New Boat - Need Advice with Electronics - The Hull Truth

dannyroche · 10-23-2006, 06:50 PM

Hi,

I 'm closing on an 06 Grady White Marlin and I've narrowed it down to Furuno and Raymarine with the Icom 504 vhf. I'm planning on dual networked displays, digitial sounder, gyro compass (radar/chart overlay)or maybe aSimradap16. I use the boat 50/50 fishing and cruising with the family (4 kids/wife). I do mostly near shore fishing, but do make offshore trips ~10 per year.

Here are my questions:

1.) Best supplier of components from a price and performance perspective?

2.) Advantages of Raymarine or Furuno. I'm partial to the E120/80 combo as the features/price appear equivalent, the displays are larger on the Raymarine and I've only had Raymarine gear to this point with good success.

3.) I was thinking of mounting the radar on a platform and installing a spotlight at the base for night use. Is this a good idea?

4.) Radar dome versus traditional horizontal?

5.) Chartplotter and sounder differences. These are the two functions that I will utilize most.

6.) If able, provide required elements of the config so I'm better informed when shopping.

7.) The standard transducer is 600W, should I spring for the 1KW and what are the advantages.

Thanks,

Glen E · 10-23-2006, 07:09 PM

do it all with Jim Maier at Buy Owner Electronics - see the vendor's list above - great prices and service after the sale....

troll · 10-23-2006, 07:18 PM

Hey Danny! Congrats on the upgrade. Many Sailfish owners have moved to the Marlin and been very happy with the extra space. Do you hang out on www.greatgrady.com? I can't recall if I have seen you there. Here are some answers.

1.) Best supplier of components from a price and performance perspective?

I like Furuno. Some prefer Ray. It depends on your needs and tastes. Consumer Marine Electronics has very good prices. Many places will match your best price.

2.) Advantages of Raymarine or Furuno. I'm partial to the E120/80 combo as the features/price appear equivalent, the displays are larger on the Raymarine and I've only had Raymarine gear to this point with good success.

I hear the Ray has a better display although I love my Navnet. Furuno has the best radars, Garmin the plotters, and it may be debated between Ray and Furuno for sounder. I also like the numeric keypad on the Navnet. Furuno also has great customer service. Check out the Furuno RD30s regardless as they work on NMEA data.

3.) I was thinking of mounting the radar on a platform and installing a spotlight at the base for night use. Is this a good idea?

Most radars on a 300 go on the front of the hardtop. I recommend an array but a dome will work as well. I have a pic of mine if you PM your email address.

4.) Radar dome versus traditional horizontal?

Open array gives better target resolution. Above 4K all radars use an array.

5.) Chartplotter and sounder differences. These are the two functions that I will utilize most.

A person with Ray knowledge can better answer this. I don't use the plotter that much. The Furuno sounder is tops as they have won tons of NMEA awards.

6.) If able, provide required elements of the config so I'm better informed when shopping.

This depends but for Furuno you will need an ethernet if you have dual displays. I have a 10.4" in the lower flushmount plus 2 RD30s. Another 10.4 is in the upper box along with a Icom 502. Get the Standard Marine 5" ext speaker. It sounds much better then the cheaper models.

7.) The standard transducer is 600W, should I spring for the 1KW and what are the advantages.

I have a 600w on a transom mount. It marks great and is plenty for me since I rarely fish in water over 250 feet deep. The 1K will need to be mounted as a shoot thru to avoid sending bubbles in the engine path.

gman25 · 10-23-2006, 08:42 PM

AKA Fishtales?

2005 300 Grady White Marlin w/F250's

troll · 10-23-2006, 09:09 PM

AHA!
Several of us advised Danny. GW owes us some commission!

makosteve66 · 10-23-2006, 09:28 PM

I've had raymarine, furono, northstar, IMO can't go wrong w/ any. The Northstar GPS was the most user friendly, but that was before the multi-funtion displays, and have no experience w/ the multi-s Heard (ubsubstantiated) that Northstar radars and sounders are sub-par - but have no direct knowledge.

Currently have the Raymarine E-Series, love it - but could be more "user friendly" - hard to use on a pitching, rolling boat

had a furuno open array (10 yrs old) best, most accurate radar I have ever used!

either way you go - register w/ the manufacturere web site and you will be treaed well. - my experience

Fishermanbb · 10-23-2006, 10:34 PM

I'd have to agree with the above...They're all best at something and pretty good at the whole package. My Experience:

Always had Furuno fishfinders, Raymarine Radars (Radome), and Garmin plotters on my previous boats....And I was very happy with the performance of each... I thought that was the way to go and was going to do something similar on this boat.

