Garmin is set to launch the GHP12 autopilot system in March of this year. Designed to offer sophisticated control for 20 to 70-foot sailing boats equipped with linear actuated steering systems, the GHP12 is a below decks autopilot that is available with two linear drive options, Class A (yachts up to 14 tons displacement) and Class B (up to 40 tons).

When interfaced with Garmin’s GWS 10 or other compatible wind sensor, GPS and network electronics (not included), the GHP 12 can support heading hold, wind hold, step turns, tack/jibe and more, allowing mariners to safely attend the sails, lines and winches without worry.

Fuel Cell Systems will become the first company to present methanol and hydrogen powered fuel cells at the London Boat Show.

Offering a clean energy alternative to traditional fossil fuels, it is currently used to power vehicles including cars, buses, taxis, motorcycles and an aeroplane. Now available to boat owners, Fuel Cells will offer clean, quiet on-board power generation.

Fuel Cell Systems will be demonstrating products from SFC Energy, IRD, Serenergy and BOC at the show. Anyone who registers their interest with Fuel Cell Systems will receive a £50 discount voucher against a future purchase.

Entering the realm of technical wizardry now and the latest offering from Tetra Boats comes in the form of a novel new way to keep track of your tender.

Designed to quell those niggling worries we all get when leaving the dinghy for the pub, or when the kids are mucking about on the water, the device has a highly sensitive 50 channel GPS and GSM data modem to allow the location of your tender to be constantly monitored on your smart phone.

It’s waterproof and has an internal rechargeable battery that can offer up to 72 hours of operation. The  device which is about the size of a box of matches, is designed to be mounted on the tender or the outboard and can survive in temperature of up to 70°C, so will happily sit inside your outboard cowling.

Also able to serve as an anchor drift alarm for your main boat, the panic button on the front of the unit can send a help call to up to five numbers when activated - excellent if you find yourself out of fuel.

RADAR is notoriously tricky to operate and ‘read’ correctly for collision avoidance either with the land or with other vessels. But used by an informed operator it is an immensely valuable navigation tool – especially in poor visibility. GPS will tell you where you are, but it won’t tell you if there’s another boat in that spot!

Rather than taking a theoretical, academic approach, this book is highly practical and hands on – complementing the radar owner’s manual and explaining what the operator really needs to know when faced with actual situations at sea.

Packed with illustrative photos, charts and radar screen shots, this book gives guidance from a real life, on-the-water perspective, and will enable readers to solve problems on the spot.

Borje Wallin got his first boat at the age of 12, spending summers sailing in the Stockholm archipelago. Having served as mate, chief mate and master of passenger vessels in a 40 year career on the water, he has used his experience to write several books on navigation and seamanship.

Adlard Coles Nautical £14.99