Normally I’m not nearly this impulsive, but there was something about this Garmin watch that when I first saw it I just had to have it. I haven’t worn a watch in years, but with the increased popularity of smartwatches, the thought of maybe getting one had been on my mind. I had considered other brands but I was looking for one with boating-specific features that still had the cool vibe of a smartwatch.

Though it should have been, the quatix 7 wasn’t even on my radar despite the fact that I use Garmin FishFinders and see a lot of other Garmin products while out boating. From chartplotters and autopilots to VHF radios and handheld GPS aunits, Garmin’s reach in the marine industry is wide, not to mention all of the other industries it’s involved in.

I did my homework first and then I jumped in and I’ve been completely happy with the multisport GPS smartwatch that has all the features you need on your boat as well as the ones you want off it. It earned a Best of Category award at ICAST 2022 so I knew I wasn’t the only one who thought it was impressive so that’s why I jumped in and got it. I’ve worn it each day since getting it in October and I’m still finding new features I didn’t know it could do.

Starting at $699, the quatix 7 provides comprehensive connectivity with compatible Garmin chartplotters and other devices to offer autopilot control, Fusion-Link entertainment system control, integrated data on the watch face and much more. You can use the traditional button controls or the new touchscreen interface to access selections. Features for all-day wearability include built-in activity profiles for water and land sports, smart notifications and more. I love the large color display, the health monitoring functions and another nice perk is I can go up to 18 days between charges.