B&G Zeus3S 16 inch Multi-Function Sailing Display

The B&G Zeus3S 16 Glass Helm (MPN 000-15410-001) is the 16-inch model in B&G's Zeus3S glass-helm multifunction display line, configured as the standard (no bundled accessories). Zeus3S is B&G's flagship navigation system, with the same hardware foundation as the comparable powerboat-focused alternative but with B&G's sailing-specific software stack on top, the SailSteer panel, laylines, sail plan optimization, race timer with start-line distance, tide and current overlays, and the rest of the sailing-focused navigation features that distinguish B&G from generic marine MFDs.

Why glass helm matters. Zeus3S is a glass-helm display, meaning the front face is one flush piece of glass with no physical bezel buttons and no protruding controls. The result is a clean modern dash with a tablet-like aesthetic, easy to clean, and matched to contemporary helm designs from custom sailing yachts to modern production cruisers. For sail boats where the helm is exposed to weather, the glass front is also easier to wipe down salt and water from than bezeled displays with crevices.

Full HD IPS display with wide viewing angles. The 16-inch display delivers 1920x1080 resolution at high brightness, with wide viewing angles that keep the screen readable from any position on the helm. For sail boats where the screen is referenced from the wheel, the leeward winch, the navigation station, and often through polarized sunglasses, the wide-angle visibility is genuinely operational. The optically bonded touchscreen eliminates the air gap between the touch layer and the LCD, which reduces glare, prevents internal fogging in temperature swings, and improves direct-sunlight readability.

Six-core processor. The Zeus3S runs an integrated six-core processor for smooth response across chart panning, multi-panel switching, StructureScan 3D sonar imaging, radar overlay, and sailing-specific calculations (layline computation, tide and current modeling, race-start optimization). For sailors who use the MFD as the primary navigation instrument across long passages or operational racing days, the responsive performance is what makes the screen trustworthy under pressure.

Six-panel split-screen layout. Combine up to six panels in a single display layout, configurable per use case. A racing helm might show chart, laylines, SailSteer, AIS, wind data, and timer in six panels. A cruising helm might show chart, autopilot, wind, depth, AIS, and weather. Create custom layouts for different activities and switch between them with one touch. For sailors who use the boat for multiple purposes (racing, cruising, day-sailing), the customizable layout means one MFD covers all the use cases.

Sailing-specific features. SailSteer panel provides the integrated layline, current, true wind, and target angle visualization that B&G is known for, designed by sailors for sailing-specific navigation. Race timer with start-line distance computation. Tide and current overlays on charts. Sail plan optimization based on true wind angle and speed. Polar performance integration if your boat has polar data available. For sail boats where these features are operationally meaningful, B&G is the MFD that delivers them, not just a checkbox feature on a powerboat-oriented display.

Multi-touch plus optional keypads. The full multi-touch screen handles routine operation (chart panning, waypoint creation, menu navigation) as naturally as a tablet. For fine adjustments and operation in rough conditions or with wet/gloved hands, optional B&G keypads add physical controls that mount adjacent to the display. For racing crews who need precise control during heavy weather or maneuvers, the keypad addition is operationally useful.

Connectivity and integration. Built-in wireless connectivity for mobile mirroring and remote control via the B&G app on iPad or Android. Wired Ethernet for high-bandwidth devices (radar, sonar, additional displays). NMEA 2000 for the boat's instrument network (wind, depth, GPS, AIS, autopilot). NMEA 0183 for older or specialized equipment. J1939 for engine data. For boats running a complete B&G or compatible electronics ecosystem, the Zeus3S is the central piece that ties everything together.

Cartography compatibility. Pre-loaded basemap built in. Compatible with C-MAP MAX-N+ and beyond, Insight, Navionics Gold and Plus and Platinum+, and NV Digital raster charts. For sailors with existing chart card investments, the multi-format support means no starting over with this display.

Display only configuration. This MPN is the Zeus3S 16 display alone, intended for installs where the helm already has the wind instruments, NMEA 2000 backbone, GPS, autopilot, and other system components from a previous install or a separately-sourced setup. For owners building from scratch, B&G also offers Zeus3S as system packs that bundle the display with accessories.

Install considerations. The 16-inch glass helm requires precise dash cutout work for the flush mount, NMEA 2000 backbone connection, Ethernet runs to any radar or sonar modules, and B&G commissioning has specific steps for the sailing-specific features. Power is 12V or 24V DC. Total install is a marine electronics installer day for a clean glass-helm integration on a sailing yacht. Not casual DIY because the cutout precision, network integration, and B&G feature commissioning all benefit from professional setup.

Why pay this much. Three reasons. First, the 16-inch IPS glass-helm display with optical bonding delivers visual quality and aesthetics that lesser MFDs can't match, particularly on sailing yachts where the helm aesthetic matters. Second, the six-core processor and B&G sailing-specific software stack make the Zeus3S the right MFD for serious sailing, with SailSteer, layline, and race features that powerboat-oriented MFDs simply don't provide. Third, the shared platform hardware platform shared with comparable powerboat-focused alternative means mature engineering, wide cartography support, and integration depth with the shared platform ecosystem (radar, sonar, autopilot, audio). For sail boat owners building a serious helm, the Zeus3S 16 is the screen that earns its position.