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Random Quote: I fish better with a lit cigar; some people fish better with talent.
I need to finalize an electronics order for a 28' CC and need some input. I am looking at the
Furuno 1944C
Raymarine 120 E
Garmin 4212
Furunos chart plotter is not as good or as large as the others
Raymarine is not as user friendly and has to have the 10kw radar
Garmin only has a 4kw radar and I have been told the bottom finder sucks
I think once you have used a larger display, you'd never want to go smaller unit unless the boat just won't accommodate it so I would probably point you in the direction of Raymarine or Garmin. I have experience with both Raymarine and Garmin and would frankly find either more than acceptable. First off, the Ray E 120 is compatible with both open array and radomes, you are not confined to just 10 kw units. I would agree that the sonar display is perhaps a little more impressive to look at on the Raymarine but, would it make you find fish any better? I doubt it. The Garmin GSD 22 which I have is more than adequate. I would agree that Garmin is a little more user friendly. Currently I may find myself running a Garmin equipped boat one week and Raymarine the next. When people talk about user friendly, to me that translates to how easy is it to get from one screen or function to the next. Garmin in that regard is much simpler, fewer buttons or keystrokes if you will, to move about the various functions you may want to look at. This is particularly useful when you are in rough seas and bouncing around, the Garmin is just simpler to navigate around with. I find that Raymarine is a little more complicated and there may be multiple steps involved to get the same result that you may be looking for in a Garmin. However, once you have the Raymarine E 120 and get used to its operation and functions, I think for the most part the less user friendly issue dissolves away. It's just a matter of getting used to it. I do a lot of installation of both manufacturers, I find the Garmin units to be easier to install, Ray just takes a little more time and patience. I have Garmin on my own boat but, if money were no object (I'm married so money for the boat is always an issue), I would probably go Ray and be just as happy. The customer service for both is great. I've only had one Furuno which I loved and that was a fishfinder so I can't really offer much of an opinion on that score.
What ever direction you go in though, the good news is, you can't go too far wrong.
Best of luck, Team Ruby
Ok, got ya. Have you looked at the boat in question to see if an open array is possible? Would there be enough room to spin one? I just did a Garmin GMR 406 open array on a 33' Hydra Sports and that was a tight fit given the other antennas and outriggers coming out of the top not to mention the look of a really large open array on a smaller boat.
Just a thought.
Team Ruby
Knottymaid... you can put the Raymarine 4' array on the Southport without a platform. You will not be able to raise the outriggers higher than the first notch up when extended out to the sides but they do not interfere. That how it is configured on my 28TE. There is no clearance issue when the outriggers are pointed back.
4kw open array Raymarine will track birds fine. The New HD probably even better but the software update to use them with the E series is not available yet
I would agree, if you can wait until January, get the Navnet3D. From the units you've mentioned, I'd go Furuno.
The chart plotter isn't it's strongest feature, but it does work well. It takes some getting used to, but once you're used to it you'll like how it works.
As far as zoom and panning speeds, I find it faster than both the E120 and the Garmin 5000 (never seen a 4000 unit, so can't compare). My only complaint is on CMAP versions the nav data disappears at zoom levels over 4NM (on other CMAP units, this data is there at the next 2-3 zoom levels). This isn't a problem with the Navionics version. Make sure you get the latest firmware - call Furuno tech support and they'll tell you what version you have and get the update. Even many of the new units (unless installed professionally) will have outdated firmware. The latest firmware speeds things up and adds a few nice new features (like positioning your ship a the bottom of the screen in heads up mode.).
I'm not a RM fan, that's pretty common knowledge, but try looking through posts about RM units and Furuno units (on this or other sites). There are lots of people who love their RM products, but there are lots who have complaints. There are very few people with Furuno units who have complaints.
Garmin I'm not yet sure about. Some of their newer stuff is nice. Their street units are the best. I liked the 5012 unit, but found it too slow.
Raymarine/Furuno/Garmin 
