He patches boaters in

Deepa Bharath

The electronics on a boat serves a variety of purposes -- from

getting help in times of crisis to making sure boaters find their way

home.

David Lawson, who has owned Seaside Marine Electronics in Newport

Beach for about 18 years, says the scope of his business has changed

dramatically since he started out.

Lawson initially worked for a marine electronics store and later

took over that business when it folded.

“Things have changed so much,” he said. “When I started in this

business, equipment used to be much bigger and a lot more expensive.”

But today, boaters would get a global positioning system for about

$100, Lawson said.

“Now, the equipment is not only substantially cheaper, but it’s

very compact,” he said. “It takes up a lot less space.”

The absolute must-haves on any boat are the radio and navigation

equipment, Lawson said.

“The radio is if you ever get into a situation where you need to

call the Coast Guard or Harbor Patrol,” he said. “The chart blotter

lets you know where you are and helps you find your way back home if

you’re lost.”

Installing a radar on your boat may not be a bad idea, either.

“A radar will allow you to see through fog or in the night time,”

Lawson said. “It shows you objects around you and keeps you from

bumping into things. It can be pretty scary when you’re cruising

along in the dark and suddenly see a boat right in front of you.”

A depth sounder would tell boaters how deep the water below is and

would also tell them if there are fish in the area. Lawson foresees

the equipment becoming even more compact.

“The electronics today are just very easy to use and give boaters

a lot of features crammed into one system,” he said.

The only challenge Lawson says he faces in this business is

adapting to the needs of each boater.

“We deal with new and different boats everyday,” he said. “So

while installing equipment, you have to think like an engineer.”

But for the most part, he has an enjoyable profession, Lawson

said.

“I always work with a happy group of people,” he said. “People are

always happy to see us and work with their new toys.”