Garmin has introduced Surround View, a system that utilizes a half-dozen high-definition cameras mounted on a vessel for a 360-degree view from the helm via a compatible Garmin multifunction display.
“Our innovative Surround View brings the comforts and conveniences our customers rely on in their vehicles to the helm of their yacht to help captains see as much of their environment as possible for easier maneuvering on the water,” says vice president of global consumer sales Dan Bartel. “Until now, no other marine camera technology has offered a true 360-degree bird’s-eye view, a vantage point that can help reduce the stress of docking and navigating marinas, narrow causeways and busy channels by giving captains a live look at their surroundings.”
To accomplish this, the six, 1080p cameras will be placed as follows: one forward-looking camera at the bow, one rear-looking camera aft and two on each side of the vessel. The low-profile cameras can be OEM-installed, with through-hull mounting that matches functionality with clean aesthetics. At the helm, captains have the option of using the bird’s-eye image view and can zoom in and pan around from any of the six cameras.
The augmented reality features include a Visual Bumper, an indicator at a user-set distance that alerts the helmsman when approaching non-water objects, such as quays and pilings; and Distance Markers, which work like backup cameras in an automobile to provide visual cues that help determine distance. A compatible Garmin plotter or MFD (GPSMAP 8400/8600, GPSMAP 7×3/9×3/12×3 series) or the Volvo Penta Glass Cockpit System is required for usage.
Garmin’s Surround View Camera System made its world premiere at September’s Cannes Yachting Festival and can be seen at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in late October.
This article was originally published in the October 2021 issue.
