Lets see your helms

[AndyF32]

I am looking to set up my F32 with some new electronics and would like ideas on the layout. I will be starting slow by adding a chart plotter which will become a backup as I eventually add a plotter / sonar combo.

Also what would you recommend as an entry level chart plotter?

[P-Dogg]

Until they close tomorrow, West Marine has the Garmin 740s on sale for $800. Plus, there is a $200 rebate from garmin if you purchase the G2 chart upgrade before 7-7-13. I have done a lot of research and was on the fence with respect to going with the Garmin 740s or the 741sx with the CHIRP sounder. See CHIRP sticky on thehulltruth.com marine electronics forum if you are unfamiliar. For me as a casual fisherman in maybe 60 feet of water it didn't make $en$e.

The 740s has chartplotter and fishfinder capabilities, and can accept radar if you have one too, or want to add it later. I selected it because of all of those things, plus it is NMEA 2000 compliant. That, and it is about 1/3 the price of a 741sx by the time you include a sounder. I plan to add engine fuel slow sensors so that I know what my mileage is. Someone pointed out ( and you know who you are Prowlerfish), that I might not want to know that I'm getting 0.7 or 0.8 MPG. The way I look at it, there is a 12.5% difference between 0.7 and 0.8, a difference that I'll take as cash any day.

I just bought the 740s today, but can't open it until my birthday , so I have no direct experience yet.

[prowlersfish]

Perry , nothing wrong with knowing your fuel burn . Your could save a lot just by changing your speed by a knot or 2 . I would love to have flow meters on mine but they are too costly for diesels. Diesels need 2 high flow sensors per engine ( mine flow 70+ gph ) (not burn) . Floscan is about the only game in town on diesels (right now ) .

[AndyF32]

P.Dogg, thanks for heads up on that sale, I did not see that advertised. I bought the 740 and the vision card.

[Paul]

Until they close tomorrow, West Marine has the Garmin 740s on sale for $800. Plus, there is a $200 rebate from garmin if you purchase the G2 chart upgrade before 7-7-13.

P-Dogg,

I bought this unit on Monday along with the g2 Vision SD card from a local marine store. I knew about the rebate on the SD card however after seeing your post I look this unit up on the West Marine site to check the price. Under the picture of the unit they state "rebate available-see below for details" however when you look it up, it refers only to the SD card. The 740S itself is advertised at $999.99. Am I missing something?

[AndyF32]

Paul,
The salesman at west marine told me it was a last minute decision to put the unit on sale. I did not see it advertised anywhere but in the store.

[Molly Too]

Here's what I did:

[prowlersfish]

Looks nice Mel .

[AndyF32]

Mel,
I love that, having it in the center is nice. I do not have room there with my gauges and I am not sure I would move the compass to put it on top. I am thinking I will end up with it on the stbd side of the helm where the old one is now but not really a fan of that location.

[Fishblues]

Spent the winter on this project, 1976 F32. The upper helm was just full of holes from many years of different electronics and other things taken on and off, so I decided to redo the whole helm. Especially since I wanted to upgrade all the electronics. I spent hours on different layouts in my basement before settling on this, still got one or two things wrong, oh well.

GOPR0179.jpg (50.35 KiB) Viewed 8665 times

[Fishblues]

A couple of other ideas I had was using a pod for the C90W at the upper helm but this did not work out as it completely blocked any view the passenger had. So I decided to flush mount it, not happy with this as I have to lean over to see it, so i'm making a angle wood thing so I can view it better. I mounted all the Raymarine Pods in a watertight locker under the front bench seat, then tried to get the 3' of separation by putting the VHF pod under the helm at the opposite end.

The C140W is at the lower helm on a rolling track that runs the from port to starboard so I can roll it all the way to port where it's out of the way then roll it to starboard or mid ship over the stairs when i'm at the lower helm our out on deck fishing. It's a BIG unit and viewing the fish finder from the cockpit is great.

C140W
C90W
DSM300
Ray 240
Sirius Weather
Life Tag
AIS 250

[P-Dogg]

P-Dogg,

I bought this unit on Monday along with the g2 Vision SD card from a local marine store. I knew about the rebate on the SD card however after seeing your post I look this unit up on the West Marine site to check the price. Under the picture of the unit they state "rebate available-see below for details" however when you look it up, it refers only to the SD card. The 740S itself is advertised at $999.99. Am I missing something?

Well, I wasn't really following this thread, so I missed your question. I recommend a PM next time that you have an urgent question for someone. That way they get an alert in their email. For closure I'll state that it was advertised on the website, but in the store it was not -- I had to ask the sales guy if it was indeed on sale. You might try taking your receipt back and saying WTF, I thought this was on sale, why didn't I get the sale price? And see what happens.

[prowlersfish]

You can get a alert on any thread you posted on . ( look at your settings)

[prowlersfish]

My helm from Left To right Furuno color fish finder , Koden radar ( muti function) Garmin 441 gps and Garmin 182C . I could Use the Koden and see radar , gps and f/f at once But I prefer to use it for radar only and use a split radar screen .one screen close and one far .

I also have 2 VHFs in the overhead box .

Anyone want to guess whats on the lower helm ?