Radar Question

[1970Columbia34]

Hi everyone and I am sure this has been asked before, we have just bought a boat and don't have a chartplotter or radar. We are sailing in the Great Lakes. We are thinking a radar/chartplotter and looking for input as to good all in one complete system and spend around 2k or under, if that is even possible. Thanks in advance.

Scott

[rleslie]

Look at the Furuno 1724C NavNet vx2 on pyacht.com for $2318. Great unit!!

Roger

[Faster]

We are having good results with JVC's smallest unit, the 1000. It retails around $12-1400 so would leave you some coin for a plotter. Having used a Garmin GPSMap76 with charts, I'd sure recommend going to a colour display, and slightly larger if you can.

The JVC claims to be a 16 mile radar, but we have it mounted on a relatively low (8') post on the transom so it's probably a bit limited in range, but it's worked well for us in the 4-6 mile ranges in heavy fog.

[camaraderie]

Faster...I think that is a JRC not JVC!

Columbia...the cheapest all-in-one color radar chartplotter will be the Garmin new GPS18 dome with their GPS3005C chartplotter. The display is small (5") but it is in color and the Blue Charts are excellent for your region. You should be able to get each for around $1000 bucks bu te GPS18 doesn't ship yet for a couple of months...I think it is worth the wait given the small size and good specs.

P.S. They have a special on the GPS3005 here at $769 right now. http://shop.sailnet.com/shopping_car...%20gps/sort/4a

[Faster]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Faster...I think that is a JRC not JVC!

Oops! Of course you're right Cam, thanks.

[1970Columbia34]

I am interested in the Garmin model, what else would we need to but the display, the dome. does it come with the cable or is that extra, mast mount? gps sensor?

Scott

[camaraderie]

Columbia..
First, here's a link to the radar dome.
http://www.garmin.com/products/gmr18/index.jsp

And here is what Garmin says about connections:
boaters can connect a GPS antenna and one remote sensor directly to the MFD, or, with the addition of the GMS™ 10 Network Port Expander, users can connect multiple MFDs and sensors to the same network. Each networked MFD can be configured independently.

Since the new model is not yet out, all I can do is assume that it will work just like their older antenna models and plug directly into the chartplotter port. The chartplotter also includes a GPS mushroom antenna sensor and cable. The radar cable supplied with their other domes is about 40ft. so you may or may not need an extension to that. You will need to buy whatever mast mounting system you choose and assorted minor stuff for the install.
The larger displays are significantly better AND more expensive but I would suggest you take a look in WestMarine or somewhere else and be sure the 5" screen will be sufficient for you.

[Valiente]

Normally, I would not endorse a 2 KW (smaller range) model, but if you stick to the Great Lakes, you can have the benefit of radar without the investment. Although I would choose Furuno for new, you might wish to consider the intermittant nature of your use and look at used and even CRT systems. They eat more power in the display, it's true, but there are some excellent little units out there. Koden is a brand I would recommend.

If you can wait, however, a new form of digital radar is on the horizon (pun intended!) for the recreational cruiser that might further lessen the fairly significant if intermittant power requirements of radar.

As for charterplotters, for the Great Lakes you can *definitely* get a 2000-era Raymarine with loads of cartridges used that will serve you well. Were I fitting out for here rather than offshore, I would put the savings into a nice fluxgate compass.

[labatt]

Why not a 2KW model? We're adding radar to our boat for a trip down the Delaware, Cape May and up to New York City and we're only going with a 2KW (Raymarine). Should I expect issues?

[sailortjk1]

Does anybody have experience with the Raymarine "C" or "E" series?
They look really sweet.

I think they are a lot more expensive than the original poster's budget of $2,000.00 especially the 12" screen version. Those displays alone are around $4,000.00 +