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Random Quote: I dont know nothin about fishin but I can lie as good as any fisherman.
The power difference is really meanlingless. But the 4 open array has a much tighter beamwidth, so you will get a cleaner, crisper radar image with it. Better target discrimianation, for example if 2 boats are close together off in the distance, the 24" dome might see them as one blob, while the 4' array might show you two separate blobs. Does that really make a difference to you?
The Garmin 24HD is pretty sweet and presents a very nice image. That's the one I have currenlty, and I'm very happy with it.
The power difference is really meanlingless. But the 4 open array has a much tighter beamwidth, so you will get a cleaner, crisper radar image with it. Better target discrimianation, for example if 2 boats are close together off in the distance, the 24" dome might see them as one blob, while the 4' array might show you two separate blobs. Does that really make a difference to you?
The Garmin 24HD is pretty sweet and presents a very nice image. That's the one I have currenlty, and I'm very happy with it.
Thanks Birdman. I really am going to be using it for navigation at night. I am planning some overnight tuna trips and want to make sure I can run at night or early in the morning if needed and see ships approaching.
Will I be able to see something as small as a bouy with the 24HD?
__________________ Captain Todd Dempsey
USCG 25 Ton Masters
Garmin 24HD, see the small plastic bouys out windshield and see their returns at short range on the radar display (left) side of split screen, and orange returns of same on the chart side (right side) of split screen: You will see metal bouys at about 5 to 8 miles, platic ones will start showing up under around 4 or 5 miles on a calm day.
Very nice. Great pic. Thanks for the info, I am sold. I can't wait to get all of that set up on my boat. Now I just need a lesson in starboard to reconstruct the dash. Its going to be a fun project. Thanks again for the info.
__________________ Captain Todd Dempsey
USCG 25 Ton Masters
Just remember, when you install the radar, try to keep it on all the time when you are running. Daytime especially for the first few weeks. You need to run the radar during the day so you can learn the shapes of different returns, landmass shapes, and the echos. This familiarity will give you much more confidence when running at night. You won't look at your screen when steaming at 3am and scream "What the @#$%$ is THAT!" when you start crossing some high flyers.
__________________
Lets have a Sexy Party! 38 Henriques FB 2000 ~ 17 Montauk 1978
Just remember, when you install the radar, try to keep it on all the time when you are running. Daytime especially for the first few weeks. You need to run the radar during the day so you can learn the shapes of different returns, landmass shapes, and the echos. This familiarity will give you much more confidence when running at night. You won't look at your screen when steaming at 3am and scream "What the @#$%$ is THAT!" when you start crossing some high flyers.
Oh for sure. That would not be a good feeling at 3am in the pitch black. LOL. I will probably run it most of the time while running, just to have the display running. I am pretty sure you can do a full overlay with radar and nav in the same screen. I am really looking foward to getting this all installed. I might end up keeping my standard horizon unit for a stand alone fish finder. Or I might get a 5208 for a fish finder. Still not sure yet.
__________________ Captain Todd Dempsey
USCG 25 Ton Masters
hey dempsey, I am on the same path as you. I just got a 5212, and transducer. I am waiting for the mailman to deliver. Radar soon to follow. I got the garmin m260 in hull 1kw transducer, Its big. No hole to drill. No I need the snow to melt in Jersey.
hey dempsey, I am on the same path as you. I just got a 5212, and transducer. I am waiting for the mailman to deliver. Radar soon to follow. I got the garmin m260 in hull 1kw transducer, Its big. No hole to drill. No I need the snow to melt in Jersey.
Not too much snow down here, but I can't wait to get everything hooked up. I have been wanting this system since they came out with it!!
__________________ Captain Todd Dempsey
USCG 25 Ton Masters
24" HD Dome Vs. 4' HD Array 
You will see metal bouys at about 5 to 8 miles, platic ones will start showing up under around 4 or 5 miles on a calm day. 
