Next Gen Marine Electronics Integration: Chartplotter + Anchor (Yup!)

As marine electronics have become more advanced, we’ve seen new types of integration, but outside of different brands of marine sensors and displays connecting through the NMEA2000 network, components that “talk” to each other are usually made by the same manufacturer. Some companies are bucking this trend with electronics manufacturer Raymarine and hydraulic anchor maker Power-Pole announcing complete compatibility with MOVE brushless trolling motors, pole anchors, and Raymarine Axiom units – thanks to a LightHouse 4.7 software update, and the C-Monster Gateway connector.

The C-Monster Gateway means you won’t need to string any new wires. Instead, it communicates wirelessly with the Power-Pole accessories and screws into any open connector (or a T-connector can be added) on the boat’s NMEA2000 backbone. Then on the MFD screen, a slide-out menu bar provides access to all the trolling motor’s functions while you’re at the helm, allowing you to steer and throttle up or down via the touchscreen. Tap the “Anchor Here” button and the motor will engage GPS positioning to hold your boat in place while you cast without any additional effort on your part. You can also set a waypoint or a complete route on-screen and the motor will follow it.

Two new features anglers will love are “Hold Heading” and “Hold COG,” both of which will come in handy for drift fishing. Hold Heading keeps the boat pointed toward a specific compass heading and Hold COG maintains drift direction based on GPS course over ground. That means you can move up-current of a wreck or reef and set up to drift without worrying that a few gusts of wind or a change in the current will knock you off-course and cause you to miss the target.

Along with these abilities, LightHouse 4.7 also allows you to integrate Power-Pole pole anchors into the system. The pole anchors can be deployed or retracted with one swipe of the touchscreen, as well as moved incrementally up or down. A single Axiom can control two pole anchors with the ability to synch them together for tandem use.

The Raymarine software update is free; the C-Monster Gateway from Power-Pole sells for $119.99 as of publication.