QUESTION: DEDICATED SOUNDERS/FF OR COMBO UNITS?

[Reef Ranger]

Hello Everyone!

Quick Question: There's often a fair bit of discussion about the preferred brands of GPS plottersor Sounder/FFs or Radar units or Auto-Pilots out there (i.e., Raymarine vs. Furuno vs. Lowrance, vs. Simrad, etc.), but I recently inherited a Furuno GP-1710C (combination Plotter/Sounder-FF/Radar) ona used boat purchase,so I've got an altogether different question regarding such 'combo' units:

Personally, my needs favor a good, functional Sounder/FF overa Radar or even a Plotterbecause visibility here is typically quitehigh and I'm rarelymore than 10-15 miles offshore.Thus, I don't need alot of buzzers and bells in those two modes. However, the Sounder/FF mode of my combo unit leaves alot to be desired on several fronts, and this is the one function that I need the most.

So, my question is, fortheserious offshore sportfishermen out there, especially those withno real space restrictions at the helm,what isyour preferredconfiguration? Is ita dedicated Sounder/FF and another seperate dedicated unit for a Plotter? Or are combo units like mine fairly common out there? If such combo units are indeed 'common', isn't there a trade-off of sorts [i.e., isn't there an inherent loss of functionalityin any one mode (i.e., Sounder vs.Plotter)] when compared to havingseperate, dedicated unit? Put another way, if a guy is a purist, and he wants the very best,most functional,most detailed, most user-friendly Sounder/FF available, isn't he far better off purchasing and using a dedicated Sounder/FF rather than a combo unit?

Thanks ahead of time everyone! And regardless of what your personal preferences or views are, please consider listing what unit(s) you currently own and operate.

Aloha.

[FireFly]

If you can get a really good all in one unit then go that route but it does not sound like this is the case for you. I would keep what you have and use it for your plotter since you don't need something over the top. I'd then get a dedicated FF and invest some $$ in one because you more or less get what you pay for. Rather than mount the FF I'd have a dedicated gal (like the one in your sig) stand at the helm and hold it for you

[bluewaterpirate]

I have had both but prefer to seperate the units. I currently have a Garmin 2206 Chartplotter, Garmin 376c Chartplotter as a backup, and a Furuno 620 FF. The radio is an ICOM 504 & in the lower right hand corner a SH Phantom 1000 VHF. I have limited helm space.

[cojimero]

If you have space....go sepated!!!

[cojimero]

cojimero - 1/9/2007 4:40 PM

If you have space....go sepated!!!

UPPSSS....SAPARATED

[B-Faithful]

I run a combo unit and would go seperate if I had to do it again. You lose a lot of fishfinder features when viewing plotter at the same time... ie. fishfinder split screen with bottom lock.

[Bullshipper]

Seperate.
Furuno FCV585 with a M260 Tranducer in a in hull tank
Stand alone color Garmin GPS with internal antenna and chip for my area.

A little less than $2K for both units

[EddieJoe]

I have a Garmin 498 combo and it works fine for me. However, it is a compromise over two units. If you have the money, the need, and the room, go with two. With the combo I have an excellent plotter, and I can add a separate FF later if I wish, but right now I am happy with the combo alone.

A good separate FF like a Furuno might run me another $700.

EJ

[Bullshipper]

EddieJoe - 1/9/2007 7:09 PM

I have a Garmin 498 combo and it works fine for me. However, it is a compromise over two units. If you have the money, the need, and the room, go with two. With the combo I have an excellent plotter, and I can add a separate FF later if I wish, but right now I am happy with the combo alone.

A good separate FF like a Furuno might run me another $700.

EJ

Just the M260 transducer is abut $575

If you are really serious and load, the Furuno side scannig finder is about $13K.

[Bullshipper]

EddieJoe - 1/9/2007 7:09 PM

I have a Garmin 498 combo and it works fine for me. However, it is a compromise over two units. If you have the money, the need, and the room, go with two. With the combo I have an excellent plotter, and I can add a separate FF later if I wish, but right now I am happy with the combo alone.

A good separate FF like a Furuno might run me another $700.

EJ

Just the M260 transducer is abut $575

If you are really serious and loaded, Furuno side scanning finder is about $13K.

[Reef Ranger]

Yuup, this is pretty much what I suspected (expected) tohear, butit's still good to get confirmation from others. I don't know about other Furuno users out there, but the Furuno unit that I inherited (the GP-1710C) seemsrather mickey-mouse at almost all levels (Sounder/FF, Plotter, etc.).

The variables (adjustments) are rather superficial,the alarms are all nonsensical, and the thing even cuts outevery couple of minutes,right in the middle of usewhich Furuno says is due to sharp turns (not), clutter (not), orthe GPSre-coordinating in the background. Its just NOT a high-end unit at all. So I definitely think I'll look into alternatives. But the sad thing is, I'm hearing in other threads that Furuno plotters aren't considered to be anything great either! Although this one will work just fine for my needs.

