Apollo II HD

OceanView Technologies has added a new dual-sensor camera to its line-up of night-vision systems.

As the name suggests, the Apollo II HD is a high-definition version of the company’s popular Apollo II. Like the Apollo II, the HD combines a thermal-imaging camera with a highly sensitive low-light camera that is capable of producing a clear but monochrome image even on a starlit, yet moonless night.

The picture from the thermal-imaging camera may take a little getting used to, because it doesn’t “see” things as we do. But the two technologies compliment each other beautifully: the classic example is in a man-overboard situation, in which the casualty’s body heat makes him stand out as a bright white shape against the dark background of the cold sea.

Externally identical to the Apollo II, in the same 360-degree pan/27-degree tilt mounting, and with the same low-light camera, internal upgrades in the HD model have significantly enhanced the performance of the thermal imaging system: the resolution of its image has been increased from 320×240 to 640×480, while its zoom has been increased from 2x to 4x, and its ability to detect a human being in total darkness has been increased from 1,200 feet to 1,700 feet.

The MSRP of the Apollo II HD is $17,995, while the Apollo II will stay in production with an MSRP of $12,995.

Oceanview (954) 653-0210.

Standard Horizon Plotter/Fishfinders

Standard Horizon has boosted the appeal of its no-nonsense CP180 and CP300 C-Map chartplotters by introducing combo units called the CPF 180i, priced at $599.99, and the CPF300i, priced at $999.99.

Both include an integral GPS/WAAS receiver and a 600-watt, dual-frequency fishfinder, and both can accept and display data from an AIS receiver or control and display the image from a Sitex radar scanner. Admittedly, a radar picture will be better on the 800×480 pixel, seven-inch screen of the CPF300i than on the 320×240, five-inch display of the CPF180i.

Standard Horizon (714) 827-7600.

This article originally appeared in the August 2009 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.