Radar - What do you have and like

[blaruffa]

I am looking to upgrade and put radar on my 26' SeaPro. I have a Garmin GPSMAP 172C and I am thinking of moving up to the new GPSMAP3206C with the Garmin GMR 20 Ray-dome.

Does anyone have experince with the Garmin GPSMAPs with radar? Or what do use and like and dis-like about your radar system.

Thanks.

[MTC]

Raimarine plug and play

[JohnR]

That Raymarine stuff looks good. Furuno is the other gold standard. I dunno on Garmin - they're pretty new....

[Raider Ronnie]

Garmin, my opinion, the best gps/chartplotter (other than Northstar)
their radar and fish finders not that good !
Furuno, best radar and fishfinders made !
If you go with one of the large gps/plotter they are ok !
Raymarine, very good radar and fishfinder (not as good as Furuno !!! )
Raymarnie gps/chartplotters suck !!!
VERY slow processors and machines are confusung to use compared to Garmin !!!
Lowrance, they make some good electronics but more for fresh water.
Sitex make some pretty good electronics also !

My opinion, if you want a combe machine that does all, you will have to make some compromise because none of do all 3 great !!!

[blaruffa]

Raider Ronnie, Thanks. I always agree there are tradeoffs in combo units. Space is an issue on the helm station so I will have to pick a combo unit. I really want the radar for assistance in night time navigation, not going out with the visability is really low. I don't want to get run over by the ferries going to and from the Vineyard.

[Raider Ronnie]

If it came down to only having a combo unit, I would get a Furuno

[blaruffa]

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into them.

[Team Rock On]

I think Simrad makes the best combo units, hands down. The only drawback is the price, though they have come down a bit recently. I think Simrad makes the units for one of the more affordable companies, they sell them at R+R in Hingham. I found my Simrad combo unit slow when I first got it but you need to turn off all the functions you don't use to speed things up.

[keeperreaper]

I have Furuno electronics across the board and they work well. For fishfinders they cant be beat but upgrade the transducer as high as your wallet will let you go. Airmar is the best by far. As far as radar and chartplotters I love the radar but the furuno chartplotter is only average to be honest. I have a combo unit and would NOT get one in the future but when I bought money wasn't falling off the tree so thats what I got. Get a 4kw radome 2kw is ok for picking up large targets but 4kw get you the "birds". Learn how to use the gain and also what images display how on the screen. I use the radar east a lot to watch for the wild offshore crews doing 40 in pea fog. It has saved a near collision a few times. The chartplotter has all the features you need BUT the screen is cluttered. It is fairly fast in processing but the Standard horizon 1000 series is the nuts. Get COLOR if you can. I didnt and regret it. If you can get seperate electronics pieces instead of combo units. That way if something should happen to the unit you loose only one tool not two or even three. Good luck -Matt

[taJon]

my boat came with a JRC radar. seems ok so far.

[Little Round]

Garmin makes a great chart plotter, other than that I would go with Furuno for everything else. Why else does almost every commercial boat have Furuno. The stuff works and is dependable.

[fishonnelsons]

On a 28 Nauset I went with Furuno, combo radar and GPS, and it's great. Hindsight I would definitely get the color, I was in a rush during the season and got the B/W.

[Van]

I had a furuno fish finder and it was a POC.
So I switched to the digital Raymarine and it is the cats pajamas.
While I don't have radar, both my FF and GPS are raymarine and IMO are top shelf.
That said, some guys I know have Raymarine radar in combo units and have no issues. A buddy is installing the C80 combo this season and it sure looks sweet.

Garmin makes great GPS, but I don't know squat about their radar systems.

You know you always get varied opinions from owners of every maker (Most people like their own brand).
I hate chevys, but lots of people love them go figure !!!!!!!

Good Luck let us know what happens.

[blaruffa]

Thanks all. Armed with your shared knowledge I am going to go to the boat show in Boston and check them out. I was orginally thinking of only needing a 2KW Radome, but based on the comments I would loved to see the birds, so I will go with the 4KW Radome.

[keeperreaper]

Well worth the extra $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

[Striper1]

From what I hear....

The height of your radar is just as important as the power....???

I'm looking this year also....

[Clammer]

R/R

we think alike .on some things .;;;;;;;;;;;;;; what your take on F #$%^&*( bluefish }]

mine

Garmin GPS

Furuno finder & radar


Only way to go >><><><

[nightfighter]

As for the chartplotting/gps/weather overlays, the Northstar unit I saw last night was pretty impressive. Lightning fast.

[UserRemoved1]

height and properly aimed... Lots of guys don't take into account the boat being underway which puts it at a different angle of sitting in the water. With the narrow beamwidth that a typical radar has it means you shoot at the sky. If your radar is setup the right way you should be able to pickout a lobster bouy at 4-500 yards while running.

I use Simrad. Take a look at brokenlegdave.com for deals. He's got some good stuff there.

Originally Posted by Striper1

From what I hear....

The height of your radar is just as important as the power....???

I'm looking this year also....

[MrHunters]

i use the force

[parker23]

I just had a Raymarine 120 c display, w/raydome, chartplotter and a thru-hull tranducer installed. Picking the boat up tomorrow. It seems to be fairly user friendly. I will update when I know how to turn it on.