X MARKS THE SPOT

TZtouch3 MFDs have Furuno’s TZ First Mate app, which allows anglers to drop waypoint-style event marks to keep track of when, where and under what environmental conditions they caught specific fish. Fishermen can denote species, add images, and include length and weight details too.

TZtouch3 or TZtouch2 display. ¶ “This gives an owner certain advantages over a networked sounder,” Kunz says. “It’s a different way to skin a fish.” ¶ Alternatively, owners can add a Furuno DFF3D multibeam sonar to a TZtouch3 and Deep Impact installation. “This lets [an owner] leverage both products as a package,” he says. “A DFF3D and TZtouch3 MFD, plus a Deep Impact amplifier is really the ticket for serious anglers.” ¶ With a system that includes a TZtouch3 MFD, a Deep Impact amplifier and a DFF3D, owners can spec a single combination transducer that can simultaneously handle all transmissions and returns. “There’s no frequency crossover,” Kunz says. “So they all work without interference, and the transducer [can be installed on] the best location on the boat.” ¶ Returning to the stereo analogy, it’s possible to blow out speakers by combining a powerful amplifier with overly liberal use of the volume knob, and the same holds true for transducers. To prevent this mishap, Airmar- and Furuno-branded transducers have a feature called Xducer ID that embeds a microcontroller in each transducer. This microcontroller contains factory specifications for the transducer, and it performs an electronic handshake with the MFD’s fish finder (or networked sounder) that prevents the system from smoking its transducer. ¶ So, if you enjoy deep-dropping for dinner, or just want to understand what’s below your keel, Furuno’s DI-FFAMP could be a great addition to a TZtouch3-equipped yacht. And while city ordinances sometimes limit the decibels that a car or home stereo can pump out, anglers are free to crank the power on their fish finders.