In 2026, Simrad Marine Electronics reaches a significant landmark: 80 years since the brand's origins in post-war Norway. That places Simrad among the most enduring names in marine electronics, with a history stretching across commercial fishing fleets, superyachts and the weekend trailer boats found on ramps throughout New Zealand.
Ed Gorman, former Deputy Head of News, Motoring Correspondent and Sailing Correspondent for The Times, wrote a detailed account of Simrad's history to mark their 2021 Silver Diamond Anniversary. What follows is a brief summary of that piece.
The story begins in 1940s Norway with scientist Willy Simonsen, whose wartime work centred on developing covert radio technology in support of the Allied resistance. That experience built an engineering foundation that carried directly into the post-war years, when attention turned to the sea. Rugged radio telephones built for fishing vessels were among the earliest products, followed steadily by echo sounders, fish finders, sonar, radar and navigation systems. By the 1950s the brand had earned a reputation for reliability in genuinely harsh conditions, and that reputation has remained central to Simrad's identity ever since.
The same purpose-driven philosophy shapes the modern product range. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, Simrad designs systems around the specific demands of different boaters, spanning straightforward GPS navigation for small boats at one end through to fully integrated glass bridge helms for large yachts and commercial vessels at the other. Long-term investment in radar, sonar and system integration underpins the entire range.
Among the most influential milestones in the brand's recent history was the 2009 launch of solid-state Broadband Radar, followed by Halo radar technology. Together, those developments transformed radar from a specialist tool into something more accessible, accurate and usable for everyday boaters, without sacrificing performance.
Looking ahead, Simrad points to integration as the defining frontier, bringing navigation, vessel monitoring and onboard control into unified systems that are genuinely intuitive to operate. As boats grow more connected and digitally managed, the company's focus stays consistent with where it began: delivering technology that holds up when conditions are demanding and the decisions being made matter.
Simrad has indicated it will release further historical material throughout the 80th anniversary year, which promises to make for an interesting read.
