Garmin Panoptix forward-looking sonar for serious cruising

Garmin has released a new Panoptix Forward PS51-TH thru-hull transducer designed to bring the company’s impressive forward-scanning sounder technology to an even greater range of boats including serious motor cruisers and yachts.

Designed to give skippers more confidence and peace of mind when navigating unfamiliar waters, the new phased-array multi-beam transducer incorporates Panoptix FrontVü forward-looking sonar.

Garmin says this new transducer and technology will display the bottom up to 300ft (90m) ahead of the boat at 8-10 times the current water depth.

Thanks to its relatively narrow transducer beam for a forward sonar of 20
degrees, the PS51-TH allows skippers to focus on the bottom dead ahead rather than cloud the readings with 'shows' and obstructions off to either
side of the boat.

Panoptix FrontVü forward-looking sonar will therefore be a boon for
cruising boaters and sailors exploring new anchorages, navigating
unfamiliar waterways, and moseying about in miry waters. Naturally,
anglers looking for fish-holding structure are also in Garmin's sights.

The stainless steel thru-hull transducer’s low-profile installation is said to
withstand speeds up to 45 knots, with optimal operation at displacement speeds up to
8 knots.

Designed for power and sail hulls with a deadrise up to 25
degrees, the Panoptix Forward PS51-TH comes with a fairing block for through-hull installation. Best performance is gained by mounting the transducer as far forward as you can without exceeding the 25 degree hull deadrise.

The PS51-TH is compatible with the echoMAP
CHIRP 75sv and 95sv, the new GPSMAP 752xs/952xs and 1022xsv/1222xsv
series, and GPSMAP 8400, 7400, 751xs/820xs/1020xs series.

The new robust PS51-TH also provides digital depth and temperature, so there’s no need to purchase a separate traditional transducer for basic depth information.

No black box is needed, either, simply plug-in the transducer once it’s installed and start exploring your anchorages and fishing spots. It also includes an AHRS sensor for motion stabilisation in rough water.

In addition, the PS51-TH also provided boaters with LiveVü Forward technology.

This shows a real-time image of targets moving toward or away from the boat, even while stationary. Anglers will love it, so too divers wanting to keep tabs on the crew below.

The feature can be used in a split screen with other Panoptix all-seeing sonar views, so boaters can see real-time sonar imagery of what’s around and in front of their boat at video-like speed, Garmin says.

The Panoptix Forward PS51-TH transducer has a RRP of AU$2399. More at Garmin's Australian website.