What electronics would you choose

[CClassic28]

As I am getting closer to a new rig I would like to hear from everyone on what electronics you would choose. GPS, FF, Radar, Autopilot, Radio...
Do you prefer multifunction or stand alone, and why.

BTW, the new rig will probably be a 32 so I believe I am going to be restricted to 2-10" screens or 3-7".

Hoping for some good input.

Thanks,

Chris

[Haz Mat]

Definitely go with the 10" screen. There is no comparison. I ordered my 28 with the 32 dash and installed a 10" Nav Nat in the center but I wish now I had installed two.I have the 7" up top and it is just right for that stasion.

[RODHOG]

Go With Furuno It Is The Best. I Have All Furuno Electronics Radar, Fishfinder,gps All Seperate Units I Prefer.

[BLUE MOON]

Chris,
I have had Northstar units for over 9 years and have been very please. So when I bought my 32' I set it up with the Northstar 6000i system. 10.4" down and 6.4" up in the tower. My aouto-pilot is the Simrad AP26, again very pleased. Northstar now has the 3D 6100 and 8000 units available.

Steve
BLUE-MOON

[missprint]

go with the raymarine so far i love it. it has the weather feature and is real user friedly. you can fit the twelve inch screens in there but you have to spread them out due to the compass in the middle.

[Valhalla]

Simrad Pilot, Northstar GPS and Furuno Radar and Sounder.

[gil]

1st choice Northstar, Furno Nav Net system close 2nd. I went with Furno - 2 10 inch screens at the helm and another 10 inch up top- It may not be the sharpest looking displays (raymarine and garmin displays look better) but Furuno seems to be more reliable and better fishfinder. I would defintely go with multiple multifunction screens

[CClassic28]

Gil,

How fast are the redraws on the Furuno machines? You say not as sharp, do you mean the screen or the overall look of the machine?

Thanks,

Chris

[gil]

the actual display/screen (eye candy) not as much contrast, colors and not as defined as the raymarine and northstar. I believe you can adjust the speed that it downloads info, I am not sure, but the setting I have now is defintely slower than the Raymarines I have seen. Reliability and no down time are what makes the Furuno my choice (it is also cheaper than Northstar). I had the same set up in the previous boat for 2 years and never had a problem and I am 14 months into this one and never a problem (knock on wood). I have 2 friends who had Raymarines during that time and they both had problems at different times

[Captain Spike]

I plan to replace my Raymarine C70 plotter just because I struggle to read it now that my eyes are getting bad (I'm only 47!). The Furuno 582 (I think!) allows me to increase the size of the writing so I'm inclined towards a Furuno plotter.

[Hey Doc]

I'm on my second 28, the first was set up with single display Northstar units and the second with 3 7' furuno navnet units. If I had to do it over, I would recommend you go with as many 10' units as you can fit in your boat. Functionally, you can move what is displayed on each screen as you see fit.

As far as brand, I think the Northstar systems are the easiest to use. In fact, most of the Northstar units I have used on my boat and other boats did not require any reading of the manual for extended periods or a tutorial from an electronics expert to figure out how things worked. However, I have found that checking the manuals on the Furuno units is time well spent. All things considered, both brands offer very similar products.

I would go with a Simrad autopilot, as they tie in nicely with all other electronics regardless of brand. Simrad builds the best autopilots around. For your boat, you probably cannot go wrong with the AP 26.

[REEL ADDICTION]

I cant wait to see the new furuno with satelite weather and temp charts. Its going to be worth every penny for offshore trips.

[Beowulf]

Chris:
Electronics are really a personal choice. You can talk to 4 people and you will get 4 different answers as to which is the better unit. The truth is all of todays major companies have fantastic units and you have to choose based on price and the features you want. I have had many boats including a CC-28 , a topaz, a grady, etc. I have used Furuno, Sitex, Garmin, Horizon and Simrad. After much research and going to the Anapolis, New York and Atlantic City boat shows I decided on the Simrad GPS , Radar and Auto Pilot. The best depth finders are furuno and for VHF's I used Icom. I also installed the Furuno RD-39 ( great info source for fishing) I have 2 VHF's on my 32 one in the cabin. I also installed a cell phone amplifier with an antenna which is useless. I finally added a Sat-phone for those 90 plus mile offshore trips. If you do a lot of offshore fishing go with a larger open array radar as you will have a better chance of picking up birds working..
So Here is my breakdown:

Simrad CR44 - Radar & Chartplotter 36" open array 4 kw
Furuno FCV582L Sounder
Furuno 520T-HPD 1Kw Transducer
Furuno RD-30 Insturment
Simrad AP-26 Auto Pilot
Icom M-602 Pilot area
Icom M-502 Cabin
Icom Command Mic on tower
Digital Antenna Cellular Amplifier (useless)
ACR Sealed Halogen spot/flood on tower

Steve Beowulf CC-32

[CClassic28]

Steve,

Thanks for the reply & pics, nice install! I will be heading to the NY show to play with various pieces & decide which will work best for me. I do know I will be installing the Simrad AP 26 autopilot, Icom radios, Digital antennas, either a 6 or 12kw radar, & at least a 1000w fishfinder. Which manufacturer, not yet sure.


Chris

[baitbox]

I looked at north star, ray marine ,and furuno, after carefull consideration to each we settled on nav net two ten in. screens and a seven in. up in the tower also used a simrad auto pilot up and down and a R30 furuno for temp and digital depth this allowed us to use the box for our transducer so not to go thru hull the advantage to this is you can see bottm and read bait at cruise speed cristal clear I strongly support this system we also went with Icom w/remote in tower the radar we choose was 64mi and its allsome over lay is ok but I like running with seperate screens to much infomation on a screen confusses me I guess I also must recomend instalation right next to factory at Carlton Layton boat works they did first class job at very competative price very happy after our first season in our 2006 35cc
baitbox

[CClassic28]

Baitbox,

Which transducer did you wind up with & where did you mount it?

After a month or so of thought & time at the boat show I also purchased the Navnet system, 3 10" screens, (1 for the tower) 12kw radar, 3 kw fishfinder with the R199 tank mount 2kw ducer, RD30 depth & temp, GP32 gps, Simrad AP26 up & down, 2 Icom 504's w/ 16' Digital antennas, ACR100 spotlight.

Now I just need the boat to start rigging!! Anyone want to lend a hand??

Chris

[baitbox]

I am not sure what exact unit was purchased as we allowed Doug Layton to do what he felt was the best unit for this I am sure if we asked him he could quote this off the top of his head as he does these st ups allmost everyday sorry I could not be of more help I just know that it works great!

[Tswann]

<deleted accidental post . . . playing with the keyboard while on the phone>

[backman]

I'd be glad to stop by some weekend and give you a hand....

[CClassic28]

Larry,

Thanks for the offer, but I will be s@*& rigging a Northstar plotter for the ride down to LI, and rigging her @ my marina (1-1/2 miles from home) I looked at a chart and the run around seems fairly straight foward so I'm not too concerned about having a completed boat for the run. I will though bring some personal saftey equipment & a raft for peace of mind.

Thanks again,

Chris

[backman]

tools, info, etc.; I'm in Falmouth Harbor about 5 miles from Cautaumet.

~ 3 hr's to Montauk from here and you want to avoid the SW wind against tide situation in Buzzards Bay or Vineyard Sound.

Obviously you don't steam with fog which usually is less of an issue in April/May than in late May/June.