Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/326874
36 | Boating Industry | July 2014 www.BoatingIndustry.com /// Market Trends /// turn it off or what you turn on or turn off first, that's key," said Goldsmith. While enthusiast editors have panned certain automotive touch-based infotainment systems as slow to respond, prone to crashes and hard to control in uneven road conditions, Goldsmith said Mastervolt's would likely remain with buttons tucked neatly out of the way. Her concern about the industry is not whether the technology can pro- vide durable, seamless, easy-to-control systems that have alluded automakers like Ford and Cadillac, but what would be the impacts if the industry didn't dive into touchscreen interfaces. "What happens if we don't embrace this technology?" Goldsmith asked. "The RV market has embraced it, the automotive market has embraced it, the residential market has embraced it, I think if we don't embrace it, we're definitely limiting ourselves." Infinite possibilities ahead As Volvo Penta's Kull looks to the months and years ahead, she sees Wi-Fi- enabled features opening Pandora's box to allow on- and off-vessel data to be used and manipulated to the boater's advantage. Smartphone integration will also make a big splash in the years to come, allowing owners to keep tabs and adjust crucial vessel settings remotely. One potential result of this new integration will be remote diagnostics telling owners what's going on with their boat, making arrangements to have parts available at a dealership with minimal hassle or delay. Kull said that the added cost of systems like Glass Cockpit is par- tially mitigated by the many but- tons and switches removed from helms along the way. "We're bringing new technol- ogy, we're bringing this big beautiful screen, but we're also taking away a lot of gauges and controls that cost money as well, so by the time we net all this stuff out, there is really just a marginal increase in what they're pay- ing for significant advances in technology," Kull said. "I think we're surpris- ing the market at what you can get for really a nominal increase in cost. Navico's Chemi echoed the idea that data transmitted to and from the vessel may enable significant changes to the structure of the marine industry, especially in terms of service. He gave the example of a boat's electrical system detecting changes in the battery charging cycle that suggests a new battery is needed. That data can be automatically sent to nearby dealers who can attempt to capture the business before the boater becomes stranded. "Basically we can diagnose that, tell him he needs a new battery … [and] send a note to the boat dealer that's nearby there and tell him, 'Hey, send this guy a 10-percent off certificate for a new battery if he buys it this weekend,'" Chemi said. "Hopefully we've helped the boater out because he's now got 10-percent off on a battery … [and] the boat dealer's happy because he just got a sales opportunity that he wasn't aware existed." Mastervolt's Goldsmith, who also chairs the board of directors for the National Marine Manufacturers Association's accessories group, anticipates more boat manufacturers will partner with electronics companies to harness the abilities enabled by today's connected vessels. "Our stuff is going to be coming onto smartphones very quickly and re- mote monitoring and control is definitely something we're looking into," she said. "Some of it's going to happen within the next six months for us, so you'll be able to use that iPad app, which is available on iTunes now, and be able to turn the fridge on so the beer's cold by the time you get to the boat." Mastervolt's partnership with Scout and Garmin has enabled the development of intelligent boating controls that are leading to dramatic advancements in capabilities and ease of use for boaters. P32x36-BI14JUL-MarketTrends.indd 36 5/28/14 12:08 PM