OLATHE, Kan./Nov. 2, 2016/Business Wire – Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), today announced the Panoptix™ Forward PS51-TH, a new phased-array multibeam thru-hull mount transducer that adds premium FrontVü™ forward looking sonar to help cruisers avoid running aground1. Designed to give mariners more confidence and peace of mind when navigating unfamiliar water, Panoptix FrontVü is a narrow beam, forward-looking sonar that focuses on the bottom in front of the boat instead of what’s off to each side. The PS51-TH is being announced in conjunction with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Nov. 3-7, and will be on display at the Garmin booth #323-324.
“The Panoptix PS51-TH delivers nearly instant feedback of what’s in front of your boat and provides relevant information captains need to make critical navigation decisions, especially in unfamiliar water,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “Now available in a conventional thru-hull installation method, the PS51-TH brings Garmin’s revolutionary Panoptix technology to an even greater range of boats.”
Panoptix FrontVü sonar displays the bottom up to 300 feet ahead of the boat at 8 to 10 times the current depth. Coupled with its fast update rate, the PS51-TH helps ensure that mariners have more time to react to dangerous obstacles up ahead and change course if needed. Thanks to its narrow beam, forward-looking sonar (20 degrees), the PS51-TH allows the captain to focus on the bottom in front of the boat and shows fewer false positives of obstructions off to each side of the boat. It also includes an AHRS sensor for motion stabilization in rough water conditions.
Compatible with a wide range of Garmin chartplotters, the FrontVü forward-looking sonar data can be easily shared across other chartplotters across the Garmin Marine Network. With an easy-to-understand interface, FrontVü clearly displays the bottom and provides a digital depth and temperature number, so there’s no need to purchase a separate traditional transducer for basic depth information. No black-box is needed – simply plug in the transducer once it’s installed and start exploring with more confidence than before.
The PS51-TH pulls double duty providing users both LiveVü™ Forward and FrontVü technologies. LiveVü Forward shows an image of targets moving toward or away from the boat, even while stationary, in real time. The FrontVü feature can be used in a split screen with other Panoptix all-seeing sonar views, so mariners can see real-time sonar imagery of what’s around and in front of their boat at video-like speed.
Expected to be available in the first quarter of 2017, the PS51-TH will retail for $1499.99. It’s compatible with the 7- and 9-inch echoMAP® CHIRP chartplotter/sonar combos, the new GPSMAP® 7x2/9x2 and 10x2/12x2 series, and the GPSMAP 8400/8600, 7400/7600, 7x1/8x0/10x0 series. For more information, visit garmin.com/newmarine.
Garmin was recently named Manufacturer of the Year for the second year in a row by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA), an honor given to the most recognized marine electronics company for support of products in the field. Garmin’s portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high-resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation, and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and ease-of-use.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.