Weather Watch

Unfortunately, we are not always able to have perfect, blue-sky days on the water. Planning to use online weather forecasts and phone apps are all good options, but what about when you’re aboard your boat? Your VHF radio and phone app are great resources, but they will only give you so much information. Some larger vessels, such as commercial craft, rely on expensive onboard weather equipment and NAVTEX weather data.

For the rest of us, other paid services provide all the meteorological information we need or want. SiriusXM Marine, a leading provider of marine weather information, can not only fill in the gaps but also provide a wide range of information, all in near-real time, on your multifunction displays.

What plan is right for you?

Most marine MFDs can overlay weather information on chart screens. Simply by adding a brand-compatible SiriusXM Marine receiver and subscribing to one of SiriusXM’s plans, you can have current weather conditions, extensive weather forecasting, and fishing-related meteorological information displayed with easy-to-understand graphics overlayed right on your chartplotter.

Currently, SiriusXM Marine offers four plans, each with different information. The first offering is SiriusXM Marine Inland. This plan is designed for those operating on freshwater inland lakes. At the time of publication, the cost is $17.99 per month. Currently available only to those with compatible B&G, Simrad and Lowrance units, this plan displays weather radar and lightning within 80 miles of your location or the cursor on your display.

Next up is the very popular SiriusXM Marine Coastal Plan. This plan provides radar and lightning data, along with wind and wave data. Coverage for this plan is offered at $37.99 per month and includes the contiguous United States and the Great Lakes.

The next plan, the Marine Offshore Plan, is for those operating up to 150 miles offshore and for blue-water boaters and Great Lakes navigators. For $64.99 a month, subscribers get the addition of surface temperatures and specialized forecasting up to 48 hours.

The most comprehensive plan offered by SiriusXM Marine is its Fish Mapping Plan. This plan has become a trusted necessity for charter captains and tournament fishermen. In addition to the Offshore Plan’s offerings, captains receive fish-mapping information, including ocean currents, historical data, high-resolution structure mapping and other fishing features. All this data and fishing information is available for $109.99 per month.

Dynamic data

Much of the fishing information is provided by Garmin’s specialist team. Comprising experts in their fields, such as oceanographers and meteorologists, the team gathers data from a wide array of sources and combines it to identify where different species of pelagic fish congregate and feed. Data is constantly updated from sources, including government agencies like NOAA, as well as private and commercial companies and groups. The weather component of its plans is primarily sourced from The Weather Company, an industry leader in providing accurate weather information and forecasts for decades.

If using weather information while on the water, it’s important to know how often the data is updated and how recently it was checked for accuracy. With SiriusXM Marine, updates vary by service. Storm cells, radar and lightning are said to be updated every five minutes. Other data elements that are less dynamic are updated approximately every 60 minutes.

SiriusXM has worked with the display’s manufacturer to create a receiver that delivers optimal performance while providing the most up-to-date information the user needs. The dynamic nature of the information on the subscriber’s screen draws a good image of how weather patterns are moving and developing, giving the boater a more informed view of current and developing weather conditions.

With excellent coverage throughout most of North America, SiriusXM Marine is an excellent choice for boaters wanting readily accessible and easy-to-understand weather and fishing-related data. While some may find the monthly subscription fees out of budget, it is important to note that the service can be put on hold for up to six months at a time during the off-season. Plans can be paid month-to-month, and there is a $25 initial activation fee for any plan. Depending on your receiver, you can also add a SiriusXM audio plan to your subscription and enjoy all it offers onboard.