Furuno to Garmin?

[tsawyer]

I've got a color Furuno chart plotter combo on my boat along with a separate Furuno radar unit. They are pre-navnet models but have been connected together along with the floscans and VHF.

Except for the floscans, all of that was on the boat when I bought it. I don't use them a lot, but I can't stand using them. I have particular trouble with the chart plotter. It's just not in anyway user friendly. The last time I took the boat to the Bahamas, I broke out my handheld Garmin to navigate the approach.

I'm contemplating a electronics redo. I'm thinking of going with the Garmin 4210, new sounder, VHF, etc.
I may at some point add the autopilot.

I guess I will also need to change out my transponder which is a thru hull model.

So, am I nuts spending that kind of money on this? Should I just live with what I have?
Should I keep the existing radar or go whole hog on the full Garmin system?

I was down at the Miami boat show yesterday and the Garmins are just so much easier to understand. And, since I didn't buy the 39 Tiara for $620k I figure the cost of this isn't so bad

What do you think?

Tom

[prowlersfish]

Garmin makes some very user friendly units and they do a good job . IMO the best GPS . and the radar works well . But no Radar can beat furuno . I used most of the brands out there and Furuno works the best ( radar) regadless of $$$. With that said The garmin combo units ( with radar ) work very well as a radar , and the gps part is great . Everyone I know that has one is happy with it . Right now I am running a Koden radar ( with Gps ) and garmin GPS . I rarely us the Koden in GPS Mode . I rely on the Garmin for GPS . If I was to replace it all and money was no issue . I would go with a Garmin combo unit , less radar . I would go with a stand alone furuno for radar. You could Just up grade the GPS and keep the Radar unless your not happy with that also . All and all you may very well be happy the 4210 . ( I am just picky withe radar )

[alexander38]

Bang for the buck and good stuff Lowrance, HDs Gen 1 or gen2 with Digital radar have the plotters two different models and love them, Radar LOVE IT ! It'll pick up a jet ski two miles out in chop, as a whole package I like it.

[Audrey II]

I don't think you are crazy at all! My boat came with a Northstar GPS and a Furuno radar I replaced the GPS the first year I owned the boat with a Garmin 4208 I love the unit I have no complaints at all. A couple of years later my open array scanner died so I bought a Garmin Dome and a second 4208 and networked the screens I'm very happy with this setup however the original radar worked much better at picking up targets the garmin is easy to use but the Furuno worked better this said I'm not comparing apples to apples I went from a 4' open array to an 18" dome it's not surprising that Furuno would have worked better.
I do wish the Garmin had a larger memory for routes and waypoints I like to store all my trips I find I have to maintain them on my computer then transfer them using an SD card when I need them.
If you ask would I choose the same setup again if I had to do it again the answer is yes over all I'm very happy!

[kevinz]

Being a marine electronics installer, I know what you are saying about Furuno being hard to use. But it is the best radar. I have the Garmin GPS/depth on my boat and love it. We just installed a Lowrance Gen II with radar,side scan, GPS on a 42 Cruisers. The owner loves it, and I must say, I think it is a great unit.

[Commissionpoint]

Bang for the buck and good stuff Lowrance, HDs Gen 1 or gen2 with Digital radar have the plotters two different models and love them, Radar LOVE IT ! It'll pick up a jet ski two miles out in chop, as a whole package I like it.

+1

Check out their side scan sonar too. Seriously cool stuff at a very resonable price.

[tsawyer]

So it is sounding like I need to keep the radar unit. I guess the only benefit to replacing it would be having it all on one screen.

Maybe I'll apply that forgone cost to getting an autopilot instead.

[Stripermann2]

Redundancy... Keep the Furuno-great radar. Get what you want in a fish finder and chartplotter. The Lowerance with side scan and structure is a nice machine. Then I'd get a nice Garmin for GPS/Chartplotting.

I have a Raymarine radar, Furuno Fish finder and a 10" Garmin all up on the helm. And they all work very well.

Now you have the best of all worlds.

[prowlersfish]

Redundancy... Keep the Furuno-great radar. Get what you want in a fish finder and chartplotter. The Lowerance with side scan and structure is a nice machine. Then I'd get a nice Garmin for GPS/Chartplotting.

I have a Raymarine radar, Furuno Fish finder and a 10" Garmin all up on the helm. And they all work very well.

Now you have the best of all worlds.

I agree , Koden radar 10.4" on the fly and 7" lower helm ( all in one but radar is it job) 2 garmin gps and Furuno Fish finder . When the Koden goes a Furuno Radar will replace it ( cheaper then a Koden too)

[prowlersfish]

Forgot to add If I went to replace the Fish Finder , I would look hard at the Lowerance with side scan .

[tsawyer]

I'm going to use the Garmin sounder piece that integrates with the GPS/chart plotter. I'm sure there are better units, but I don't want three screens at the helm.

I had a Garmin combo on my last boat and feel comfortable with their sounder.

[prowlersfish]

I have 4 screens , and run the radar on split screen a lot ( close and long range ) so I have 5 screens to look at . radar gps x2 . and FF .

If your going with a unit to do more then one function ,( FF/GPS ) Then Garmin would be my top choice also .

[Oxblood]

One of the guys in my marina just rigged up Nobeltec to his sail boat. He picked up the radome, wiring, and Nobeltec's Admiral navigation software for about 2600.00, The Admiral software runs on any PC, and apparently will also run on Android tablets, suports NMEAA 2000, wifi, and ethernet, and runs your radar disply, weather, and charts (compatible with GPS) from the PC. No need for a proprietary "multifinction" display.

The software is wicked cool. You can select your chart, and then switch views to full relief 3D view, and split screen so you can see the traditional chart view and 3D side by side and overlay the weather. I was impressed with it, and likely will get around to mounting it on my boat.

[alexander38]

Lowrance Side Scan is the best one out there....But I need forward...

[Commissionpoint]

Lowrance Side Scan is the best one out there....

No doubt. If you know the waters you are using it in very well you really get to appreciate its ability to render structure with insane accuracy. Technology has come a long way from the days of flashers!