There’s no dearth of innovation in this year’s new crop of marine electronics. You’ll find new products and systems to help boating anglers find more fish, navigate more safely, communicate on the water, create a smoother-riding boat, and provide the abundant electrical power for today’s electronics. What’s more, some of the new products boast more-affordable pricing than we have seen for comparable items in the past, a trend we’d love to see take hold across the entire marine electronics spectrum. Here are examples of the latest in marine electronics and technology for 2025.
FLIR Ocean Scout Pro
FLIR’s compact new Ocean Scout Pro handheld thermal-imaging scope provides a 500-meter detection range and a 32-degree field of view to enhance nighttime boating safety. A one-finger button controls zoom, brightness, standby and more. It records photos and videos, and integrates a wireless app to manage and transfer files. It sports an IP67 rating, and the battery lasts for six hours on a single charge. Viewing palettes include White Hot that displays warmer objects in white and cooler objects in black. A Grayscale palette creates images with realistic details. The Black Hot palette displays warmer objects as black and cooler objects as white. Sepia applies a golden hue to the White Hot palette for reduced eye fatigue. $2,395; flir.com
Lowrance Elite FS 10/12
Lowrance’s new Elite FS 10- and 12-inch touchscreen models feature support for ActiveTarget 2 live sonar as well as built-in support for high-resolution Active Imaging to provide higher-resolution views of fish and structure. The units incorporate chirp, SideScan and DownScan Imaging with FishReveal via the Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar system. They also feature NMEA 2000, wireless and Ethernet connectivity. C-Map Discover Onboard inland and coastal charts are built in. $1,799 for the Elite FS 10 with Active Imaging 3-in-1, $2,299 for the Elite FS 12 with Active Imaging 3-in-1; lowrance.com
ACR Bivy Stick Mesh
The Bivy Stick Mesh from ACR Electronics is the first satellite messenger to integrate advanced LoRa-enabled mesh networking with the Iridium satellite network, creating seamless communication without relying on cellular coverage. This dual-mode connectivity proves ideal for offshore anglers, offering device-to-device message transmission significantly faster than traditional satellite communication. Its ability to relay messages through the mesh network ensures that communication is always possible. This device has not received FCC approval. Pricing not available at press time; bivystick.com
Furuno TZtouchXL Multifunction Displays
Furuno’s new TZtouchXL series includes five sizes with unique new features. Boating anglers have the ability to purchase and download the new TZ Maps electronic charts for the areas and the data format they desire directly from the MFD with an internet connection. They can also make their own updates to charted objects. The charts include BathyVision with bottom-contour resolution three times more detailed than other bathymetric charts. When networked with a Furuno DRS radar, TZtouchXL MFDs offer Risk Visualizer, with a 360-degree representation of potential collision risks, and AI Avoidance Route that provides safe routing around those hazards. The 10-inch TZT10X and 13-inch TZT13X incorporate multitouch with Furuno’s RotoKey control knob and dedicated soft-touch keys. The all-glass 16-inch TZT16X, 22-inch TZT22X and 24-inch TZT24X boast super-wide touchscreen displays. $2,595 to $11,995; furunousa.com
Siren 3 Connected Boat System
Siren Marine’s compact new Siren 3 Connected Boat security, monitoring, control and maintenance system is designed for small to midsize outboard-powered boats, such as bay boats and flats skiffs. The Siren Connected Boat app allows boating anglers to monitor and control onboard systems from anywhere and at any time. Siren 3 supports up to six wireless sensors through SirenWave, a proprietary communication protocol that brings a fast, reliable and secure connection. It also features a new internal-antenna design, which reduces the amount of space needed on smaller boats. It can connect to the NMEA 2000 network and the Yamaha CommandLink network through mechanical engines 300 hp and down. It will be available in spring 2025. Starting at $299; sirenmarine.com
Seakeeper Ride 750 and 750 Quad
