Boat Electronics Question

[biggsy]

What do most of you use when out there searching for new spots or looking for a good show? I have seen a number of units with the guys I have been out with and my head is spinning. We are looking to upgrade the electronics and I am just looking for some feedback.

I am looking for something that has a good response and does not have a lot of lag time and user friendly. I would like the fish finder, radar and chart plotter all in one. I'd like something that has a good split screen as our console is not that large, so I don't think separtae units will work. I'd like to be able to look for relief while I am running. We really liked the Raymarine E-series packages, but I don't recall seeing it used much by others.

Thoughts on radar, open array .vs dome or even the value of radar?

The boat is a 28' walk around.

What would you get if money was no object?

What would you get if you had 5-7k to spend?

Thanks in advance!

[richhermes]

For user-friendly, I would look at the Garmin GPSMAP 3210.

Furuno is good, but not nearly as user-friendly. Try reading a Furuno owners manual. It's a PITA.

[SFK]

I have 2 Raymarine C80 that you are welcome to come up and look at. They are on my 29' SeaVee. I have radar,depth finder and chart system. I broke mine up into 2 units so that one I have 2 GPS systems in case one out. Also this allows me to run a full split screen on my fishfinder when looking at the bottom. If you are going for a all in one unit. Put the biggest screen you can on the boat. Because you are going to break them up in mutiple screens. Go by Tropica Marine in Ft. Myers ask for Tony. He is the guy who did the work on my boat. They have Raymarine,Furuno and NorthStar
Also next month is the Ft. Lauderdale boat show and that is a great place to see all the new stuff as well as all the major electronics makers in one spot.
Mike Huskey

[swimndive]

Biggsy, I have an E120 which I use as a plotter, fish finder and video display. I decided to keep the Furuno radar instead of springing for another radar unit as well. The Furuno being on a seperate display gives me more screen space on the e-120 which is also nice. Also thought about adding a small Raymarine dome, so I could do the overlay thing, but never got around to needing it.

[SpearDiverTampa]

I am getting ready to outfit my dads boat with a E120 w/ an 4kw 4' Open array this week. I really like the E120 unit from using it a couple weeks running a buddies boat down in the keys, it's very user freindly and an awesome all in one unit. I don't think you need an open array radar unless you want to be able to find birds when fishing offshore (what we do sometimes on the east coast). You can get a 4kw dome for 1/2 the price of a 4kw open array (about $1,500 less). We use raymarines 1kw in hull transducer, which reads awesome as deep as we have used it (about 250'). Give me a call if you have any other questions john.
-Chris

[Grin]

I like all units separate. But your right it can get tight on space and expensive. If I were getting a all in one unit and was intersted in radar, I'd be looking at a Furuno Navnet settup. I have a Northstar GPS, Furuno 582 depth machine, and want a Furuno radar. At least two displays are neccessary IMO. Your looking at the depth and GPS to find spots and a split screen might work to do both simultaneously but I think it would be nicer to have them completely separate. If your working the radar it is highly likely you would be watching the gps or bottom machine also during the radar operation also.

[Mako23]

I've got the c-80 , it's a good unit very user friendly and shows well deeper than 300'.
As far as multiple screens you only can look at so much at one time. Plus the chart and radar will overlay.

[Mobile Diver]

If you can wait for a big boat show, you can see all the major brands & evaluate them. Buy on price & how easy they are for you to use. All the big companies make good products. That being said, I have always found Raymarine to be very user friendly.

Radar is very nice, but expensive & a takes up a lot of room with the antenna & cable. Lowest priority of the group. Essential only if you run at night a lot.

[deepdestroyer]

I have the furuno navnet, I think its really easy to use the chart plotter, the lag isnt too bad either, and the radar isnt that difficult to use IMO. I have only good things to say about the unit compared to some other "all in one" machines I have used. I cannot attest to the sounder because I didnt have the extra cash to get it when I purchased the unit, but I've heard great things about it. As for the radar it depends on what you want it for. If your gunna be loookin for birds, I'd deff go with the 6 kw 4 foot open array. If you just want to see summer stormes a dome will be fine. I am no electronics expert these are just my opinions, hope it helps.