Versatile gadgets keep i on action

A new range of instrument displays, suitable for all types of vessels, is now available in New Zealand.

The Raymarine i70 range can display a wide range of information, including comprehensive engine data.

This, says Cameron Burch, the Raymarine product manager at New Zealand distributor Lusty and Blundell, is likely to make them particularly attractive for trailer powerboat owners.

"Many outboard manufacturers no longer provide engine instrumentation as standard with their outboards," Burch says.

"The i70 now offers a practical and affordable alternative."

The displays are all NMEA2000-compliant, he says. "This means they can easily be used to show all engine, fuel and trim data [including rpm, speed, fuel consumption and distance remaining]."

Burch says the displays are also suitable for larger vessels, where the i70 can be used to display "environmental" data such as fresh-, grey- and black-water tankage, barometric pressure and humidity. And, he says, in a world first in marine instruments, the i70 can also act as an AIS repeater. "This means a skipper can use an i70 to monitor AIS traffic in the cockpit without having to install a dedicated AIS or AIS/Chartplotter display there."

Although the i70 fits into a standard industry "footprint" and is no larger than any other instrument display, it has, says Burch, the largest LCD display (10cm) on the market and the largest viewable digit size.

The i70 also features a bright LED backlit display and wide 160-degree viewing angles.

Burch says the i70 displays have been designed to work as a group and he believes many owners will opt to use two or more together to show a wide range of information.

"They can also easily be linked so that if one display is dimmed or has the colour palette changed for night-time navigation, all the other i70s on board will do the same," he says.

They use up to 35 per cent less power than other colour displays and will sell for about $1049 each plus GST.