Navigation and other electronics

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Jimongee

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Jun 17, 2012
203
C&C 35 MKIII Manitowoc, WI
Hi again,
still at the Oakland, CA Strickly Sail show; It is time to upgrade to latest nav tools. Problem is we want to keep cost to reasonable but at the same time get a unit that incorporates wind speed/direction, fish finder [don't ask] and of course chart plotter. We don't need a humongous screen [probably 7" is OK]. We have been introduced to B and G and Raymarine and several others. Does anyone have hands-on info regarding ease of functionality and trouble free durability on a specific brand?
Thanks so much for any help.
Always learning...
Jim
Hunter in MI..winter home in Folsom, CA
 
neilmcc

neilmcc

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Aug 27, 2011
90
Hunter 336 Scotland
We've got Garmin

I bought and fitted a Garmin Wind, Speed, Depth and GPSMap 750s with the sonar option and used it all last season. Everything was easy to install and configure and have been simple to use and appear to do everything they claim. One season does not guarantee long term use yet but it seems okay. The fishfinder part of it is clear and shows fish although I make no attempt to catch them.
So, one vote for Garmin.
 
onecoolair

onecoolair

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Jun 25, 2012
942
hunter 356 Kemah,the Republic of Texas
Jimongee said:
Hi again,
still at the Oakland, CA Strickly Sail show; It is time to upgrade to latest nav tools. Problem is we want to keep cost to reasonable but at the same time get a unit that incorporates wind speed/direction, fish finder [don't ask] and of course chart plotter. We don't need a humongous screen [probably 7" is OK]. We have been introduced to B and G and Raymarine and several others. Does anyone have hands-on info regarding ease of functionality and trouble free durability on a specific brand?
Thanks so much for any help.
Always learning...
Jim
Hunter in MI..winter home in Folsom, CA
Click to expand
Ray-marine 12 years now....So far... One new radar antenna mother board . Reason it was a short due to tinning or a small lightning zap. Not quite sure. Next one new air-mar gps antenna. And finally...Had to clean tiny wire connections at helm auto pilot once. And that's it. My model is the RLC 70 ..... Fully networked with depth,wind,auto,speed etc.... It was right before AIS came out. A few years ago I found a small 100 dollar AIS black box and then found a small color gamin 476?? New in the box. For a good price on eBay. It accepts AIS and I mounted it at the helm on an adjustable Edison mount next to ray chart plotter . Also at the helm on a ram mount is my paranna 15 Humming Bird. The humming bird gives a better indication of depth were the ray depth I would describe more like that idiot light on the dash board of your car. You know..Once the light comes on it's too late. Good luck on your pick.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Simrad IS20 gauges. . And mix with the Lowrance HDS-7 plotter. One company. Works great together.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
RayMarine since 93, original equipment as far as I can tell and works great. AP depth, speed, wind speed and direction and GPS
I do have a question, what determines "time to upgrade"? I'm old school "if it ain't broken don't fix it" (and spend the money on the first Mate and beer). I'm not convinced that having a color display of the number of feet below my keel is that much better than my LCD numbers. Same same for lat long, wind, speed........
I would note that I get a whole lot more enjoyment out of a happy first mate and beer than I would from a color depth display........;-)
 
chuckwayne

chuckwayne

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Mar 20, 2004
1,746
Hunter 356 and 216 Portland, ME
I'll second the Lowrance HDS - great versatility and performance and a host of expansion options from all of the Navico lines
 
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