Anyway, thanks everyone. I really appreciate all ofthese insights, and I'd like to keep this thread open if at all possible to encourage others to respond including any meaningful recommendations on mainstream dedicated Sounder/FFs.

Aloha.

[Nestor]

my question is whether a stand-alone unit (bb sounder) actually has any more/different capabilities than the combo units?

[Bullshipper]

The stand alones have more quick adjustment knobs on their faces where you have to go through endless menus to get the same thing in combo units. Slow, and I can get seasick by the time its working right.

Plus you get a larger screen for each function. And if you find a better unit than the FCV585, let me know. I am very happy with mine.

[ozmako]

i recomend seperate units . mainly for less clutter of each function but also in case one unit goes down .plus for better selection and viewing of bottom structure especially when splitting screens etc bottom lock or zoom

i am currently running a ray c120 for ff capabilities and a ray 630 c map for plotter gps ..

the new boat i have purchased from the U.S has furuno 1823 which is radar plotter gps ff combo .. i will be ordering furuno gp 1920 as stand alone F.F. but also as back up and for above reasons ...

[warthog5]

isn't he far better off purchasing and using a dedicated Sounder/FF rather than a combo unit?

Yep.

Furuno 582 w/ Airmar B-260 flush mounted into the hull. Garmin 2006C

[Reef Ranger]

Thanks again to all those who have responded here and it certainly appears as thoughFuruno is holding its own in the standalone Sounder/FF market. In fact,it sounds like the Furuno FCV series (the FCV-582L in particular) gets very high marks from everyone who owns (or has used) it.

However, onething that concerns me here is, when I research the FCV-582L, itappears to have little to no practical or technical advantages over the Sounder/FF features of my GP-1710C.I even downloaded the Operators Manual for the FCV-582L, and the features and controls are all very-very similar, which leads me towonder if I'd be gaining much?Am I missing something somewhere? If price or space at the helm weren't necessarily the issue, isn't there a standalone Sounder/FF product or two out there (i.e., Furuno or Raymarine) that are a step-up in terms of overall power, functionality, etc.?

[rebseb]

Lots of good info here but Newbie Question...
I am buying an 18-20 footer for use around hyannis down to falmouth and up to chatham. Moored with Nanatucket sound access. This will be primarily for my teenagers to tube and ski and maybe over the next 2 years venture along the coast and fish 2-3 miles out and me this year to head along the coast exploring. I am thinking I need VHF (handheld? to prevent theft and what about FF/GPS theft). I am getting ahead of myself...Can someone tell or steer me to marine electronics 101...I am pretty technical but just need to know the Acronyms and where one thing means th same as the other...GPS vs chart plotter etc.
At the same time what would you all reccomend. I see big swings in cost and features as well as through the hull, stern mount etc. Not keen on boring a 4 inch diameter hole in the new hull. I am leaning toward stand alones for the same reason I never bought a TV with VCR\DVD. One dies it all comes out for fix. Brands I can research but if there are favorits go ahead and suggest. Right now I'm looking for user advice on whats needed.
Looking forward to my first best day as a boater!
Thanks in advance

[rrrwel]

I think it's great you're researching the differences in fish finders. Furuno has earned a good reputation but they aren't the only good finder on the block. Si-Tex, Interphase, Lowrance, Humminbird and Navman are all really good FF. It depends upon how you're going to use it and how much you want to spend. Too many people just buy a name and really haven't done their homework, or worse yet, bought something they can't figure out how to use. It might be a great FF but if it's too complicated it's useless. What ever FF you decide upon the most important thing is to correctly install a quality transducer or you will be disappointed.

Good Luck

[Reef Ranger]

Rebseb,

Generally speaking, a GPS or Global Positioning System and a Chart Plotter are considered the same thing. Similarly, a Depth Sounder and a Fishfinder are essentially the same device. As for what you need in your situation, I'm sure others with far more experience thanyour's trulywill chime in here, but quite honestly, given the fact that you plan on being very close to shore and probably in fairly shallow waters, I would steer you towards heldehjld ecverything (GPSandor VHF marineradio).

That way, you (or your wife and kids) could use those devices when you're not out on the boat, and if you ever sold the boat, you could keep 'em. Just a thought.Conversely, if you kept the boat, you could always put a flush-mount VHF on-board later, and your family could communicate with youfrom shore via the handheld since you'll always be withing receivable range (i.e., most decenthandheld VHFs like ICOM or Standard Horizons are generally good to about 20 nautical miles).

Aloha.

[Bullshipper]

The Furuno FCV585 is the newer replacement for the 582L. Much better screen apperance, and they claim its got a lot of the newer digital technology.