AS SEEN IN THE NOV/DEC 2005 ISSUE

Real-time onboard weather data make’s every outing safe & successful.

Over the year’s saltwater anglers of all kinds have become accustomed to enhancing their favorite pastime with state-of-art navigational, fish-finding and communication equipment. Color sounders, 3-dimensional chart-plotters, global positioning systems….there’s a long list of tools out there to help make the most of each and every outing.

Unfortunately, other than NOAA broadcasts, little of this onboard technology is designed to keep us informed of current and upcoming weather and sea conditions.

We can all agree, it makes perfect sense to have a clear picture of what type of conditions we’re about to encounter before ever leaving the dock. Let’s not forget, we’re specifically talking about Florida, where the moisture-rich climate over the Gulf of Mexico, coupled with intense heat, generates unstable atmospheric conditions leading to severe thunderstorms often accompanied by dangerous winds.

Fortunately for all boaters, emerging technology is changing the way we deal with these elements. Today, graphical weather and sea conditions data can be broadcast directly to our vessels via satellite, providing the information we need to not only stay safe, but to help pinpoint promising areas we should fish in. For the first time we now have continuous access to real-time data right at our fingertips, including NEXRAD weather radar, accurate sea surface temperatures, wave heights and so much more.

Chart-plotters, laptop computers and portable PCs can now be used to view and interact with this valuable information. We can even make use of GPS to plot our exact position in relation to the surrounding weather and sea conditions. The vast amount of data results in an electronic tackle box of sorts, making boating and fishing safer and more enjoyable. With a desire to learn more about onboard weather systems before committing to an installation, I went directly to the source, XM WX Satellite Weather.

A sister service of XM Satellite Radio, XM WX Weather is the major provider of onboard weather data and actually uses the same satellites that broadcast their popular radio content to provide us with this invaluable information. I was surprised to learn the way the entire system works is really much more trivial than it seems.

Dual-redundant satellites are positioned in geostationary orbits that constantly keep them directly above the United States. These space-age transmitters send weather data in the S-Band frequency, a signal which has no trouble reaching the ground through even the foulest of weather conditions. Thanks to S-Band, data dropouts and dead zones are non-existent.

The transmitted data covers the entire continental U.S., as well as its adjacent waters. For a minimal monthly fee, boaters can purchase the service through XM Satellite Radio with a choice between three separate pricing tiers. After selecting the package best suited for your particular needs, install the appropriate equipment and you’re off heading offshore with more confidence than ever before. There is one thing you should know; XM Satellite Radio does not actually supply the weather data.

The meteorological company teamed with XM Satellite Radio, WxWorx (pronounced “Weather Works”) is where the information actually comes from. If you haven’t heard of them before you’ve likely seen their technology at work on national television. WxWorx compiles data from multiple sources, including the National Weather Service, and prepares the information which is then transmitted over the XM satellite network.
True to their name, WxWorx really seems to make its weather data work for you, emphasizing accuracy above all else. I learned WxWorx is staffed by career meteorologists who ensure the accuracy of their analysis. It’s good to know that XM chose a company with proven meteorological expertise to be their weather provider.

The continuously-broadcast data is divided into two very useful categories: information on sea surface conditions and detailed updates on current weather conditions. Examples of sea surface conditions include…

Buoy Data; derived directly from marine buoys and coastal observation stations. Buoy data reveals wind speed and direction, air temperature, atmospheric pressure, visibility and more. 
Wave Direction, Height & Period; provides mean wave direction, nearest hour information of the highest waves along with the exact time between individual swells.
Sea Surface Temperature; exactly what it implies, providing current water temperature in increments of one-tenth of a degree.

XM WX satellite onboard weather data has proven just as valuable, if not more so. Here’s some of the useful information transmitted directly to your vessel:

High-Resolution Radar; XM WX radar comes from an accurate composite mosaic of the National Weather Service’s NEXRAD system. XM WX radar is displayed in high-resolution, with updates occurring every 5 minutes.
Lightning Feature; indicating cloud-to-ground lightning strikes with the age of the strike represented by a color code.
Satellite Mosaic; displays nationwide cloud cover over the continental United States and hundreds of miles off its coastline.
Severe Weather Storm Tracks; color-coded arrows appear in the radar display, warning you about the strongest area of a storm. Click and up pops detailed information on storm direction, speed, hail size and wind shear.
  
There’s more, like National Weather Service marine zone forecasts and even hurricane tracking, but you get the idea. Some of the data allows you to create overlays showing multiple screens at the same time, handy for providing a complete picture of the current conditions around you. With all this valuable information at your fingertips, you’ll know exactly when it’s time to get the heck out of Dodge.

I’m convinced the usefulness of onboard weather is as varied as it is essential. By viewing the automatically updated radar and lightning information, you’ll know at a glance which areas are best avoided. You can anticipate rough sea conditions by observing wave characteristics, and blue water anglers will find a lot to like with real-time sea surface temperature data.

