Furuno Brings Big-Boat Electronics to Smaller Vessels

For a long time, running a sailboat meant making peace with a real trade-off. Furuno’s navigation Multi Function Display (MFD) technology has historically been out of reach for smaller-boat owners, with the flagship TZtouchXL units sized for larger cruisers and yachts.

Furuno’s new TZtouchE Series and TZMAP MFDs are available in 9-inch and 13-inch configurations, and both are built to fill the spaces where bigger units simply won’t fit. According to Jeff Kauzlaric, Furuno’s Advertising and Communications Manager, the driving force behind both product lines came directly from customer feedback. “Over the years, one of the requests we have heard from customers is for us to have an entry level product that functions like our flagship TZtouchXL MFDs, but that comes in a size that fits on smaller vessels and in smaller spaces,” Kauzlaric explained. Furuno responded by delivering exactly that, and making sure the user interface mirrors the TZtouchXL precisely so operation of the unit is as easy as swiping on your phone.

What TZ MAPS Brings to the Chart

Cartography is often where MFD comparisons get decided, and both series run on TZ MAPS technology. One of the standout capabilities is AI Routing, which creates instant point-to-point routes, intelligently planning a safe and efficient path through channels, marina entrances, inlets, and more using your set draft, chart data, and other safety parameters. You can also easily control the intensity of relief shading of the chart in 2D or 3D, adjusting terrain shading according to slope to improve your perception of the underwater terrain.  

The community-sourced data layer adds another advantage. Other captains transiting the same waterways can edit chart objects, upload harbor photos, and attach comments directly to the chart. Kauzlaric compared it to how Waze functions for drivers, with a thumbs-up and thumbs-down rating system that keeps the contributed data accurate. Local knowledge from experienced captains appears directly on the display without a VHF call.

Both TZMAP and TZtouchE ship with the complete NOAA vector chart catalog for the entire United States at no added cost, meaning a new owner can simply power it up and be underway immediately. Premium TZ MAPS charts with BathyVision and terrain shading are purchasable directly through the MFD. For TZMAP9 and TZMAP13 units, owners can unlock their first chart area for just $150. On the TZT9E and TZT13E TZtouchE models, wide chart areas (like the entire US coastline) are $263.

Keeping Track of Your Tender

Being able to monitor your tender and even receive information back from it is a valuable feature. Furuno incorporated a fleet tracking feature when you have TZtouchE or TZMAP on the parent vessel and TZtouchE or TZMAP on your tender. With both vessels connected to the Internet and using Furuno’s free myTimeZero Cloud, you can monitor your tender’s position, speed, depth and more. If you are navigating through unknown waterways and aren’t sure the parent vessel’s draft will pass through, you can send the tender ahead and monitor the depth. Plus, if the tender is on an excursion, it’s location can be monitored from the parent vessel’s TZtouchE or TZMAP display.

Choosing Between TZMAP and TZtouchE

The two product lines share the same cartography platform and operating interface, but they serve different installation requirements.

TZMAP is a stand-alone MFD. It operates independently without a connection to other displays, and it supports the core sensors most captains depend on: Solid-State NXT Radar domes, satellite compass, and a transducer for the internal Depth Sounder. For nearshore or inland waterway navigation where a single display covers the helm, TZMAP handles the job completely.

TZtouchE builds on that foundation with full networking capability. These units network with other TZtouchE displays and with existing TZtouchXL systems, making TZtouchE the right choice for multi-station helm setups, tenders, or any installation that requires integration with a larger NXT Radar array. The compact all-glass 9-inch and 13-inch footprints also solve a practical mounting problem: TZtouchXL models with their hybrid keypads sometimes won’t fit in tight positions or smaller stations. The TZtouchE units will.

TZtouchE also enables two collision-avoidance features unavailable on TZMAP: Risk Visualizer and AI Avoidance Route, both of which require a networked NXT Radar.

Risk Visualizer continuously evaluates the vessel’s position, speed, and course against surrounding radar targets, whether moving or stationary. When the system identifies a potential collision threat, it generates an alert immediately, removing the need for the captain to manually interpret radar returns. For captains stepping up from boats without radar, the feature translates raw target data into clear, actionable information.

AI Avoidance Route goes further. Once a threat is flagged, the system plots a temporary corrective route to clear the hazard, factoring in chart depth data, vessel position, speed, and draft. The recommended course correction is based on comprehensive data analysis rather than relying on the captain’s split-second judgment alone.

Sail Performance Features

Both series include an internal Depth Sounder where a digital depth sensor can be connected giving you depth, vessel speed, and temperature, perfect for monitoring your depth while navigating. Next add on Furuno’s wind sensor to determine the wind speed and direction, or an ultrasonic weather station that gives additional data such as barometric pressure, wind chill, relative humidity, and more. Both TZtouchE and TZMAP have customizable data screens that allows you to take all this important sailing data and displays it right on the screen in easy-to-read formats. 

The Bottom Line

Furuno has addressed the gap of fitting smaller MFDs into areas with less space in their product lineup. The TZtouchE and TZMAP series deliver flagship-level navigation, charting, and sailing capability in form factors that fit the vessels that have always needed them most. The choice between the two comes down to mounting space, sensor requirements, and whether integration with a larger helm network is part of the build. Either way, the technology is no longer out of reach.

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