Seakeeper has two new Ride underway electronically controlled stabilization systems designed for boats from about 37 to 42 feet in length overall. Incorporating an electronic sensor and high-speed actuators on the transom, the Seakeeper Ride 750 and 750 Quad join Seakeeper’s three existing Ride systems capable of eliminating up to 70 percent of pitch and roll while underway on boats as small as 19 feet length overall. The Ride 750 consists of two larger controllers, while the 750 Quad has four smaller controllers for transoms with restricted space. Both systems are designed with aluminum components, a deviation from previous products that use composite construction. $17,500 for the Seakeeper Ride 750 system, $20,500 for the Seakeeper Ride 750 Quad system; ride.seakeeper.com
Humminbird Xplore With Mega Live 2
Humminbird’s new Xplore displays feature Cross Touch control, improved waypoint management, Lakemaster and Coastmaster mapping, and a simpler user interface. A powerful quad-core processor and customizable side buttons allow anglers to quickly access critical features. Available in 9-, 10- and 12-inch models, Xplore offers seamless integration with the One-Boat Network for control of systems such as compatible Minn Kota trolling motors, as well as the new Humminbird Mega Live 2 forward-facing sonar system featuring improved clarity, target separation, stability and lure tracking. Mega Live 2 also features 15 color palettes to enhance fish detection. Xplore starts at $1,299.99; Mega Live starts at $1,499.99; humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com
Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
Garmin’s newest SOS satellite communicator—the inReach Messenger Plus—now gives boating anglers the ability to send photo and voice messages even beyond cell service. With a battery life that can last for weeks, this two-way satellite communicator also has two-way texting, location sharing and SOS capabilities. It is also water-rated to IPX7 and can withstand incidental water exposure up to a meter in depth for up to 30 minutes. In the event of an emergency, the inReach Messenger Plus and Garmin Messenger app can send an interactive SOS text message to Garmin Response, a 24/7-staffed international emergency assistance coordination center. $499.99, active satellite subscription required starting at $14.99 per month; garmin.com/marine
Skyhawk Oversea Boat-Monitoring System
This new Skyhawk Oversea system is affordable, simple to install and practical for any vessel. It features a compact wireless hub that by itself provides location on demand and monitors vessel bearing to detect movement. A network of battery-powered RF wireless sensors is offered to monitor bilge-pump activity, battery voltage, shore power, temp, humidity, water, motion, door entry and sound. All alerts and data come to the Oversea app via cellular network. Both the hub and sensors provide years of operation using standard replaceable batteries for continuous year-round monitoring with no drain on the boat’s batteries. Starting at $299.99 for the hub (sensors are $69.99 each), $499.99 for the Fisherman’s Bundle which includes the hub, two battery sensors, one bilge high-water sensor, and one read switch, cellular subscription required; oversea.boats
Koden Sirius 12 Stabilized Binoculars
Koden has entered the gyrostabilized binoculars market with the new Sirius 12 featuring electronic stabilization. These compact yet ruggedly built binoculars are manufactured in Japan using quality optics and internal electronic components. Powerful 12x magnification is ideal for spotting boats, dangerous obstacles, breaking fish, diving birds, weed lines and more. The Sirius 12’s built-in six-axis electronic gyro-sensor isolates the binoculars from the rocking and rolling motion of the boat. The IPX7-waterproof binoculars feature an easy-to-grip textured surface and an oil-repellent coating to protect the eyepiece and objective lenses. One AA alkaline battery provides 12 hours of operation. $699; si-tex.com/koden
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ReLi3On RB100-HP Dual-Purpose Battery
The RB100-HP lithium-iron-phosphate battery from ReLi3On is designed to serve as a dual-purpose (starting and deep-cycle) 12-volt battery. Though the same physical size as an AGM Group 31, it weighs about half as much. Unlike most other marine lithium batteries designed only for deep-cycle applications, the RB100-HP’s battery management system is programmed to produce the bursts of high energy needed to start marine engines, including large outboards. It can pump out 800 marine cranking amps for eight seconds or more. The RB100-HP also has the ability to safely accept the standard 12-volt electrical charging profile produced by the engine alternator of select outboards. The RB100-HP dual-purpose battery is currently approved by ReLi3On and Mercury Marine for starting Mercury’s 2.1L 75 to 115 hp outboards, 3.0L 150 hp engines, 4.6L V-8 and 3.4L V-6 175 to 300 hp models, 2.6L V-6 200 to 400 hp outboards, 5.7L V-10 350 to 400 hp models, and 7.6L V-12 500 to 600 hp outboards. $999.95; relionbattery.com
