Furuno has added a powerful new weapon to the toolkit of large sport fishing vessels with the launch of the CSH10. Compact in design but formidable in capability, the unit brings together Furuno's long-established sonar expertise and advanced scanning technology to help crews locate, track, and target fish with greater precision than before.
The centrepiece of the CSH10 is continuous 360-degree real-time scanning, which produces a comprehensive underwater picture with very few blind spots. A high-frequency 83.5 kHz transducer delivers sharp resolution, giving operators a clear separation between fish, seabed, and underwater structure. Detection range reaches out to 900 metres, meaning distant schools or submerged wrecks that might otherwise go unnoticed come well within reach.
To keep that picture stable in the kind of conditions offshore fishers regularly encounter, Furuno has incorporated a built-in motion sensor alongside its own beam stabilisation technology. When a vessel pitches in a heavy sea, the system automatically corrects beam angles so that fish targets remain steady on screen regardless of what the ocean is doing.
One feature that will appeal immediately to skippers is the target lock function. Once a school has been identified, the sonar takes over the job of tracking its distance, depth, speed, and heading, holding it on screen as the vessel manoeuvres around it. Two distinct lock modes let operators choose between following a moving school of fish or holding on a fixed point such as a reef or pinnacle.
The fish estimate mark function adds another layer of intelligence. It measures the length, width, and density of up to two separate schools simultaneously, giving the crew the information they need to decide which target is worth pursuing. Furuno's Auto Filter further refines the picture by reducing noise and bringing out finer detail in the image.
Practical usability has clearly been considered carefully in the design process. The redesigned control unit is more compact than its predecessors and features a large trackball, a tilt lever, and a RotoKey™, with the option of wired or wireless remotes for adjustments from the deck. Deployment and retraction are quick, with the 400 mm stroke unit lifting or lowering in just seven seconds, making it easy to manage when the vessel is on the move.
The CSH10 is rated for operation at speeds up to 20 knots and offers retrofit compatibility with hull tubes from earlier Furuno models, making it a practical upgrade path for existing vessels. Post-trip analysis is supported through data recording and playback functions, and skippers can choose from head-up, north-up, or course-up display orientations depending on how they prefer to read the information.
For serious offshore operators, the combination of long detection range, high-clarity imaging, and intelligent tracking capability makes the Furuno CSH10 a unit that deserves close attention.
