Garmin has unveiled its new Quatix 8 smartwatch, a wearable device designed for those who spend most of their time on the water. If you’re less Laird Hamilton and more Captain Jack Sparrow, the new R21,500 ($1,200) device could be what you need to get you into port for some rum.
South Africa has already received several of Garmin’s boat-focused wristwear lineup, including the R17,000 Quatix 7, so it’s reasonable to expect it here at some point. It’s currently an overseas-only purchase, but if you own a yacht, you could probably nip over the pond and buy one in the States.
Quatix tendencies
The major differences between the Quatix 8 and previous models include a switch to a 1.4in AMOLED display, protected behind Sapphire glass, and voice-based interoperability with a collection of Garmin’s other marine tech.
This includes some models of Garmin chartplotters and autopilots, while also offering voice control of (some) Garmin Force trolling motors and the brand’s Fusion radios. That takes care of most of the essential modern sailing functions, though we can’t help wondering what it’ll do if you say ‘Oh, hell…’ upon sighting an approaching waterspout. Where… where would it take you?
The Quatix 8 features a speaker and microphone, allowing for on-wrist calls while at the helm (or while driving the big white bus in the head). Apps for the tides and anchor drag, a powerful LED light, and the obligatory ‘readiness’ fitness indicator are also tools intrepid sailors will find useful.
A sixteen-day battery life (it should manage a week with the display always on), waterproofing to 10 atmospheres (100m), and the usual run of Garmin’s ‘track everything’ technology mean you don’t need to set sail to wear the Quatix 8 but it’s marketed toward users who prefer to feel the wind in their sails. Those customised features won’t do you much good on dry land unless you’re faking it especially hard.
