replacement electronics

[capthorace]

It's time to replace the electronics on my 28 Carolina Classic. I guess the electronics are 1995 era, but work fine. Location is the main problem. The large Furuno depth and radar are located in the radio box, The Northstar gps is mounted in the dash along with the VHF radio and auto pilot.

Being an ex tournament fisherman, I rely on my depth recorder and radar all the time. Located up and to the left in the radio box makes it difficult to read and use when you should be looking forward in the fog at night.

Looking at a combo unit (depth, plotter and radar) with a screen that can be mounted in the dash. 10" would be nice, but I don't know if it will fit. May have to go smaller.

Furuno? Garmin? Raytheon? Northstar? Radar will have to be 4KW. I have a TM transducer existing, may have to use this till bottom paint time and thru hull.

What say you with experience with these larger and more powerful units?

[Bullish]

I have two Furuno 1650 GPS/Sounder/Chartplotter units from 2002 that are 6.5 inches. I mounted one on each side and they fit nicely. I've had no problems but haven't kept up on technology the last few years....I'll let other comment on their preferences for manufacturers.

Preferably, I'd like to move one of these redundant units up in the tower and buy an exclusive sounder for the helm.

have a 10 inch color 4kw Sitex radar (I paid $2,300 a few years ago) that I bolted to the backside on my dash using the mounting bracket that it came with. I can swivel adjust it to change direction of view. It works very well....well, I'm still here, so I guess it works well.

[Laukia]

I don't think there is any advantage in a thru hull transducer in a twin engine CC 28. There is in fact the very real disadvantage of another hole in the bottom of your boat. There is clean water between the two engines at the bottom center of the hull. The boat is heavy enough to always have the transducer in clear non turbulent water even at relative high speed (how fast do you go looking for bottom structure or fish marks?). Consider my present situation. Fishing Monday along the coast my fishfinder (Furuno 582L) gave me a sea surface temp of 93 degrees. I knew the water was 60. I'm having the unit bench tested but I'm pretty sure the sensor in the transducer is toast. If I had a thru hull it would be a major pain in the ass. I would have to haul out the boat, line it up the yard, etc, remove the thru hull (not real easy) the faring block.....I probably would end up having to pay the yard as they require any below the waterline work to be done by them. I think the thru hull transducer in this case is north of $500. By the time I paid to have it removed and replaced I could easily see this approahcing 1K.
On the other hand.......thank you Mac.......I have the transom mount with the integral release bracket. Besides probably getting wet......I can do this myself, in the slip, in my own time for less than $100. Other than this temp reading wierdness I've never had any problem with the transom mount. I'm of the opinion that if Mac specificly recommends something on these boats (like a transom mount transducer) you can take it to the bank.

[capthorace]

I appreciate the insight that all of you have given me in the post and emails. I have narrowed it down to the new (not yet released -May 1st) Garmin 4208 with 8.5" screen, radar, chart over lay and xm weather or the Furuno with the 7" screen and same accessories.

[greylion]

I appreciate the insight that all of you have given me in the post and emails. I have narrowed it down to the new (not yet released -May 1st) Garmin 4208 with 8.5" screen, radar, chart over lay and xm weather or the Furuno with the 7" screen and same accessories.

I just had 2 7" Furuno Navnet 2 screens installed on my 2000 28CC and here's how it came out. They used a Navpod housing to make it flush mounted and it looks great, not cheap though.

http://www.greylion.net/gallery/albums/Carolina-Classic/Starboard_display.jpg

http://www.greylion.net/gallery/albums/Carolina-Classic/Port_Display.jpg

http://www.greylion.net/gallery/albums/Carolina-Classic/Navpod_side_view.jpg

http://www.greylion.net/gallery/albums/Carolina-Classic/New_Helm.jpg

[Jobsite]

I appreciate the insight that all of you have given me in the post and emails. I have narrowed it down to the new (not yet released -May 1st) Garmin 4208 with 8.5" screen, radar, chart over lay and xm weather or the Furuno with the 7" screen and same accessories.

