Electronics replacement Packages?

[jigolo]

I am a new member here and was looking for some ideas for new electronics for my 24 Silverhawk open fish.I presently have a Garmin 220 and Sitex fish finder in overhead electronics box.They are both outdated and need replacing with new electronics.I have and Icom 502 which is great.But other than that i want to put all new and all to tie in with each other.Electronics packages?Raymarine,Furuno,Garmin??I also need to replace thru hull transducer with stronger one.As my Sitex looses bottom past 400-500 ft.Has its limitations for sure.Looking for advice and opionons welcome.Thanks

 

[jigolo]

Thanks for everyones help!I see that your site is nothing like some others i have visited..Not one responce in a week..Oh well..

 

[yachtjim]

Jigalo, I have been away on a trip and got back Tuesday trying to catch up. I was saving your question for a time that I could put some logaical thoughts together to give some good advise. I will post a reply here in short order. Of course if anybody wants to chime in they are certainly welcome to. We have lots of people reading around here but not too many people contributing .

Thanks - Jim

 

[jigolo]

Jim,Thanks a million..I was wondering what had happened.I am a member of the Seacraft site and i also had sent you a message there.I have been reffered to you highly as a matter of fact by my Cousin Capt Chuck on the Seacraft site.I have been reading articles on The whole Truth and really i am as confused as ever.My Silverhawk has electronics on it now that are outdated and not up to my standard.Not sure about the radar but do want a new gps/fish finder setup.Top shelf for a open fish.I loose bottom now on my Sitex cvs106 and am looking to upgrade.I have a thru hull transducer and would be looking to upgrade it as well.I need something strong as i fish allot outside Jupiter and the Islands and do not want to loose bottom if you know what i mean.I will be buying from you as i beleive in keeping it all in the family if you know what i mean.I have a fiberglass hardtop and have room for a radar but what are your thoughts verses cost ect.And do i really need it.If that is what completes the system well then ok.Thanks for your help and understanding.You come Highly recommended.Thanks again,Nelson

 

[Megabyte]

Electronics can be a personal thing, and much depends on where you fish, what you fish for, and what sort of vessel you are outfitting.

Having said all that, my personal choices are:

GPS/chartplotter - Garmin 2010
Sounder - Furuno 600L
VHF - Icom 502
Antenna - Digital 529
Fuel Management - Navman 2100

... and if I could afford a radar, my choice would be a Furuno 1742 Navnet with a 2' open array.

All of that is installed on a Parker 2520 MVSC fishing the Chesapeake Bay out of Annapolis.

Hope that helps.

 

[BOEmarine]

Jigalo, you are in a great spot to be able to start with a relativerly clean slate like that. I also think the Silverhawk is a very nice boat :wink:

Here is my take on things: Furuno makes the best radar and FF, Garmin makes the best Chartplotter (easiest to use with great presentation). Raymarine does the best job of combining everything and making it all relatively easy to use.

If you plan to ever have radar you can choose between Navnet, Navnet VX2, C-Series, E-Series, or 3000 Series Garmin. All of these come in a couple of different screen sizes, lets call it large and small. All of these are networkable except Raymarine C-Series which means you could gain some flexibility by using two small screens instead of one large screen. If you have the space you could even use 2 large screens but that is overkill in my opinion on a boat like yours. Two small screens come in handy when you don't have much vertical clearance to accomoadate a large screen but you still want plenty of screen acreage.

Networking is usually not critical on a boat like yours since one big screen usually is adequate. Networking allows you to share video between screens. Video includes things like radar, chartplotter, etc. Not to be mistaken with NMEA that allos you to share raw data such as GPS position or speed that can be incorporated into anothe rscreen or component (I'm sure you know all this but it may help somebodsy else reading this).

I guess it all comes down to the importance you place on each system component. I personally like things to be the same brand within a system which is why I choose the Raymarine C-Series. They make an awesome radar and FF, but the best part is how easy each of those components are to use. The quality of those components are very close to Furuno's but the ease of use puts them over the top in my opinion. The chartplotter is not quite as easy to use as Garmin's but it is still very user friendly - so friendly that you will hardly need the manual.

So if I was to recommend you a system it would be exactly what I picked for my boat (our boats are very similar - 23' Seacraft). I have a Raymarine C120, 2kW Dome, DSM300 FF Module, Raystar GPS antenna, and S1000 autopilot. Everything was very easy to interface to work with each other.

If you are a diehard fisherman and want the most out of your FF you might go with a Furuno 1834, BBFF1, and BBW GPS.

If absolute ease of use is important than go with the Garmin 3010C, 2KW Dome, and GSD20.

To improve the transduce you currently have take a look at Airmar's new Tilted Element transducers. http://www.byownerelectronics.com/store/home.php?cat=492

These are 600W, include temp, and are very low profile. They have already become incredibly popular due to the great reports people are giving.

For an antenna I would get the Digital 529. It already has a mini connector on it so you don't need to worry about soldering anything.

You are all set in the VHF dept. That is a great unit you have.

Most boats our size don't have an autopilot, but take a look at Raymarines new S1000. I would add this to any of the systems above unless you plan to troll at speeds less than 2.5 knots (it shuts off below 2.5). For $983 I would say this thing is a bargain. http://www.byownerelectronics.com/store/product.php?productid=16623&cat=0&page=1

Once you have checked those systems out let me know which way you are leaning and maybe I can give you some additional insight.

I am really sorry to take so long to reply but this time of year can get freakin nuts for us with customer needing things yesterday to get their boats in the water. Thanks!

 

[warthog5]

The only thing I would add to what has already been said here, is about the electronic's box.
I'm a short guy [5ft-6in] I do not like looking up all the time at equipment mounted in an electronic's box. Bifocal's don't help either,but it's the royal pain in the neck that bother's me.

I like the VHF and AM/FM radio up there, but I want the chartplotter right in front of me with the compass above it. The FF I want where I can see it easy as well as the crew and I want to see it easily when I'm standing in the back of the boat fishing.
In the layout I have there is a very small amount of area. This is due to a 8ft beam boat. I have cramed everything in there the best I can. The Furuno 582L will be in a Navpod on top of the port console.

What your seeing in these pix's is everything just mocked up.

The largest compass that I throught I could get away with.

 

[pin242]

Way to go

The only thing I would add to what has already been said here, is about the electronic's box.

8D Thats the way it is done do you not think so.