JRC
JRC pulled out of the low price category with radars in the US. That leaves Furuno as the least expensive proven stand alone unless you can find a 3200 series Garmin display, like the 3205, and a dome for a good deal.
Here's the rub;
The Furuno 1623 is an inexpensive 16nm stand alone radar only unit and it sells for about $1299.00. The issues I have with it for your application in the foggy maritimes is that it has a 6.2 degree beam width. While this works, getting sharp target returns is tougher.
The Furuno 1715 is the next step up with a 5.2 degree beam and it's roughly $1599.00. Either you go cheap @ $1299.00 or you go big and just by pass the 1715 IMHO.
A Garmin 3205C is both a color plotter and a radar display and comes with built in charts for the entire US.
Tiger GPS has them for $669.00 (LINK). You would then need a dome and those can be had from the same source for $893.00 for the GMR-18. For another couple hundred in dome price $1099.00 you can get the GMR-18 HD high def radar. While very nice, sharp and clear the HD some is probably more than you want.
If you want inexpensive, but also something worth while, with more features, the Garmin 3205/GMR-18 is the best bang for the buck. You can buy it at $1562.00 for a color plotter with all US charts and radar overlay and a dome. I bet if you searched you'd even fined a lower price..
Both of the Furuno's are stand alone monochrome units that are not chartplotters. Buying Furuno costs a lot of money for just a few features. The 3205/GMR-18 is a lot of features for only $263.00 more than the cheapy 16nm Furuno 1623. For less than the 1715 you get a color plotter, US charts, the ability to add a sounder, radar overlay etc. etc. on and on.. With the 1715 you get radar only and for more money than the Garmin..
Garmin is also one of the best companies going when it comes to customer service..
