More power and control right on your wrist

by Ben Sandman on 16 May 2017 Combining key features from Garmin’s fenix 5 multisport watch series with boating, fishing, cruising and sailing capabilities, the new quatix 5 is the most sophisticated and connected marine GPS smartwatch on the market.

Paired with onboard Garmin marine electronics, the quatix 5 can stream NMEA 2000 data such as speed, depth, temperature, wind information and more. Further, when paired with a GHC 20 autopilot control unit, it can be used to control the autopilot to change heading, engage heading hold, steer to an active GPS route and initiate patterns, so users can maintain control of the vessel even when not at the helm.

The quatix 5 also makes it easier than ever to mark and save a waypoint from anywhere on the boat – with the touch of a button, it can remotely mark a waypoint on a connected chartplotter. Boaters can also use the quatix 5 to control their onboard entertainment system thanks to the built-in FUSION-Link Lite app, which controls connected StereoActive products and other ANT-enabled stereo models.

Specifically designed for the water, the quatix 5 gives boaters up-to-date tide data downloaded for the area they’re in through a smartphone, and provides access to that data for seven days. It’s also equipped with an anchor alarm to warn users of drift and an anchoring calculator to tell users the proper length of anchor line to put out.

For tournament fishing, a competition timer and fish catch log are available to help keep track of fish caught and the time remaining before getting back to weigh-in.

For sail racing, the quatix 5 features tack assist, race countdown timer, distance to start line, and time to burn.

Built to withstand the harsh marine environment, the quatix 5 features a rugged yet sleek design, is water resistant to 100m, and features a sunlight-readable colour display with LED backlight so data is easily viewable in any light. With an omni-directional stainless steel EXO antenna and high-sensitivity GPS with GLONASS support, it has the ability to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone. The quatix 5 boasts up to 24 hours of battery life in GPS mode, 60 hours in UltraTrac mode and two weeks in smartwatch mode (depending on settings).

In addition to preloaded marine-specific feature sets, the quatix 5 also includes a host of built-in activity profiles for land and water sports like running, hiking, biking, swimming, rowing, and paddle boarding to name just a few, along with Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate technology. When paired with a compatible smartphone, users can also get call, text and email notifications right on their wrist. Via Connect IQ, users can customise their watch with apps, widgets, data fields and watch faces too.

The quatix 5 is available in two versions: the quatix 5 and the quatix 5 Sapphire, the latter incorporating a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens and includes a stainless steel band as well as a blue silicone QuickFit band.

RRP from AU$799 (quatix 5) and AU$949 (quatix 5 Sapphire).