Electronics Recommendations & Resource

[carol]

Hi All- After careful consideration (thanks for the advice we received here), we've decided our best move is to keep our beloved 1978 53' Classic and upgrade her electronics for cruising and let the gods of diesel fuel be damned! We're looking for full multi-function navigation suite recommendations and advice. We are the do it yourselfer's but if you know of any resources in Charleston, SC area we would like to speak with them.

As always, we appreciate your time and responses-
Carol
Gypsy Soul
53' Classic, 1978
Charleston, SC

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I like Jeff Sechrest at Tidal Marine Electronics. Sharp guy. They're in the book.

[Boatsb]

Hi All- After careful consideration (thanks for the advice we received here), we've decided our best move is to keep our beloved 1978 53' Classic and upgrade her electronics for cruising and let the gods of diesel fuel be damned! We're looking for full multi-function navigation suite recommendations and advice. We are the do it yourselfer's but if you know of any resources in Charleston, SC area we would like to speak with them.

As always, we appreciate your time and responses-
Carol
Gypsy Soul
53' Classic, 1978
Charleston, SC

There may be a member who can help too. Remember some members are in the business.

[Reefgeorge]

Ive done Garmin, Northstar, Furuno, Robertson and a few others. I must say that for the money, functionality, ease of DIY install and reliability I like Garmin. Ive worked on Raymarine but not enough operational experience. Of all the brands mentioned, Garmin is the only one that has never broken down and my chartplotter is 14 years old. The Northstar screen die every year and both Furuno Navnet screens are dead and being rebuilt. Garmin just keeps ticking and was the cheapest of the bunch.

That said, Furuno radar and depth is first rate and technical support at Furuno is still among the best. You get a techie on the phone first try that knows everything.

George

[Boatsb]

Garmin is the easiest to learn to use and has a good integration of all the components but they do as any others fail. I sell garmin 10 to 1 but I also do warranty on garmin more or less in that ratio.

Furuno is a decade behind on the chirp sounder technology and is a bear to learn to use. And simrad is a great autopilot and inexpensive multi function display but not as nice as the garmin. Raymarine is raymarine.

I just installed a pair of 8617 garmin screens last week for a customer and have to say they looked better than any screen I've worked with so far but they were expensive. You get what you pay for.

[jim rosenthal]

I'd get Garmin. Everyone I know that owns them likes them a lot. I think they also have a very good AP which they got by buying the company that invented it.

Northstar used to be great, but that was a long time ago. Now they are a discount version of Simrad- which ain't all that great in the premium version.

Furuno has always made great radars and sounders. Their nav stuff is not as good as others, although it may be reliable. I have heard that their big vessel systems are fantastic, but none of us have boats big enough for them.

[wpc691]

I have Garmin chartplotters on both my boats, and have never had a problem. Not sure I'd call the interface intuitive, but it's at least easy to use. Put Garmin BlueChart on your iPad to use alongside with the Active Captain overlay, and you're all set. I have an ancient Furuno radar that still works great; same with Robertson autopilot.

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Raymarine is raymarine.

I agree. They're customer service is pretty awful in my experience.

[Boatsb]

I agree. They're customer service is pretty awful in my experience.

How can you rate what they don't have.

[coop]

I certainly prefer Garmin. I just upgraded one of my old units two weeks ago to Garmin 7610XSV. Plan to get rid of the second Raymarine unit with winter work. Very happy with the unit and it interfaces with my iphone using Garmin's helm function and with wireless connection I can do nav planning on BlueCharts on my ipad or iphone and then download it when I get to the boat. The NEMA 2000 network lets you expand later and just plug the new stuff in to a connector. I didn't even have to really look at the manual. Just touch the screen and play around with it and its simple to use.