Electronics Advise

[hcalmar]

I am having difficulty with a decision that may seem obvious to many of you and would appreciate input.

Our 1979 37C has a Garmin 215 GPS in the cabinet above(no longer supported by Garmin for charts) and a raytheon radar 2403 in the cabinet to the left that ocassionally will not zoom down from the 16mi default if it is humid (ie fog). We do not fish. I use radar at 1mi and under for the most part. I have a Raychart 620 GPS (8.5" screen) from a prior boat I can put in service.

A Raymarine C80 multifunction display with GPS,2KW 18" dome, new charts installed is $4,700. Advantages, new, radar overlay, color, will intergrate with existing Raymarine ST40 depth sounder. Disadvantage: small dome on a sportfish with a tower, $$$$.

I can purchase a used Furuno 1942 Mark-2 radar, with a new motherboard, warranty installed for $2,250. Was a $6,000 unit with a perfect display and open array and install the Raychart 620 GPS. Advantage: nice commercial unit, a lot less $$$, open array (better looking). Disadvantage: no color GPS, radar overlay, or sounder interface, older stuff.

Just spent a *#*^load of $ on engines and such this year have to hold the line somewhere but realize we will have the boat for a long time and amortizing the cost difference is rational.
Thank you. Hal

 

[Paul45c]

I am having difficulty with a decision that may seem obvious to many of you and would appreciate input.

Our 1979 37C has a Garmin 215 GPS in the cabinet above(no longer supported by Garmin for charts) and a raytheon radar 2403 in the cabinet to the left that ocassionally will not zoom down from the 16mi default if it is humid (ie fog). We do not fish. I use radar at 1mi and under for the most part. I have a Raychart 620 GPS (8.5" screen) from a prior boat I can put in service.

A Raymarine C80 multifunction display with GPS,2KW 18" dome, new charts installed is $4,700. Advantages, new, radar overlay, color, will intergrate with existing Raymarine ST40 depth sounder. Disadvantage: small dome on a sportfish with a tower, $$$$.

I can purchase a used Furuno 1942 Mark-2 radar, with a new motherboard, warranty installed for $2,250. Was a $6,000 unit with a perfect display and open array and install the Raychart 620 GPS. Advantage: nice commercial unit, a lot less $$$, open array (better looking). Disadvantage: no color GPS, radar overlay, or sounder interface, older stuff.

Just spent a *#*^load of $ on engines and such this year have to hold the line somewhere but realize we will have the boat for a long time and amortizing the cost difference is rational.
Thank you. Hal

If it were me, I'd put the priority on the GPS part of your setup, especially as you're talking about using your radar for real short distance sweeps only. I understand it's more money, though...

 

[hattitude]

I'd go with the Furuno. You'd save money and the open array is a plus for your specific application. The open array will have a smaller bandwith which will give you better discrimination between targets at the closer distances..

Bernie