New year, new boating technology 

The annual trek to the Toronto International Boat Show is on. As I write this ahead of the opening date and without publicity releases, it is difficult to predict what will be on display, but I expect it will be interesting. Why? Well, it is broadly apparent that technical changes are rapidly affecting the boating world. What is not so easy to predict is how these changes will show up in the products you see on display. So whether your reason for visiting is a desire for a new boat, new gear or simply keeping in touch with old friends, keep your eyes open for the new and different technology.

For a long time most companies producing boats and boating gear were small, and changes in boats and boating were incremental and evolutionary. Now, companies are becoming larger, cross-fertilization from other fields is common and two external factors are in play — the price of fuel and environmental concerns. Also, recent legislative and regulatory changes, notably in California, have impacted on recreational boating.

Within this scene, what should you look for? Cross-fertilization comes from three primary directions: new high-performance materials of construction; affordable electronics; and improved internal combustion engines. Each of these has been given a boost by other innovative activity — space exploration, commercial shipping and automobile emission regulations, for example.

Materials? Stronger more durable resins and fibres in FRP, including carbon fibre composites and Kevlar; novel internal structure in the boat hulls; and at least one boat builder has automated fibreglass construction to achieve more uniform hulls which are at the same time stronger and use less material than hand-laid fibreglass.

Electronics? Navigation with the aid of GPS — global positioning system — electronics is fast becoming the standard. Look for its steady evolution into integrated chart plotters and the ability to mesh radar, autopilot and engine management or sailboat autohelm steering systems into one integrated whole that runs the boat for you. These are used now by long-distance cruising boaters and racers, as well as in commercial shipping.

Radar for moderate-size cruising boats is much more affordable than even a few years ago, and the units are smaller and perform better. And eventually onboard computers are likely, to tie all of this together, but they won’t be your conventional laptop.

One big soft spot in all this is the need to provide a backup in case of power failure, so be sure you can navigate on paper charts with plotter and pencil. Take a Canadian Power Squadron course in boating or advanced navigation to hone your skills. With electronic charts dominating, physical buoys — navigation aids — on our waterways will be reduced to a minimum, assuming skilled boaters can locate themselves on the chart and avoid hazards without in-place labels on each rock.

Engines will become quieter, less polluting, more efficient, yet with strikingly better performance. Some of these changes have been available for a couple of years already. Significant improvement in both two-stroke and four-stroke engine technology has resulted in outboard engine developments leading the way to clean high-efficiency power for boats.

Further, look for the “pod” drive in which the propeller is facing forward and pulls the boat, benefiting from improved propeller efficiency and lower drag. Eventually we may see the electric pod concept used on many new large liners such as Queen Mary II, where the power is a diesel-electric generator and the propeller housing includes an integral electric motor. Steering is accomplished by turning the pod, similar to a stern drive. Electronic mixture and ignition control are transferring from automotive developments, achieving low environmental emissions without sacrificing performance.

There is a lot of innovative change coming down the channel and around the buoys. Which of these stick and become the norm in future years remains to be seen. But keep your eyes open and enjoy this year’s fine crop of new products. And say “hi” to those old friends.

Safe boating.

Jack McIrvine is the past commander of the Bracebridge Power Squadron.