The EchoPilot FLS Gold is a result of many years development. We have listened to existing customers ideas on how to make Forward Sonar more useful and easier to use.
The display may be switched to show GPS data (from almost any GPS), including all Waypoint information, forward sonar display or a combination of them both.
NMEA0183 the world marine industry standard protocol interface allows the instrument to output speed and depth to other instruments or if appropriate to receive and display it.
For larger vessels with a separate navigation area or second steering position, a full function repeater with all controls may be supplied.
We have taken great care with our choice of LCD and many days were spent comparing transmissive with transflective, cold cathode lit with electroluminescent, the result is a system which is good in sunlight, darkness and (more difficult) badly lit situations. The Gold screen is also the largest that can be fitted in the case.
Simple selection of range in use is by pressing the up or down buttons. The shortest range for maximum detail in shallow water is 20m ahead x 10m down (60' x 30') and the longest is 150m ahead x 75m down (450' x 225'). Four intermediate ranges fill the gaps.
Many of our early customers loved the FLS's display of the seabed ahead, but also asked for the actual depth below too. This we now do, without adding a second vertical transducer. The software will average the left hand third of the screen (most of which is under the bow anyway) and display the mean figure in the bottom left hand corner of the screen in metres or feet.
To add speed just buy our "speed kit" of paddle wheel transducer and thru-hull fitting and a complete log with miles, trip and speed appears in the top right hand corner of the screen.
Many (vertical) depth sounder alarms are a joke, often warning you many seconds after you have gone over a hazard. The EchoPilot system allows you to alarm a section of the screen 2,4,6 or 8 metres below the transducer right up to 150m ahead. If more than a certain number of pixels above the line light up the alarm sounds (on the Repeater too, if fitted).
Mounting electronics on a boat can be a worry so we have tried to make it as simple as possible for you. The EchoPilot FLS Gold is totally waterproof from the front and has a good 1/4" (6mm) flange all round to enable easy flush mounting from the front. Boat builders with routing facilities and panel manufacturers can mount from the rear to for a smart "sub flush" look.
View Transducer Installation
Select the Standard or Professional Transducer from the drop down menu above.