Tag: Boating

Why is a Screen Protector Essential for Boat Televisions

April 16, 2014

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The old adage about “boats being holes in the water, where the owner throws money” has, if anything, become even more apt with the advent of upmarket consumer electronics. Marine satellite trackers that remain signal-locked underway, boosted antennas which collect the same amount of signal as their old-fashioned, outsize cousins, multi-stateroom entertainment systems, humidity- and corrosion-resistant speakers, all add immeasurably to the boating experience. But the sums they subtract from the old bank balance can be equally conspicuous.

Flat-Screen Pros and Cons

Flatscreen television technology is a lifesaver for all who live or vacation in relatively compact spaces. That said — like everything else, it seems — those flatscreen TVs manufactured for on-vessel applications, as opposed to equivalents aimed at regular residential markets, are vastly more expensive.

And there are the add-ons. Both conventional pedestals and brackets, and ultramodern servomotor-driven lifts (which accommodate TVs inside other furniture, first driving them into the viewing area, then retracting them), must be made with marine application in mind. Wave motion creates a great deal of stress, so mounting systems have to be cushioned from vibration as well as protected against moisture and salt ingression.

Nonetheless, for many, a flatscreen TV is now a boating must. Imagine this disappointment: an owner has a wonderful, hi-def surround-sound system installed, then checks it out in port when he gets to his boat Friday evening. Everything’s fine. Next day, when it’s time to while away an hour at anchor admiring his new purchase, all he gets is a funhouse hall-of-mirrors; a chaotic reflection of everything else in his environment.

What happened?

The Glare Gremlin

The myriad light sources inside a cabin — from unshielded exterior doors and hatches, windows and portholes to brightwork, chrome trim and brass fixtures — can all serve to overwhelm a flatscreen’s backlighting, particularly in daytime.
All that’s left visible on-screen may be a series of mirrored images. To fix this, the TV must be retrofitted with an anti glare screen protector.

Why Is a Screen Protector Recommended?

It’s imperative to use the correct tool for any job on board. It’s thus important to understand what an anti glare screen protector does:

  • Anti glare films scatter reflected light, effectively disintegrating echo-images by diffusing sources of luminescence, and the brightly-lit objects observed on mirror-like screen surfaces.  The NuShield® Triple A™ anti glare film is an excellent option and it also provides anti fingerprint protection as well.
  • If the TV is mounted topside and is viewed outdoors in sunlight, then the NuShield DayVue™ anti reflective screen protector is the correct solution.  Anti reflective films cancel reflected light, meaning they diminish reflectance across most of the spectrum visible to humans. They’re used to maximize screen visibility in outdoor environments, where intense ambient light can overwhelm LCD backlighting, making the screen appear dark.  The DayVue anti reflective film even works when you and your guests are wearing polarized sunglasses on deck.  And the DayVue film can also be used on LCD instrument panels outside to make them visible in sunlight.

Both anti glare and anti reflective film types provide excellent protection from bounced-back UVB ultra violet rays, and protect screens from scratches. For flatscreen TVs that are watched indoors, even inside a boat, anti glare products are required. For screens located in the bridge or cockpit, the anti reflective screen protectorworks better.

Importance of Optimization

Flat-screen TVs aren’t just for watching satellite-broadcast news/entertainment programming. Charter captains can review catches with current clients, or use footage to advertise their skills to potential contractors. With some multifunction accessories, it’s even possible to view navigational equipment’s output as a screen-in-screen display on satellite-hooked TVs anywhere on the boat.

Here’s a checklist of what’s necessary for successful onboard viewing:

  • Reception device (typically a satellite receiver)
  • Marine-grade flatscreen TV
  • Waterproof speakers
  • Anti glare (for indoor use) or anti reflective (for outdoor use) screen protection

NuShield manufactures both anti glare and anti reflective screen protector films. Their products are ideal for use in all situations, including the strenuous environment of marine boating. NuShield is the only manufacturer offering film up to 80-inches (diagonal), and can custom-cut any order size to that maximum.

More Information

Order Your Glare Protectors Today

Select your TV brand and model number, and which anti glare screen protector you want, and NuShield will mail your films to your home or business.

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