazing.Cool Comfort
Cooler weather can sometimes make boating more comfortable than say the height of summer. And if you do feel the chill, there are some excellent boating heating options available (get in touch if you need a heater).Solitude!
With fewer boats on the water, you can enjoy a more peaceful and intimate experience with your loved ones, i.e., you won't be hull to hull with other boats.Easy Maintenance
Winter is a quieter time for boating, which makes it easier to book your boat in for maintenance and repairs. Take advantage of this downtime to get your boat in tip-top condition.
With a little preparation, winter boating in New Zealand can be a fantastic experience. So why not embrace the colder months and discover the magic of winter boating for yourself? Bundle up, grab your loved ones, and set sail on a winter adventure you'll never forget!
New Transducer Tech: See Better Below.
For Auckland boat owners wanting to take their underwater exploration and fishing game to the next level, it's time to talk about transducers. These smart devices are the 'secret weapon' of any serious boatie - acting as the eyes and ears of your boat's sonar system. And let's face it, who doesn't want to have an edge out there on the Hauraki Gulf?
At Half Moon Bay Marine Electrical, we work with this type of technology day-in, day-out, but we're still surprised at how quickly this technology advances. If you're considering an upgrade, we're happy to point you in the right direction – whether you're out there chasing snapper or trying to find a safe place to anchor.
Here's a little tech background to keep you up to speed...
How Transducers Work
In a nutshell, a transducer is like an underwater speaker and microphone combo. It sends out sound waves that bounce off objects in the water, like fish or the seafloor, and then listens for the echoes. Your boat's fish finder then takes this info and turns it into an image on a screen in your cockpit.
Why Upgrade Your Transducer?
See More, Catch More, Be Safer. New transducer tech produces clearer images and more detail. Basically, you'll be able to spot fish easier, as well as navigate tricky spots with more confidence.
Here are a few examples…
Top line marine electronics brands like Simrad, Garmin and Raymarine use industry-leading Airmar transducers with advanced CHIRP technology which continuously sweeps through a range of frequencies. This offers substantially less noise and greater target separation - so you'll be able to pick out the baitfish within a school or see closely-spaced game fish that may look like a single target on a broadband sounder.
These brands also offer advanced imaging technology, like Simrad's StructureScan® 3D Imaging, Garmin's Panoptix™, and Raymarine's RealVision™ 3D. As the names suggest, these systems scan underwater terrain and fish-holding structures to create a high-resolution, three-dimensional view beneath the water – like a virtual underwater camera. This technology allows you to see the underwater world in incredible detail, making it easier to locate fish and navigate through complex underwater environments.
Transducer Mounting Options
So where on your boat do we place the transducer? There are plenty of options to suit every type of boat:
Transom Mount: Attached to the back of smaller boats with outboard motors or I/Os. Affordable and capable of measuring depth, speed, and temperature.
Through-Hull: Installed by drilling a hole through the hull, with the transducer face protruding outside. Available in various materials depending on the hull type.
Through-Hull Tilted Element: Low-profile housings mounted below the boat's bottom, featuring a tilted element to accommodate the hull's dead rise. Available in single or dual frequency and can be chirp-ready.
In-Hull: Fixed within fiberglass hulls using a tank or housing glued to the inside of the hull. Ideal for smaller boats with limited space or inability to drill a hole.
Flush Mount or Pocket Mount: Custom-fitted into a pocket or cavity on the hull, suitable for high-performance boats with deep keels. Require precise placement on the hull.
Cavity Mount or Tank Mount: Placed in a tank or wet box on the exterior of the hull, used for larger vessels. Similar principle to in-hull transducers.
Book Your Winter Upgrade
If you'd like to take advantage of the latest transducer tech – now is the perfect time to gear up. The Half Moon Bay Marine Electrical team can help you choose the best option for your boat and have it installed quick-smart.
Give us a call on 09 537 0502 or email info@hmbe.co.nz
Doubt to Delight: A Riviera 68 Transformation
When Mark Oberman, a Tauranga resident, brought a Riviera 68 to the Half Moon Bay Marine Electrical (HMBE) workshop at Tamaki Marine Park, he was a touch hesitant about working with an Auckland-based business.
The 23-metre vessel had some electrical issues, and Mark had heard tales of the ‘Auckland culture’, but his experience with the HMBE happily turned him from a skeptic to a believer.
Our team had previously worked on the vessel to wire up the Sea Keeper gyro installed by CMS, but there was still a lot more to be done.
The fire alarm system was faulting, the entertainment system needed attention, and the Czone vessel control system required programming to incorporate the Sea Keeper and make it more accessible for the captain.
We began by tackling the fire alarm faults, ensuring the safety of the vessel and its passengers. Next, we focused on the entertainment system, replacing the foredeck stereo with a new Fusion unit to provide a better audio experience.
Our team then dived into the Czone vessel control system, programming it to integrate the Sea Keeper and streamline access to the electronics for the captain.
Fault-finding on the Masterbus system showed that no battery data was being displayed on the Czone, a problem we quickly fixed! To ensure the vessel could be easily connected to shore power at its berth, we crafted a custom shore power adaptor.
Upon completion of the work, Mark was rapt with the results.
And his experience with HMBE was so positive that he now highly recommends our services to anyone considering electrical work on their vessel, regardless of whether they live in or outside of Auckland!