Interphase Escort sonar

INTERPHASE Technologies, Inc. has introduced a new, affordable forward-scanning sonar system developed to help both sailors and power boat skippers avoid these and other potentially dangerous conditions. The Interphase Escort, available in Australia through Coursemaster Autopilots’ dealers around Australia, uses a 12-degree beam to scan a vertical segment of the water ahead of the boat, from the surface down to the bottom. Able to detect targets as much as 360 metres ahead of the boat and up to 180 metres below, the new Escort gives recreational and light commercial mariners the security and confidence they need to navigate tricky or unfamiliar waters. Targets are displayed in 12 colours based on signal strength, to help determine whether they’re approaching a harmless school of baitfish or a dangerous submerged object.

The Escort is designed for easy connection with popular multifunction displays from leading manufacturers including Raymarine, Furuno, Garmin, Lowrance and Seiwa, using the units’ composite video output/input. Navigators can also connect the Escort to inexpensive computer monitors on enclosed vessels and can offer optional simultaneous two-station capabilities on larger vessels.

Each Escort system includes a compact Escort Sonar Module, remote keypad with 3 metre cable, 3 metres of both VGA and video connection cabling, and a choice of either thru-hull or transom mount transducer. This easy-to-use and easy-to-install package with no moving parts has a retail price of $1,895. Interphase also offers a 7-inch colour LCD display with integral keypad as an option.

The affordable Escort provides the same advanced operational features that have made Interphase’s scanning sonar technology a popular collision avoidance/fishing tool with more than 35,000 units in operation worldwide. Features include: Auto Range and Gain settings, Down/Forward Target Alarms, NMEA depth output, NMEA GPS Input, Keel Offset, choice of Sunlight, Day or Night colour palettes for optimum visibility in any conditions, and split-screen mode showing straight down and forward scanning views side-by-side.

More at Coursemaster Autopilots on 02 9417 7097; www.coursemaster.com