However, after spending some time on a friends boat and talking with some folks I decided to try something different: 2 E120's, 4KW Open array, 1KW Thru hull Airmar, Platinum chip, Icom 504, Simrad AP26....

Gotta say...I'll never look back. The Raymarine's are amazing and with the 1KW transducer it's like cheating ...you can see everything....I can count the stripes on the bass at 200 Feet.....Furuno still makes an awsome radar and great overall equipment but I don't think it's as intuitive as the Raymarine stuff....I guess it's all what your used to but I'm sold on the Raymarine package....And I never thought I'd say that......

PS. I chose the Simrad Autopilot because I wanted virtual feedback

Glen E · 10-24-2006, 12:31 AM

I liike everything enetioned except I would change to a tr-1 autopilot. Also is no rufdder feedback but has automatic release of wheel when in AP. Just grab and turn and then you're back on course. It's well worth the money. Tracks Lazer straight too.

dannyroche · 10-24-2006, 03:56 PM

Hi Guys,
Yes it is fishtales on the GG forum. I thought I'd ask some questions here focused toward a larger audience.

I think I'll go with the Raymarine gear, was leaning that way anyway. I don't believe (2) E120s will fit in the flushmount dash kit in the Marlin, so will likely go with one E120 and one E80. Thanks for the input on the 1KW transducer, will go with it as well.
Two areas that I need to come to terms with:
1.) I was thinking of the rate gyro compass to allow overlay of the radar on the plotter, but maybe will spring for the Simrad ap16. Need to check the pricing difference.
2.) Was leaning toward the 4kw dome versus the open array due to the cost delta. Just don't think I'll use it all that much for the extra money.

Any advice on the items above?

tx

troll · 10-24-2006, 06:43 PM

An AP is very nice to have for any runs over a few minutes in open seas. It also can steer while baits are deployed and when fighting a fish. Once you have an AP you will NEVER be without one. If you subtract the heading sensor from the AP price it looks ever better (since you will not need a separate unit for this if you have an AP). Good luck Danny.

Glen E · 10-24-2006, 07:09 PM

Raymarine will need a seperate heading sensor since the Ray AP does not have a heading sensor out. The TR-1 does - not sure about the simrad. The RM heading sensor is >$500 I'm pretty sure......

troll · 10-24-2006, 07:17 PM

The AP16 has a NMEA out for heading. I cannot recall the sentence by the AP11 (previous model) on my setup does indeed provide heading info to not only the overlay function but also the radar (this allows true vs. relative bearing to targets).

Bugbuster · 10-24-2006, 07:18 PM

Go with the TR-1. It's incredible.

dannyroche · 10-26-2006, 01:39 PM

Thanks everyone.. I'll let you know what I select.

Got Salt? · 10-26-2006, 03:28 PM

whatever you get, dont buy lowrance. their service is awful!!

although i dont buy electronics very often, i did make a small purchace with BOE, and i HIGHLY recommend using them. the prices seem to be about as low as legally possible and there is no question you will get attention after the sale.

stil waiting on an email from lowrance help net
drew

dannyroche · 10-27-2006, 02:16 AM

Glen E &/or Bugbuster,
The TR-1 looks like a great ap.
Did you get the remote or lcd options? Did you install yourself?

Glen E · 10-27-2006, 06:44 AM

Quote:

dannyroche - 10/27/2006 2:16 AM

Glen E &/or Bugbuster,
The TR-1 looks like a great ap.
Did you get the remote or lcd options? Did you install yourself?

I have the remote and no lcd option - it really is not needed as there is nothing to "check" on a AP display. I had mine installed but JimZ who posts here did his no problem.....

the new remote was released at fort laud show this week it is 5 function: left/tight/mob/set heading/resume heading

SWFLNavigation · 10-27-2006, 06:31 PM

Its a real shame that Northstar may be leaving. I would vote Furuno then Ray E series.. Furuno is my 1st choice becuase it can be repaired at local service facility's where as Ray needs to be sent back to the factory. Furuno's true color radar is the best dam radar period. As for the Auto pilot, the TR-1 is nice but is more $$ than the SIMRAD. The Simrad AP16 VF virtual feedback works very well and is easier to find parts for. my .02c worth

lyvet · 10-27-2006, 07:31 PM

Raymarine E-Series are dealer-serviceable; at least they are in Europe, so I would imagine any reputable US dealer is capable of servicing them too

ubettcha13 · 10-27-2006, 08:37 PM

If your going with a dome get the 2k dome the 4kdome is not worth the money4k open is not the dome though