Furuno or Raymarine?

[orange flash]

Thinking of adding new electronics and can't decide between Raymarine or Furuno.

Boat already has Furuno colour sounder and GPS units, and I wouldn't mind adding a radar, chartplotter and autopilot.

Can't tell whether the Raymarine S1G Smart Pilot Course Computer which mates with the 24" Raymarine 4KW Radar Scanner and M 1500 Marine PC Monitor as well as the HSB2 Raychart display, ST6001 Autopilot Control Head & Sport Pilot Plus Autopilot when all linked up in the 'Sea Talk Softwear' - will accept data from the Furuno Sounder and GPS thru the nmea ports?

The Raymarine booklet 'suggests' using the new "digital" raymarine sounder, and a raymarine GPS unit of course, but do I really have to replace the furuno gear I already have? - in order to overlay radar and chart data etc for realtime navigation output with Raymarine, or should I just opt to stick with all Furuno electronics under their nav net softwear?

It's all a bit confusing for the non technical type, anyone have experience mixing and matching the two brands with nmea connections?

Whats the consensus - is Furuno gear any better than Raymarine (the raymarine gear seems a little cheaper on the hip pocket!).

Thanks in advance.

Flash

[Tightline Rod's]

Don't know how shipping would Factor but Furuno if offering a free BBFF1 with the purchase of a 10" Navnet system ....
They will provide sellers with in one week of promotion ending!

It really is a toss up you already have Furuno ... so connecting them would be easy ... and you would have all one brand ... both are close to equal with each other ..
It's really a personal choice!....

John

[swamppro]

Just like John said, it all depends on what you like. The Furuno will mate with the Raymarine stuff through nmea, thats no problem. They are both great manufacturers. I think the Raymarine pilot is better and their units are easier to operate for someone that does not want too much at once. The screens are both very bright and easy to see in the sun. The Raymarine E Series are probably the brightest that I have seen so far.