Two very recognisable brands, and one additional crucial role to play.
Navico Group’s Key Account Manager for OEMs Australia-wide, Daniel Rodriguez, celebrated 10 years with the company in October of 2024. As such he is perfectly placed to reflect on the partnership between Maritimo and Navico (owner of the Simrad brand of electronics and instruments) that extends back towards the 15-year mark.
Interestingly, in the last couple of years the mighty Brunswick Corporation has once again returned to ownership, now part of the of the Navico Group inside the behemoth, that it controlled back when the relationship was in its infancy.
“Obviously, the electronics themselves have changed dramatically in that time, with the big thing now being all around integration with third party products. It’s not only what you can do with your screens, but what other products can integrate with your own screen. So, we’re starting to see that a lot with, say for instance, thermal night vision cameras. Then there are security cameras, audio systems, stabilisers, as well as GPS, sonar and autopilot,” said Rodriguez.
This includes access via portable devices, and as such, it reflects the automotive experience very closely. For the Brunswick Corporation, a lot of this integration actually ends up occurring via acquisition, so that the master umbrella contains all the necessary and required functions boaters could ever want.
“It just makes it easier to work on specific projects if everything’s all under the one umbrella. You can align goals and make sure everything’s going in the same direction, but if you have two different companies, it’s not always the priority to have that integration,” added Rodriguez. “I do a lot of handovers to owners, and you do see just how crucial being able to move around on the one screen makes it all easier for them to operate and control the craft.”
In addition to the very forward-facing aspects of the partnership, Navico Group, through their BEP brand, also prepare the AC and DC master switching panels. Of itself, this very much falls into line with Brunswick Corporation’s drive to be able to supply boat builders with a range of integrated products across multiple spheres that deliver solutions from bow to stern.
As Brunswick is a builder themselves with many brands, they can also demonstrate the success of this to their partners like Maritimo, as well.
“In terms of the support that we can offer, it’s all quite unique, and it’s not really something that anyone else can provide. We have five people in Australia alone that specialise in the electrical side, which is a pretty powerful statement, in itself. There are certified electricians, system designers and engineers, too, all with a direct link to the builder, and the specific installation.”
Maritimo’s new M50 luxury motor yacht that will be revealed in May 2025 has certainly benefitted from this sort of direct access.
Highlighting the true span of the partnership, Navico Group’s sailing brand, B&G, is fitted to Bill Barry-Cotter’s Maritimo 100. This part of the relationship covers all of the yachts that have come into the Maritimo Racing stable, from the complete rebuild of Katwinchar, to the TP52.
Next for Simrad will be the change from the Navico Operating System, based in Linux, to the new Neon, which is Android based, and therefore easier for updates and integration with third-party Apps, streamlining the product development phase in the process. The new NSS4 screen begins the change, with 10,12 and 16-inch offerings. Maritimo Motor Yachts are currently fitting the even larger NSO screens to their helm stations.
“It is great to be involved with the handovers, and the customers get to see how we support them not just at the start, but ongoing, as well. I do enjoy it, and it is wonderful to see them get the most out of it. For us it starts at the install, then moves into the commissioning phase, where we do the software updates and so forth. Then we can head out on the water and make sure it is all as it should be.”
“We go through everything from how to use the charts, the echo sounder, radar, autopilot, and also how to create a route. It is the best way to provide the new owner with confidence. They love it, too.”
