PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
Or look at Garmin.
Anyone had problems with B&G Vulcans ?
- Thread starter steveeasy
- Start date
Or look at Garmin.
KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
I'm really happy with my B&G Vulcan - I've had no problems with it, of the kind discussed already in this thread, and it's what I'd probably choose if I was buying again tomorrow.
It's been a while since I looked into the matter, but my recollection is that the B&G plotters have the best overlays - laylines and "Sailsteer" - for sailing vessels.
Sailing chartplotters: Exclusive first test! - Practical Boat Owner
My only caveat is that I love the ability to view the plotter's screen from down below using my Android tablet, but I am disappointed to have recently been affected by a bug in the app (seems to have occurred when I upgraded to a newer release of Android). B&G's support were very friendly and responsive, but aside from "flagging it at our weekly meeting to bring more attention to the matter" they have not given any indication of if or when it'll be fixed.
adamlang
Well-Known Member
If the item was faulty at the time of purchase, and you can show that, then you have up to six years to make a claim. I.e. force a repair/replacement.
Accepting returns and giving refunds: the law
MERLIN56
New Member
As of yesterday 7th Jan 2022, I have just received my replacement Vulcan7R. I believe that new supplies were delivered
on 24th December, albeit in the Netherlands.
I have fired it up, and run it with Navionics and CMap charts. I'm happy to report that it runs as it should, almost cold screen and no hanging or undue latency.
No apologies from Navico, for the inconvenience and their inability to diagnose the problem, without a lot of input from me, for the last 3+ years.
Any of you with similar problems, just keep on at them. You can use my story as leverage if needed.
Ningaloo
Well-Known Member
I have always had good support from B&G.
I have found that the devices don't perform well with lots of tracks stored. I used to keek all my tracks but after 3 seasons (6,000Nm) strated to get problems. Clearing the data out resolved this.
I also had a Zeus2 replaced. The rotary dial stopped working literally days before the warranty expired. I took it into their Chandlers Ford office and they said the screen was starting to show issues too. They offered a replacement but warned that stocks were low and that this might take a while. After a couple of months I received a Zeus3, so no complaints.
I have found that the devices don't perform well with lots of tracks stored. I used to keek all my tracks but after 3 seasons (6,000Nm) strated to get problems. Clearing the data out resolved this.
I also had a Zeus2 replaced. The rotary dial stopped working literally days before the warranty expired. I took it into their Chandlers Ford office and they said the screen was starting to show issues too. They offered a replacement but warned that stocks were low and that this might take a while. After a couple of months I received a Zeus3, so no complaints.
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
This is very true. People forget that, although it is a dedicated device, it's basically a PC with an OS (usually Linux of some kind) but most actually don;t have a huge hard drive to keep a ton of data on. As a result keeping a lot of history can reduce performance, especially if the software is not perfectly optimised (and it rarely is). It's not necessary to do a clean install, or even a factory reset unless you have serious problems but keeping the historic data down in size is definitely a good thing. Is there not some method of archiving the data off before it's deleted from the device? I can't remember ever seeing such option but then I didn't go looking for it.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
It’s not an issue of disk space in this instance. You can store as much as you like on the SD card you just can’t display them or record over 250k points. It’s a (bad) design choice they’ve made which they’re aware of but either unable or unwilling to fix. It’s easy enough to work around but frustrating as this was a solved problem in programming decades ago!
Yes you can copy the tracks off and you can sync them to the web service.
Yes you can copy the tracks off and you can sync them to the web service.
Ningaloo
Well-Known Member
Yes, data can be exported in a variety of formats including GPX.
These tracks are NOT stored on the SD cards which are primarily for charts. They are held in the internal memory of the MFD.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Mine are stored on the SD on both Vulcan and Zeus.
Ningaloo
Well-Known Member
Interested in how you do this. I start a new track/log on each passage. They don't get stored on removable media unless I export and save the resulting files.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
I'll try to remember when I'm next down. Moving them won't allow you to record or display more points though so realistically no actual benefit since they're also stored in a proprietary format.
MERLIN56
New Member
B&G Vulcan7 FS model. I purchased one about 4 years back . Initially no issues. But after a few uses on short trips, it got very hot, and froze, several times. It was sent back 2 times, to Navico, and no problems were found. They replaced the sd chart, as they said some sd cards had problems, but it made no difference. I suspected a hardware issue.
I learned that Navico were unable to test it in a LIVE environment, and only test it in demo mode, which is useless, following the third time it was tested.
I then visited the Southampton Boat Show, and had it out with the Service Manager, who told me to return it, and he would live test it in his car, saying they had some FS model with issues.
Within a week, I was contacted, asking where should they send the new replacement , as mine definitely had problems with the hardware.
They sent me a new R model, and have had no problems since, and it runs cool.
Draw your own conclusions.
MERLIN56
New Member
See my update, of Dec25 2023.
MERLIN56
New Member
You will get good support, but don't be fooled that they can test items thoroughly, in a LIVE test situation. They were only ever using simulation, as I proved previously, which may not show your particular problem.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
First Vulcan 7FS I had died after about 2 years: as a quick fix I bought retail another Vulcan 7R, rather than take the time to wait for getting a discounted one from B&G/Navico. That also died after just over 2 years. Now replaced with a Raymarine Axiom 7+.
I was told the first time I contacted them that they do not do ANY repairs, just sell you another at a bit of a discount, once out of warranty.
I was told the first time I contacted them that they do not do ANY repairs, just sell you another at a bit of a discount, once out of warranty.
steveeasy
Well-Known Member
B&G were great and sent me a new unit. Lots of features I liked. Lots I did not need or could not use. Actually I’m thinking of getting a new one. Anyone got any feedback on the broadband radar
Steveeasy
Steveeasy
steveeasy
Well-Known Member
Daverw
Well-Known Member
We fitted b&g 4g radar two years ago, could not stretch to the new halo but have found it works faultless, so easy to use with all settings just on auto. uses so little power and instant on. Overlays with chart spot on with our Lowrence HDS
jwilson
Well-Known Member
I actually liked the Vulcans: except for the short life. Not that impressed with the Raymarine Lighthouse charts, better local detail on C-Map.
steveeasy
Well-Known Member
Mine just went while sailing in to Salcombe for the fist time. Bad timing without a chart!!. Off it went.
When I contacted them and said I’d bought it over a year earlier they told me 2 full years warranty and sent a brand new one out.
I think I’ll buy a new one when there is a deal with charts included. I’ve got radar on my current boat but like the idea of a backup on the chart plotter.
Gone down in price since 2019 too
Steveeasy
