Furuno Introduces New Products; Is Now Distributor For Lokata EPIRBs

—Literature Available— Furuno U.S.A., Inc., South San Francisco, Calif., recently introduced a new low-cost searchlight sonar to their line of professional fish finding equipment, and added the FCV-551 eight-color video sounder to its sounder family. In addi- tion, the company was appointed exclusive distributor for the Lokata line of 406 MHz distress beacons in the U.S.

The CH-18 color searchlight sonar, for commercial and serious sport fishermen, is a compact system that provides an extremely bright eightcolor non-fading picture on a high resolution 8-inch CRT with selectable background color. The system consists of only two units for easy installation. The display unit can be very conveniently mounted in even small pilothouses, while the transducer unit requires only a 6-inch I.D. hull pipe.

The CH-18 offers a powerful 800W (rms) transmitter operating at 180 kHz and has automatic or manual training in 6 degree steps around a full circle, or in any of eight operator selectable sectors.

Performance features include offcentering, target alarm, VRM and EBL, 6.5 degree high resolution conical beam, 11 ranges to 1,800 feet, audio monitor, noise limiter and interference rejector. Options include handheld remote control and electronic transducer stabilization.

The FCV-551 500W (rms), singlefrequency, eight-color video sounder with high resolution 8-inch CRT has now been added to the sounder family that includes the dual-frequency FCV-552 introduced last year.

Both units can provide, with optional sensors, a historical temperature plot covering the range from 23 to 86 degree F on the lower third of the CRT. Or they can interface with onboard loran or sat nav receivers to function as video plotters complete with present position, track plot, event marks, present and past waypoints, range/bearing to waypoint, and current time, as well as position, depth, temperature and time data for past waypoints.

The FCV-551 is available in either 50 or 200 kHz operating frequencies.

It has internal memory to store a full page of data in any mode, alarms for fish, bottom, midlayer, or temperature, it stores up to 16 events, and operates from a universal 11-40 VDC power supply drawing just 50 W.

Furuno's new FCV-551, and the entire FCV-550 series, has the performance features for complete fishing database management.

The Lokata line of 406 MHz distress beacons, for which Furuno was recently appointed exclusive distributor in the U.S., transmit on the worldwide frequency for satelliteaided search and rescue, and include information on ship identification and type of emergency. Signals are relayed via polar-orbiting COSPAS-SARSAT satellites to ground stations which then calculate vessel position to within 1-2 km.

Furuno offers three versions of the Lokata EPIRB, two Category 1 float-free units and one Category 2 unit. In Category 1, Models 406H and 406HH are available, the latter including a built-in heater to insure release in severe icing conditions.

Once installed, these units are fully automatic, designed to float free and begin transmitting should the vessel sink or capsize.

While these new 406 MHz EPIRBs are now authorized for any vessel equipped with a VHF ship station, the U.S. Coast Guard has ruled that uninspected fishing vessels operating on the high seas must have an FCC Type Category 1 406 MHz EPIRB on board by August 17, 1989; if the vessel has an operable 121.5 MHZ Classs A EPIRB that was installed prior to October 3, 1988, it has until August 17, 1994 to fit the new style unit.

For free literature detailing the Lokata line of 406 MHz distress beacons, Circle 24 on Reader Service Card For free full-color literature on Furuno's CH-18 color searchlight sonar, Circle 25 on Reader Service Card For further information and fullcolor literature on Furuno's expanded FCV-550 series color sounder line, Circle 26 on Reader Service Card

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 54, Feb 1989

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