Like me, let’s say you’re convinced and are interested in installing a satellite-delivered weather system on your boat. All told, I’ve found prices for a complete system range from $1000 to $3500. It’s not the size of your vessel that matters, it’s the three separate components that are required.

First, you’ll need a source to view and interact with the wealth of incoming data. If you currently own a seaworthy laptop or onboard PC, you may already be set—WxWorx produces a PC-based maritime weather program called WxWorx on Water. The software has the ability to integrate every XM WX data product.

If a computer isn’t a feasible option, additional hardware displays are available from any number of marine dealers. Garmin in particular offers a number of solutions which allow total flexibility in setting up and operating your XM WX equipment. Their GPSMAP 3005C, 3006C and 3010C each integrate chart-plotting and GPS functions with XM WX data in a fixed-mount unit. With sunlight-readable screen sizes from 5 to 10.4 inches, Garmin devices make ideal displays.

Along with a display devise, you’ll need an antenna to access XM’s data stream. Both WxWorx and Garmin give you a choice between portable or pole mount. No alignment or tedious setup routines are necessary; I’ve learned that simply pointing these things at the sky is enough to receive a strong signal.

Lastly, an XM WX data receiver is a must. Without the receiver, you wouldn’t be able to decode the transmission stream. The receiver is a light weight, portable device with a small foot print. A Bluetooth-enabled version is also available; permitting a wireless connection between receiver and display device. You can always add an inexpensive adapter to the display if it doesn’t have wireless Bluetooth capability already built-in.

I should have mentioned earlier that you can also utilize your XM WX antenna to listen to XM Satellite Radio (separate audio subscription required) there are a couple of ways to accomplish this.

If you’re planning on equipping your vessel with a Garmin system, opt for their GDL-30A receiver. This clever little unit has both XM WX Satellite Weather and XM Satellite Radio capability right out of the box. Your display will doubles as a controller for changing radio frequencies.

A WxWorx receiver will also allow you to piggyback an XM radio receiver to your satellite system. This approach lets you receive both weather data and radio streams off the same antenna. You can purchase the appropriate patch cable from the WxWorx website.

Most of us are no doubt familiar with and endeared to GPS. After all, where would we be without it? Well, we might not know, exactly.

XM WX Satellite Weather data is geo-referenced, meaning graphical weather data corresponds precisely to an exact point on a map. This kind of precision allows XM WX to seamlessly integrate GPS information resulting in an exact graphical depiction of your position on the display. The benefits are obvious; like letting you survey your proximity to foul weather and nasty sea conditions you’d rather avoid.

The usual set up to the WxWorx system is to keep the map centered on the boat, but you can also choose to keep the map stationary while your boat moves about the screen. The later makes it a bit easier to track your progress. Additionally, if the path of your boat intercepts the projected path of a severe storm, a verbal warning alerts you to the approaching conditions.
Almost any GPS device adhering to NMEA standards with a USB output will work with the WxWorx on Water application.

Since you’ve decided onboard weather is right for you, there are a few more things you might want to consider before making the leap. Like with any new installation, it pays to plan ahead, if for no other reason than to save a few headaches later on.

To get a better understanding of what boat owners should prepare for, I spoke with Steve Irwin at Island Marine Services in Fort Pierce, FL. Steve shop specializes in equipping both sportfishing vessels and motor yachts with a full range of electronics and carries the complete line of products supporting satellite weather systems.

Steve mentioned the XM antenna needs to be as high as possible with a clear view of the sky. He also recommended avoiding mounting the antenna in your radar’s line of sight. Lastly, Steve said sunlight-readable displays are a must.

“If customers decide to use their own PC to host the software, the most important thing is having at least 512MB of free RAM. The other real concern is computers that are bogged down with way too much junk—like old programs, ad-ware, that sort of thing.”

Steve went on to say that customers absolutely love the system because it’s so user friendly. He recently went on a trip to the Bahamas and had WxWorx running on a laptop by the pilothouse door. Guests were constantly accessing and checking out the innovative weather data for themselves, they all loved it. Finally, good news for husbands fearing disapproval of new marine electronics purchases, there may be a reprieve. Wives and mothers love it because WxWorks promotes safety.

So there you have it. After careful research I no longer have any doubt access to constant weather updates in real-time while on scene lets you concentrate on what you’re there to do in the first place, enjoy yourself. You’ll be comfortable and confident knowing you’re covered in case harsh weather comes along to try and spoil your fun. And since you’ll be able to make better decisions, you’ll be much more focused on doing the things you want - like getting hooked up!

Capt. Mike Genoun is South Florida Sport Fishing Magazine’s very own Editor-In-Chief. He can be reached at Mike@SFSFMAG.com

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