Article by Capt. Steve Katz
The new Furuno TZT2
Introduced during this past winter’s boat show season, Furuno’s newest chartplotter is finally available for purchase. This new offering is a lot more than just another chartplotter. Two new models are available, called the TZtouch2, sometimes referred to as TZT2. The new models are the TZTL15F and TZTL12F. These are the same except for the screen size. The TZTL12F has a 12.1-inch display and the TZTL15F has a 15.6-inch display.
I will jump right into the top 5 highlights, and then explain the details:
•edge-to-edge glass touch screen with no control buttons or knobs (one power button)
•built-in GPS antenna
•built-in fishfinder
•RezBoost fishfinder digital signal processing
•built-in Wi-Fi.
Maybe the best feature for everyone is the built-in owner’s manual, called eGuide, which allows you to access the owner’s manual on the display screen.
This new chartplotter takes an interesting turn from the last few Furuno chartplotters, The NavNet3D and the TZtouch were both based on the windows computer platform and this chartplotter is based on the Android operating system, packaged in a lightweight case and includes convenient pigtails for wiring connections instead of rigid connectors on the back.
The edge-to-edge, glass touch screen looks and feels sleek and smooth while providing a great surface in which to swipe to access the controls and features. You can “Edge Swipe” from all four sides to access various options. Swiping from the left of the screen reveals the NavData panel, where you can customize contents to simplify navigation and chart usage. You can set the autopilot, check tide information and much more. Swipe down from the top of the screen and display page options that drop down for quick and easy access. Swipe the right side to view contextually appropriate menus, and swipe from the bottom for chart for data layer options. Rather than digging through menus, all of the important options are now just a swipe away. As with the last TZT device, Furuno uses its MaxSea TimeZero™ technology here in the TZT2, allowing seamless chart handling, zooming and panning without the screen disappearing.
The built-in, 56 channel WASS GPS is great for many boats, saving time on installation costs. If needed, a NMEA2000 external GPS antenna from most any manufacturer can easily be connected. The built-in Wi-Fi will allow you to access the chartplotter from an Android or Apple iOS device. More wireless capabilities are coming soon, including connection to the Active Captain Service that delivers crowd-sourced points of interest, Community Charts that allow users to report changes such as depth, obstructions, etc., and in the future a TimeZero Cloud Data Service that will allow you to back up and synchronize your data across your TimeZero devices.
Connecting the TZT2 to existing devices is easy. It will interface with most modern Furuno hardware such as the popular Furuno sonars DFF1, BBDS1, DFF3 and DFF1-UHD and it will connect to compatible radars used with the Navnet 3D and TZT systems, all through an Ethernet interface. The TZT2 is compatible with Furuno and third party devices on the NMEA2000 network, such as GPS antennas, speed sensors, depth sensors, engine data and most NEMA2000 devices. Of course, the system easily integrates with modern Furuno autopilots, allowing you to control the autopilot from the chartplotter screen. Satellite weather modules, FLIR cameras, video cameras, AIS, HDMI output, compasses and remotes are just a partial list of compatible hardware that is easily connected with these new chart plotters.
Speaking of engine data, if properly connected to a NMEA2000 engine, the Furuno engine data screen is fully customizable, in the size, type and location of the way the engine data is displayed. This is the most flexible engine data display screen on any chart plotter.
If you do not already have a fishfinder, the TZT2 has built-in sonar, a first for Furuno, with up to 1,000 watts of power, dual-frequency (50/200kHz) and all the traditional sounder features. If you already have a Furuno fishfinder, your existing transducer may easily connect to the TZTouch2 and offer you a better fishfinder.
A new fishfinder feature is the RezBoost™ technology, introduced on this TZT2 hardware. Rezboost™ is a revolutionary new technology utilizing FURUNO's advanced digital signal processing to provide fantastic resolution without having to change your transducer. It produces fish targets and images that are up to 8 times sharper than a conventional fishfinder. Not all transducers are compatible with RezBoost, so check with Furuno or your dealer for the list of compatible transducers.
While there are other glass bridge chartplotter systems from other manufacturers, these Furuno displays are powerful and competitively priced and offered at prices similar to Furuno's previous models. This TZT2 is not necessarily a replacement for an existing TZtouch, but a complimentary product to the existing NavNet line-up, which includes NavNet3D, TZtouch and now TZtouch2. These chartplotters are currently available and cost $3,995 for the smaller TZTL12F and $5,995 for the larger TZTL15F.
Captain Steve Katz is the owner of Steve’s Marine Service and holds NMEA, AMEI and NMEA2000 certificates along with ABYC Master Technician certification and factory training from many manufacturers.
