Digital Switching - Is This System Safe?

Chase Schelble

Technical Sales Representative

When you board a new Sportfish model Sportsman, which is a 26’ or longer model, you’ll notice that there are no switches at the dash. Strange right? At Sportsman we like to be ahead of the curve and with the technology available today we have chosen for our switching system to be fully integrated into the Garmin Multi-Function Device. In doing so, we’ve eliminated physical switches completely, giving the dash a clean look while also alleviating the hassle of maintaining/replacing physical switches that tend to fail in harsh marine conditions.

You’re probably thinking “Well, what if my Garmin unit fails then I’m stuck without switches...?”. We have had that same thought, that’s why we’ve designed a fully redundant system that is backed up in your console through the DCM switching panel. It's as simple as moving the fuse of the device you'd like to power. By moving the fuse down to the constant power rail you will be giving direct power to that device thus eliminating the digital portion. This is what it means to have redundant switching on board your Sportsman. We’ve never had more confidence in a switching system as each of these fuses are in a protected environment behind the total access doors of the console as well as behind a plastic cover on the DCM.
In some cases, you need quick access to your switches which can sometimes be tough in a digital format but with Garmin’s simple customization of the MFD you can now pin your frequently used pages to the home screen and simply toggle through them. This new feature allows constant access to the information you need without having to go onto a menu page which can be cumbersome while underway. Thus, always keeping your switches at your fingertips.

Most everyone has a distinct style of switch they prefer on their boat and even on a digital platform Garmin has made this possible. While on your switching page simply go into your options and select style, here you will find 3 options classic black rocker’s-silver push or black push. Each has a different color light that illuminates when the switch is in use. This is beneficial not only for aesthetics but also for nighttime running as the black is less bright and easier on your eyes. We know switching is typically not at the top of the list of options to consider when comparing different boat brands, yet it is just one more factor setting us apart from the competition and sometimes the little things make all the difference. Happy boating!