In 2026, Simrad Marine Electronics marks 80 years since its origins in post war Norway, a milestone that places the brand among the longest serving names in marine electronics. From commercial fishing fleets to superyachts and weekend trailer boats, Simrad’s story is grounded in practical innovation shaped by life at sea.
Ed Gorman, former Deputy Head of News, Motoring Correspondent and Sailing Correspondent for The Times, wrote a piece on Simrad’s history for their 2021 Silver Diamond Anniversary, and provided a detailed history and interesting of Simrad, which we have briefly summarised below. You’ll find a link to Gorman’s piece at the end of the summary.
The company began in the 1940s with Norwegian scientist Willy Simonsen, whose wartime work developing covert radio technology for the Allied resistance laid the foundations for Simrad’s future. After the war, that same engineering mindset shifted to the marine world, producing rugged radio telephones for fishing vessels, followed by echo sounders, fish finders, sonar, radar and navigation systems. By the 1950s, Simrad had earned a reputation for equipment that worked reliably in harsh conditions, a reputation that still defines the brand today.
That legacy of durability and purpose driven design continues to guide Simrad’s modern product range. Rather than a one size fits all approach, systems are tailored to different users, from simple GPS navigation for small boats through to fully integrated glass bridge helms for large yachts and commercial vessels. Underpinning this is long term investment in specialist engineering, particularly in radar, sonar and system integration.
One of Simrad’s most influential contributions came with the launch of solid state Broadband Radar in 2009, followed by Halo radar technology. These developments transformed radar from a specialist tool into something more accessible, accurate and usable for everyday boaters, without sacrificing performance.
Looking ahead, Simrad sees integration as the next frontier, bringing navigation, monitoring and vessel control into unified, intuitive systems. As boats become more connected and digitally managed, Simrad’s focus remains unchanged: delivering technology that boaters can trust when conditions are demanding and decisions matter.
Simrad promises to provide more history over the course of their 80th anniversary year. Personally, I think it will make for an interesting read.
Learn more: https://www.simrad-yachting.com/en-nz/learning-and-news-hub/our-story/tradition-pedigree-and-innovation/
