Systems and methods for presenting marine information are provided herein. A system includes an array of a plurality of sonar transducer elements associated with a watercraft and a display. The system causes presentation of a chart of a body of water, including a representation of the watercraft at a current location. The system also operates the array to cause transmission of sonar beams into the underwater environment and receives sonar return data from the array. The system further generates, based on the sonar return data, a two-dimensional live sonar image, determines a facing direction of the array, and causes presentation of the sonar image in the facing direction on the chart and relative to the representation of the watercraft. Accordingly, live sonar imagery is presented on the chart to visually provide a relationship between objects within the live sonar imagery and the real-world position of those objects.

A system for determining distance corresponding to positions within a sonar image is provided. The system includes transducer elements configured to transmit sonar signals into a body of water and receive corresponding sonar returns. The system further includes a device with a processor and a memory including computer program code that is configured to cause the device to receive sonar returns, generate sonar images based on the sonar returns, receive a user input selection indicating a first and second sonar position in the sonar images, determine a first chart location that corresponds to the first sonar position, determine a second chart location that corresponds to the second sonar position, determine a distance between the first and second chart location and cause the distance to be displayed on a user interface. Systems are also included herein for presenting sonar beam indicators on charts for noting the direction of the sonar beam.

A system for presenting sonar beam indicators on charts for noting the direction of the sonar beam is provided herein. The system includes one or more transducer elements and a bearing sensor configured to measure a bearing associated with the one or more transducer elements during receipt of the sonar returns. A marine electronics device is configured to receive sonar return data from the one or more transducer elements and generate sonar images based thereon. The marine electronics device further is configured to determine a watercraft location, receive a measured bearing, plot a watercraft indicator on a navigation chart, and cause a sonar beam indicator to be displayed in association with the watercraft indicator based on the measured bearing. The sonar beam indicator displays an indication of the direction in which the one or more transducer elements are facing when the sonar return data was received.

An apparatus configured to generate a first sonar image from first sonar returns corresponding to a first depth range and generate a second sonar image from the first sonar returns and second sonar returns, the second sonar returns corresponding to a second depth range greater than the first depth range of the first sonar returns such that a portion of the second sonar image does not include sonar return data. The portion without sonar return data corresponds to a period of the first sonar returns and depths greater than the maximum depth of the first depth range. The apparatus is configured to generate and display a fill image for the portion of the second sonar image based on at least one set of side facing sonar return data corresponding to the time period associated with the first sonar returns.

An apparatus configured to generate a first sonar image from first sonar returns corresponding to a first depth range and generate a second sonar image from the first sonar returns and second sonar returns, the second sonar returns corresponding to a second depth range greater than the first depth range of the first sonar returns such that a portion of the second sonar image does not include sonar return data. The portion without sonar return data corresponds to a period of the first sonar returns and depths greater than the maximum depth of the first depth range. The apparatus is configured to generate and display a fill image for the portion of the second sonar image based on at least one set of side facing sonar return data corresponding to the time period associated with the first sonar returns.

Systems and methods for providing a sonar beam footprint are detailed herein. A system for presenting marine data includes at least one sonar transducer associated with a watercraft, a display, processor(s), and memory including computer program code. The sonar transducer emits sonar beams into an underwater environment that define a beam shape. The program code, when executed, causes, on the display, presentation of a chart and a representation of the watercraft; determines a depth corresponding to a bottom surface of a body of water at a current location of the watercraft; and determines, based on the depth and the beam shape, a sonar beam footprint corresponding to a projection of the beam shape at the depth. The program code further causes, on the display, presentation of the sonar beam footprint on the chart so as to visually indicate sonar beam coverage.

A 360-degree sonar imaging system and method are provided. The system includes a sonar transducer assembly pod with tilted mechanically scanning sonar (MSS) transducers that is deployed into the water below the bottom of the boat. The system provides photo-like imaging of an area surrounding a boat which does not require the boat to be in motion. The pod is deployed by a variety of manual, (trolling motor, transom) or powered mechanical (bow, transom, or fairing block) deployment mechanisms to allow for deployment and retraction of the sonar transducer assembly. In particular embodiments, the MSS system communicates with a side-scan-sonar-imaging-equipped control head unit to display the images generated therefrom. Various speeds and sector scans are provided, as well as a locked side-scan sonar mode. Waypoint navigation and split screen views are also provided.