Garmin has really come a long way with thier technollogy. Garmin units are very user friendly and won't hurt your wallet. The furunos capabilities are great but when you need to get to a certain screen in rough seas it is sometimes difficult to navigate around the electronics.

I mounted a 1KW Thru Hull Transducer. I have had both type of transducer's and the thru hull transducers are superior when it comes to sounding the bottom in deep water.

[capthorace]

Great looking units mounted with the Navpods. I will do some research on this, I like the clean look it gives.

[seatime]

I just went through this same problem. It was either a Northstar M121 or the Navnet with the 10.4 in screen. I ended up going with the furuno. The Northstar was a little cheaper but they were not going to be able to have the parts for it before june unless your dealer already has them in stock. I am going with a Navpod mount on the big dash area beside the hatch to go into the cabin. With a 10 in screen I think you will still be able to view the unit fine.

[capthorace]

Where do you get the NavPods? I heard they were out of business.

[stanley111]

I also have a 2000 28 , I am looking for a new system that can be installed at the helm and the on the tower console and works as a single unit . Is there such a thing ?

[Valhalla]

The new Garmin units look great and my brother has the 12' Raymarine All in one unit and I am surprised how much I like it. (for the record I have never been a huge Ray fan) It's processor is fast and the resolution is very good. He has a 1k thru hull and it is a very impressive sounder. I am partial to Northstar units because in the past the processor speed was superior and the unit is so easy to use. It appears others have caught up. In my opinion Furuno for Radars and Sounders if stand alone and Northstar for GPS then Simrad for autopilots. On the 50' Viking I fish we have 25kw Furuno 96 Mile Open array (not practical) and the TV set 982 (I think) Northstar coupled with a Simrad pilot. On my 28' Classic I have 4KW JRC CRT radar, Northstar 952XD/DIFF Plotter, Furuno Color Sounder (with transom mount transducer) and Standard VHF. In 2001 seperate units were the way to go. In 2007 I would go with the largest Garmin unit I could fit with weather and sounder.

[greylion]

Where do you get the NavPods? I heard they were out of business.

Try Consumers Marine.

http://www.consumersmarine.com/modperl/product/search.cgi?r=search&str=navpod&x=4&y=1

or

http://oceanequipmentstore.smartz.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=PP5151


Her's a couple of places.

Jim

[PurpleCedarPlug]

Greylion,

Jim, that really look good. What units are those? that you have mounted below and do you have anything up top?

Thanks,
Ed

[greylion]

Greylion,

Jim, that really look good. What units are those? that you have mounted below and do you have anything up top?




Thanks,
Ed

Furuno Navnet 7" Displays. I don't have a tower, just a hardtop. I fish in Lake Michigan for Salmon.


http://www.greylion.net/gallery/albums/Carolina-Classic/Back_at_dock_sea_trial.jpg

[capthorace]

I also have a 2000 28 , I am looking for a new system that can be installed at the helm and the on the tower console and works as a single unit . Is there such a thing ?
__________________
28 Classic - Brown Eyed Girls



Look at the new (not yet released) Garmin 4208 or 4212. They are all digital and all can be overlayed on the same screen. Radar, chart plotter, sounder and weather all in one unit. I'm going to take my 3006 garmin from the dash and mounted in on the tower. It will also show the same set up as below.

[greylion]

I also have a 2000 28 , I am looking for a new system that can be installed at the helm and the on the tower console and works as a single unit . Is there such a thing ?
__________________
28 Classic - Brown Eyed Girls



Look at the new (not yet released) Garmin 4208 or 4212. They are all digital and all can be overlayed on the same screen. Radar, chart plotter, sounder and weather all in one unit. I'm going to take my 3006 garmin from the dash and mounted in on the tower. It will also show the same set up as below.

Sure, with Furuno you can connect up to 4 screens I believe and they'll all allow you to use anything connected to the network, I'm sure Garmin's do too. My navnet allows me to overlay radar, chartplotter and Sirius weather if you have it. Todays electronics are unbelievable.