Radar ?

[kill shot]

I am looking into getting a radar set up for my boat. 28ft. I already have Furuno bottom machine, vhf radio, and Garmin 2006/2010 chart plotter. My question, Is it worth it to get a whole new gps chartplotter,radar combo or is it possible to get a smaller radar set-up on the side. I like the way the chart plotter I have now works already.

Any ideas.
I really don't have a bunch of room. I have been making alot of runs back in late at night with the Thunder and lightning storms and it is getting a little erie out there sometimes.
Some would say don't wait till dark to come back, but the tuna hit hard right before dusk.
Something econmical but trust worthy. Am I asking to much here on this one?
Eric

[bgbill]

Isn't the Garmin 2010 radar ready?

I think it is the 3010 that is Radar Ready, I don't think you can hook up a Radar to the 2010.

Scott M. has a 3010 with Radar and Mike W. has a Furuno Navnet with Radar, I personally prefer the Furuno Radar and the Garmin Plotter.

[WreckDiver]

I looked it up Bret, He would have to do one of the two things he has already suggested. Personally I think radar is a worth while investment IF you have a need for it. Like running at night or in limited visability, fog - storms - etc.. I have been on big boats with good radars they lay out the land and objects quite nicely.

[inletsurf]

If you like what you already have, then keep it and make room for a radar display. Getting the integrated system is big $$$.

What do you plan to use the radar for? detecting Birds? Storms and general navigation? The difference between those two I just listed could be more than $8k. For storms and general navigation a simple 4kW radome would work great. For tuna fishing/detecting birds, you would need at least a 6kw open array for decent results, MINIMUM.

[kill shot]

If you like what you already have, then keep it and make room for a radar display. Getting the integrated system is big $$$.

What do you plan to use the radar for? detecting Birds? Storms and general navigation? The difference between those two I just listed could be more than $8k. For storms and general navigation a simple 4kW radome would work great. For tuna fishing/detecting birds, you would need at least a 6kw open array for decent results, MINIMUM.

Inlet, I need this mostly for running at night when it gets stormy. Being able to find the birds with radar would be sweet but not necessary. So yes just mainly for storms aqnd navigation is what I am looking for.
Eric

[inletsurf]

It is possible to get a return from birds using a 4kW radome, I have a friend who has a furuno who has got it to work. Just not preferred as a primary radar for tuna fishing. This may be the best option for your type of fishing. John Hermes has the 4kW furuno radome on his boat, although a navnet integrated system, the radar performance is great for storms and navigating. We used it on a grounds trip a few months back and was able to navigate through detected holes in some early morning thunderstorms on the way out.

[kill shot]

Inlet, Thanks for the info. Finding the birds is the easy part. I just can't see the storms at night except for the lightning which scares the shit out of me.
Eric

[ITSABOUTTIME]

I have a Navnet and IMHO the overlay on the plotter is definitly worth it. I spent more than I thought I should but it was worth it

[BLACKFIN]

I have a Garmin 3005 and you can plug a Garmin array or radome directly into the back of unit without having to get the separate Garmin "plug 7 play" module (which is kinda big to put under the console). I don't think your Garmin model is radar compatible - you will need a stand alone or upgrade. A Furuno stand alone unit is great, does not take up that much room, and a nice one is $1400-$1700. If you upgrade, you're looking at least $1100 for a new Garmin radar compatible chartplotter and then between $1100 -$1400 for a Garmin radome. It's very nice to overlay a radar with the chartplotter on the same screen. This is Garmin's 3rd year making radar units and they are getting better all the time - the distance between Furuno and Garmin is shrinking quickly. I love Furuno; but I don't have room to get a separate radar display for the console. Also, Garmin is coming out with a new 18" dome in March 2007 which is supposed to be as good technically as the Furunos. That's what I plan on getting when it hits the market. The other nice things about Garmin is you can later add XM satellite weather on the chartplotter screen - but then you will have to also get the plug&play type module

[Steve-o]

Since you seem to need more than simple collision avoidance and navigation from your unit, maybe a higher end model would be better for you. I don't have to worry about thunderstorms very often here, but I imagine that a color unit would run circles around a monochrome one for watching the weather. Furuno has offered color radars/plotters for years now so finding a used one wouldn't be too hard. I'd double check that the radar returns are shown in multiple colors (by intensity) rather than just in A COLOR on a color plotter, which I'm sure manufacturers do. Once again I know little about using them for weather detection, but I think higher transmit power would give you a better picture, and you can get 4 kW domes if are short on space or money, somehow I don't feel like 2 kW would be enough. Also remember that these are basically line-of-sight devices, so the higher the antenna vantage point the better range you'll get.

Price wise, to get into a color unit, you're going to be looking at about 2 grand for the radome (4 kW) and about the same for the display. Finding the head unit on ebay should be no problem, and you could always use it until you feel like adding the radome, which is what I did. I still have my monochrome radar but this winter I plan to get the radome for my color radar/plotter and lose the monochrome setup.