Mobile Boat Ramp Application Receives Honorable Mention at NMMA Awards

The Boat Ramps Mobile App

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) was honored today for innovative achievement by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) at the 70th annual Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami. RBFF received an Honorable Mention in the 2011 Innovation Awards for its Take Me Fishing Boat Ramp App.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) honored eleven marine products with 2011 Innovation Awards on Thursday and one as an Honorable Mention. The recognition took place during a State of the Industry Breakfast at the Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami.

The Innovation Awards, organized by NMMA and judged by BWI, recognize products that best meet the following criteria: innovative distinction from other products currently being manufactured; benefit to the marine industry and/or consumer; practicality; cost-effectiveness; and availability to the consumer within 60 days of award receipt.

Among the winners for the Consumer Electronics and Software category, NMMA bestowed Honorable Mention to the Take Me Fishing Boat Ramp Mobile App. Available on iTunes and in the Droid Market, the FREE app allows users to search an impressive database of more than 35,000 launch points by city or zip code and even offers turn-by-turn directions. It’s already been downloaded by more than 27,000 mobile users.

BoatU.S. Mobile App

The app was developed by Derek Trauger & Associates who have a number of useful apps available for boating enthusiasts on both iPhone and Android phones. Traugers’ most recent: The BoatUS app that helps members call for a tow and includes helpful location and tracking features just for boaters, sailors and anglers. The moment you hit the App’s ‘Call Now for a Tow’ button, it automatically provides TowBoatU.S. with critical information before their crew even answers the phone.

Traugers’ other apps include Padi, Dive Spots, Bait Shops and iBoatShows. With over 60,000 downloads to date, Derek is on his way to becoming the top App Developer to the Marine Industry.

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Review of a Viking 60 Sports Yacht

Your Cruising Editors’ latest boat test: 1998 Viking 60 Sports Yacht is online now at MadMariner.com.

Click HERE to read it.

Do You Want This Yacht?
Contact Jim Henson for details:

1915 Southwest 21st Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33312-3113
Wk: (954) 990-1292
Fax: (954) 602-0652

Cell: (954) 661-3840
E-mail: jimh@natliq.com

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FLIBS – Day Two: Cool Watercraft – The TRIAK

Your Cruising Editor found what looks to be the best thrill ride at the show – the TRIAK.

What is a TRIAK, you ask?

It’s a cross between a Kayak and a Tri, or a kayak with amas. It’s also VERY Fast and Fun too!

Watch the interview with TRIAK Rep – Thayer Ridgway, (AKA “TR”) as he takes us on a tour of the TRIAK.

For information on the TRIAK, visit their website: www.triaksports.com

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Cool Stuff at Miami International Boat Show!

A New Cigarette boat at Miami International Boat Show

Day One: I’m off to the Miami Beach Convention Center for my first take on the show. I’ve got a couple of hours to kill before the Marine Marketers of America meeting.

Making my way through the acres of huge outboards and insane power boats is always a kick. It’s amazing that folks are still buying these behemoths. Here’s a look at a new Cigarette boat. It’s HUGE! I guess it looks better on its side.

Navionics iPhone Charting - NEW! lat/long look-up

On my tour of the latest and greatest gear and tech goodies, I came across Navionics new version of their popular iPhone Charting app. I got the quick tour from Shawn Ruge (Product Mgr) and we did a side-by-side comparison using my older 3G and his newest 3GS. There are some significant changes and all for the better. They finally added all the things that they should have put into the first version,but didn’t, in their infinite wisdom. Let’s be honest, the first app had issues; charts took forever to load and the refresh time was l-o-o-o-n-g! Good news!

“Recent recipient of the 2009 NMMA Innovation Award at MAATS, Navionics mobile is ideal for boaters, fisherman and watersports enthusiasts of all kinds. You can plan your on-the-water adventures anytime and anywhere….check tides, set your routes and markers, and search marinas. While on the water track your navigation, capture geotagged pictures, and create a virtual travelogue of your entire trip that you can share with your friends and family on Facebook.  For those friends not yet on Facebook, simply email them your adventure log and let them view it overlaid on Google Earth and Google Maps”

Google Overlay on Navionics iPhone app

Side-by-side comparison: New version of charting for iPhone

The new version, which will be out sometime this year, has all the right bells and whistles. There’s the fact that you can download maps on the fly and that they now come with Google Earth overlays – Very Cool! And, they’ve added features to the settings that I really like: the Search function includes Lat/Long look up.

Use the handy scroll wheel to enter your lat and long and it magically appears on the Map. US Maps are still free downloads too.

Virtual Sea Trial from Raymarine Shows off the Touchscreen

Next, I dropped by the new Raymarine area. These guys have taken Trade Show Displays to an art form. They had a spectacular Virtual Sea Trial set up complete with simulated ships helm, the kind you’d find at the STAR Center’s Simulator! It did everything but what it did best was to show off their new e-Series Touchscreen technology. The new E-Series Widescreen multifunction displays with HybridTouch technology. The E-Serries is the most advanced and easy-to-use multifunction displays, and the next chapter in Raymarine navigation technology.

Speaking with John Hartnett (OEM Accts Mgr), I found out how useful this new touchscreen can be, even on a bouncy boat. You can lock the screen so that you don’t accidentally hit something. You can change the format and layout of any screen in the customization area.

Check it out at the Show.

More to come…

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