New chartplotter prices

NauticalFishwife · #1 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

What seems like it should be a fairly simple thing has turned into a heart stopping estimate. We have a Furuno chartplotter/radar 7 inch screen that is 6 years old. So antique in electronic years. It's down below and I'd like to have a screen at the helm. I've gotten two estimates for material and installation. Using my existing radar dome and GPS and buying the Furuno Navnet vx2, 10 inch screen, with either Cmap or Navionics it's close to 7K. Never did I think 3 more inches and a different location would be so expensive! That does include the stanchion with a bend for the pedestal.
Comments on the price and suggestions of another approach??? Thanks

Maine Sail · #2 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Now might be a time to learn to DIY!! That's a LOT of CAKE...

I'm currently installing a Garmin system with HD radar and I'll have it fully installed for under$1800.00..

This stuff is not rocket science and it's quite easy to install..

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

If you've got a decent amount of common sense, installing a radar or chartplotter and networking them is relatively simple. It is 95% common sense and 5% esoteric knowledge generally. Usually, the common sense is harder to find than the esoteric knowledge.

Martinini · #4 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

You could use the existing unit as Radar only and buy a Garmin 440 series chartplotter with preloaded charts of entire US. I bought mine on E-Bay that included the Bahamas for around $500. Maybe less now.

camaraderie · #5 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Martha...my guess is that once you have a helm station with charts and position and radar, you will rarely use your existing plotter below. Therefore, I am going to suggest that you do away with your Foruno radome and instead install a Garmin radar and chartplotter at the helm. You can get their 3210 plotter loaded with ALL USA charts + a 4kw 18" radar for under $3k. Even if you pay someone else to install it ...you would be in the 4k-4.5k range I would think.
You will still be able to use the Furuno charts/gps down below...but saving a few grand and having a nice expandable and better performing system for a lot less money would be my choice.

EDIT...Just noted that Sailnet store has factory refurb 3210's with full warranty for $1350! Here:
OPEN BOX GARMIN GPSMAP 3210 COLOR CHART PLOTTER 10.4" 010-00528-00 Shop.Sailnet.com - sailing resources, shopping, sail, blogs

NauticalFishwife · #6 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Cam-that's a great suggestion and maybe the way we'll go. The only reason to even keep the unit down below is for back up. And the having the Radome already on the beefy KATO radar mast has made us try and stick with the Furuno unit. I'm having trouble convincing my Captain they truly are plug and play now. 6-7 years ago there was a lot of programing that seemed to go into the installation. I'm actually looking at prices at the Sailnet store and they are the best I've found. Cam, why did you choose the Garmin over Raymarine?

Maine Sail · #7 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

So if the display is an "antique" why are you treating 6-7 year old dome any differently???

I agree 100% with Cam that Garmin has the edge right now and it's LESS money. I research for a living and spent a great deal of time researching and choosing my next set up and I started with a clean slate so I could have bought any system I wanted.. Honestly it was not even a close race. Garmin won hands down..

Over the years I've owned plotter & radar units from Northstar, Raytheon, Raymarine, Furuno and Garmin. Furuno and Garmin have been the most reliable but the Garmin, is by a large margin, the most user friendly and easy to set up and use..

My current Garmin 182C is going on six years old and has not so much as even hiccuped. I've had it installed on three separate boats either as primary or back up. I will be moving it to my nav station when I install the new 3200 series plotter (not crazy about Garmin's new series so went with the 3200) at the helm in the next few days..

P.S. I read more carefully time second time around and that is an OFFENSIVE quote! I did not catch that you were re-using your old dome and GPS antenna. 7K for a display, chart and a $275.00 pedestal guard?? Did they at least offer you any KY with that quote??

camaraderie · #8 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Martha...glad you like the idea. Halekai has filled in a lot of the detail but I would add that I LIKE Raymarine Radar and I like Raymarine Plotters BUT...
1. They are WAY more expensive with no performance enhancement.
2. They ABANDONED one charting system for another on me and left me holding useless charts when i wanted to upgrade...1000's of bucks to replace. No thank you!
3. Rumour has been that Garmin is in negotiation to buy them. Even if that is not consummated...it shows me that Garmin is serious about the business and wants to set the standards.

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

If I were to get a system this year or next, I'd probably go with Garmin for much of the same reasons that Halekai and Cam have pointed out. Also, from my experience, the customer service with Garmin is far better than Raymarine's.

TRMN8R · #10 (**permalink**) 06-29-2008

No hi-jack here, but, staying glued to this thread and a couple others, since I'm just going through the research/learn/purchase process of GPS and chartplotters for my E27. Great info here............