Sonar system with adjusted beam

A method of forming an underwater sonar system, the method comprising:

• providing a transducer array, wherein the transducer array defines a transverse axis and a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis extending orthogonal to the transverse axis, and wherein the transducer array is mountable to the watercraft;
• associating signals with a plurality of transducers in the transducer array so as to form a first acoustic beam in a first beam direction and a second acoustic beam in a second beam direction;
• and
• disposing a beam spreading device in a fixed position relative to the transducer array,
• wherein the beam spreading device includes at least one beam spreading surface positioned such that, when the first acoustic beam and the second acoustic beam are emitted, the first acoustic beam and the second acoustic beam impinge upon the at least one beam spreading surface and cause spreading so as to increase a transverse beam width of each of the first acoustic beam and the second acoustic beam and so as to cause re-direction of the first acoustic beam and the second acoustic beam,
• wherein the first acoustic beam and the second acoustic beam are emitted within a plane, and wherein the at least one beam spreading surface is angled such that the first acoustic beam and the second acoustic beam are re-directed out of the plane after the first acoustic beam and the second acoustic beam impinge upon the at least one beam spreading surface.