B&G has announced the Zeus SRX chartplotter at the Miami boat show, and it is clearly aimed at the top shelf end of sailing electronics. The company is pitching it as a luxury experience, but the more interesting story is practical. It is about speed, clarity, and keeping the helm calmer when the boat is busy.
Kiwi sailors will be able to get hands on soon enough. B&G will be on display at the Auckland Boat Show from March 5 to 8, and B&G is locally available through Advance Trident. If you are planning a new build, a major refit, or a proper helm tidy up, this is the sort of unit you look at in person, not online.
“Zeus SRX was designed for those who demand nothing less than perfection at sea.”
“Whether you’re racing or cruising, this chartplotter delivers uncompromising speed, clarity, and control.”
That is the press release language. The on water question is simpler. Does it help you make better decisions, faster, with fewer mistakes.
B&G Zeus SRX chartplotter and the NEON operating system
The big change is the operating system. Zeus SRX runs the NEON platform, which B&G says is optimised for large screens and built to feel immediate. That matters because lag creates workload. It breaks rhythm. It forces you to look twice, touch twice, and second guess.
The interface centres around an activity bar that keeps core tools close, then gets out of the way when you do not need it. Quick access buttons are meant to make layers and overlays simple to reach, without digging through menus.
This is where modern chartplotters win or lose. Not on the spec sheet, but on the number of steps between thinking and doing. In a short handed crew, or in the last minute before a start, you do not want to be hunting.
From what B&G is claiming, Zeus SRX focuses on faster boot times, instant chart redraw, and smoother transitions between functions. If it delivers, you should feel it in tight moments. Approaching a headland at dusk. Lining up a layline with traffic in the way. Picking a route through a harbour with tide and wind against you.
B&G Zeus SRX chartplotter for racing, cruising, and anchoring
B&G has included dedicated modes for cruising, racing and anchoring. Done well, that can reduce clutter. It can also reduce mistakes, because the system presents the information that suits the task.
For racers, the familiar B&G toolkit is front and centre. SailSteer, LayLines, Routes and StartLine are all listed, alongside integration with B&G processors, autopilots, Triton 2, Nemesis instruments, wind sensors, and HALO radar.
For cruisers, the value is not just sailing features. It is visibility and confidence. Clear information. A layout that makes sense at a glance. The sort of screen you can read from a couple of steps back while you are also watching the sea state and the sail shape.
For anchoring mode, the emphasis is usually on clean depth data, position stability, and quick access to chart detail. The announcement does not go into depth, but it is a mode worth testing when you see it in Auckland. Ask to see how quickly it switches, what it surfaces, and what it hides.
C MAP charts, Safety Alerts, and practical passage planning
Zeus SRX supports C MAP Discover X and Reveal X, using the newer X Gen chart system. The promise here is detail and speed, plus the ability to update charts directly from the unit via X Chart Manager, including custom area downloads.
For New Zealand sailors, custom areas matter. Few of us need an entire ocean. We need our coast, our cruising grounds, and whatever our next passage demands. Being able to update and tailor coverage is a useful direction.
B&G also highlights C MAP Safety Alerts, which can warn of hazards ahead, from shallow water to buoys. Treat any alert system as a backstop, not a brain. Still, as an extra layer, it can be helpful, particularly at night, or when fatigue is creeping in on a long leg.
There is also a B&G app tie in noted, with a 12 month premium subscription when registering a C MAP X chart. That sort of value is always in the detail, so check what is included and what is not.
Integration, networking, and what to ask your installer
Zeus SRX is pitched as the heart of the onboard system, pulling data and control into one interface. CZone integration is called out specifically, with control over lighting, power, entertainment and navigation.
That will appeal to modern yachts where the nav station and the helm are no longer separate worlds. You want one place to see what matters, and you want it to stay stable.
On the hardware side, Zeus SRX uses a SolarMAX IPS touchscreen that is viewable from all angles, including through polarised sunglasses. It also includes active cooling for performance in high ambient temperatures. That is not glamour. It is reliability. Heat kills electronics. Anything that manages temperature properly is worth having.
Networking includes WiFi 5, Gigabit Ethernet and NMEA 2000, plus support for up to four IP video cameras. If you have ever tried to dock a bigger yacht with a poor sightline, you will understand why camera support is moving from nice to have into expected.
When you see Zeus SRX at the Auckland Boat Show, ask a few practical questions:
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How quickly can you jump between chart, instrument pages, and radar overlay
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How custom dashboards are built, and how easy it is to return to default
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How it behaves with gloves, wet hands, and glare
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What the install requirements are for Ethernet, NMEA 2000, and power
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How the cooling is handled in a tight helm pod
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What local support looks like through Advance Trident
B&G Zeus SRX chartplotter: what we know now
B&G says Zeus SRX will be available in 16 inch and 22 inch sizes, starting from $6,999 USD. That places it squarely in premium territory, aimed at larger yachts and owners who want a modern integrated helm.
For New Zealand sailors, the most useful next step is simple. Go and look at it. Touch it. Try to do common tasks quickly. See if the screen reads the way you want it to read.
If NEON delivers on the promise of speed and simplicity, the B&G Zeus SRX chartplotter could become a serious drawcard for high end refits and new builds over the next few seasons.
