FISHING World this week got a hands-on look at the innovative new StructureScan 3D technology from Navico, the parent company for Simrad and Lowrance. The new 3D imaging quickly scans underwater terrain and fish-holding structure to create high-resolution, 180-degree super wide, three-dimensional views – in real time. The result is a three-dimensional perspective that’s clear and easy to read.
A combination of standard sonar, StructureScan HD (SideScan and DownScan), and the new Structure Scan 3D, gives the angler a fantastic understanding of fish, depth and structure in relation to their boat. This is sure to be popular with anglers who don’t like getting too technical with their electronics. The 3D perspective makes the sounder very easy to read straight out of the box.
The new transducer not only provides accurate three-dimensional readings to depths of 100m, but also includes improvements to both the sonar and SideScan technology currently in use on Simrad multi-function displays or Lowrance Gen3 units. Both DownScan Imaging and StructureScan HD have been boosted to provide even more detailed imaging, and the side scanning range has been doubled from 100m to 200m. This makes searching for underwater structure like reef, pinnacles or wrecks much easier as it’s now possible to cover a wider range, and in greater detail, with each pass of the boat.
Another great feature, which was previously available across Navicos’s range of sonar technology and now extends to 3D, is TrackBack. This allows the angler to scroll back through already scanned terrain to have a closer inspection and mark waypoints at precise locations. The unit continues to scan and when the angler is ready he can move forward through the scan to the boat’s real time position, or at a single touch get straight back to real time.
The viewing angles and touch screen controls are also very straightforward, logical and easy to use. Getting information, such as the distance from the boat to a piece of bottom structure or a bait school is available with one touch of the display.
In addition to crystal-clear imaging, StructureScan 3D has many other features exclusive to Navico including: Leading Edge scanning reference provides a clear graphical illustration of the sonar beams as they intersect with the bottom contours and gives the angler a better sense of target depth. SelectScan water column target colouring automatically shades fish-holding cover and suspended targets in a colour that contrasts the selected colour palette, making target identification quicker and easier than ever before. Vertical Depth Enhancement provides emphasis to vertical drops and crucial depth contour changes making them easier to identify relative to the surrounding underwater terrain. 3D Waypoint Overlay makes it easy to revisit fishing areas, structure and other underwater sweet spots. Use the waypoint keypad to save a waypoint at the boat location or switch to cursor mode and save a waypoint over specific targets, baitfish schools or cover.
Images for Structure Scan 3D are viewed on the Gen3 Lowrance HDS or Simrad Evo2 (NSS and NSO) units when used in combination with the new StructureScan 3D Skimmer transducer and Structure Scan 3D module. So, for those already running Gen3 or Evo2 units, all that is required is the upgraded transducer. Navico is expecting Structure Scan 3D to be available by Christmas with a RRP of around $1400.
More info on the Lowrance and Simrad websites.
