Anyone using Garmin radar??

[Robin]

our new to us boat has an ancient raymarine sl70 radar that is not working. we are looking at putting in a network system, probably Garmin, with a chart plotter display that accepts radar and AIS as wekll as displaying data from instruments via NMEA 2000


Anyone out there ahead of us with this kit? OVER Here there is a deal on Garmin 74o plotters with 18" HD radome included for $2,000, add AIS TRANSCEIEVER FOR ANOTHER $999.99 and wind transducer for another $600, the price includes ALL USA coastal charts pre-loaded (including the Bahamas) and there is a 10% discount on top if we order before midnight thisSunday 19th plus there is a $200 rebate mail in if we also buy ( $299) a gGarmin G2 vision card which gives more info and views and allows the plotter to come up with ideal routes/suggested tracks between WPT. This packge does not do MARPA nor does it overlay radar onto the charts on screen although a divided screen with side by side radar and chart is possible. does this matter? We are not in the busy waters of the English Channel anymore and thick fogs are rare here although there is quite a bit of commercial traffic around between Miami or Fort Lauderdale and the Bahamas. There are however a great many private boats around and fishing boats here are just as un predictable as over there - so what does the panel recommend please, is the new Garmin network stuff any good?

 

[Neeves]

We had exactly your problem, a complete Raymarine set up including Radar (Pathfinder). We went Navico, because we wanted Broadband, close to target identification, immediate 'on', low power in standby and lower power when in use. The downside is we have lost long range say beyond 16nm, we have the 3G unit (but we decided that on a sailboat that was not such an issue). We have little commercial traffic here, so do not use AIS, and small runabout fishing boats that range to beyond 10nm offshore do not carry AIS anyway (but show up on radar). We have the NSS chart plotter but wish we could swap it for the Zeus Touch, with its various sail soft ware and wind historic data. All Navico wind units are B&G and if anything goes wrong, you can replace 'bits' in the wind gear. We have a Navico supplied depth, but its a standard Airmar unit (I think the same unit used by Garmin and Raymarine). We installed the GoFree iPad wifi unit (magic). With the wifi you can consider, as we did the 7 inch screen as the iPad effectivedly offers you the 9 inch (and saves lots of $). We have the NSS at the helm and the ipad down below. Currently we are still using the Raymarine autopilot which has been very reliable but when it goes down we would go to B&G. Navico here have been very supportive as have been Raymarine in the past. The Navico stuff was easy to install, just plug and play - but allow plenty of time for the wire runs (especially the radar cable - it has the flexibility of a game fishing rod).

For more detail try the recent, 2013, articles in Practical Sailor, they have covered 3G/4G, NSS and will issue their take on the Zeus Touch soon.

Good luck,

Jonathan

 

[Falling Star]

I fitted a Garmin 750S Chartplotter and 18"HD radome to my mobo last year. Very pleased with the system and it worked straight out of the box. The existing installation is a Raymarine C70 (which I have left installed as a back-up).

Now much prefer using the Garmin as personally I find it very user friendly and much more intuitive.

Something to be aware of is that, unless you already have one, you will also need a Heading Sensor to get the full functionality. These ar quite expensive.

 

[Uricanejack]

Not familiar with Garmin.
I have a similar conundrum. Just acquired a new to me boat. As with older boats there were issues I knew about, and issues I found later. One of which is the Furuno RADAR doesn’t work. I think it’s the scanner not turning. Finding a tech to fix it is proving to be a challenge, old equipment not supported.
I found my way around without electronics for years, for the time being if I can`t get it fixed I will continue.
If I was going to replace. (Can`t budget has other priorities). I would go for the integrated system with the chart overlay and the MARPA. It will cost more but probably cheaper than separate instruments and screens. Some people don`t like overlays. I have used RADAR with chart overlay and AIS.
I liked it.

 

[Neeves]

Most MFD suppliers offer charting for America (I'm not actually sure what that covers) and Rest of World (ROW). It does not concern most but if you wanted to 'come home'(?) you might need to pay for the charting key once you get half way across the Atlantic.

Jonathan

 

[Robin]

THe USA is now 'home' and I doubt my ashes when the time comes will need electronic charting to get to England, they migh have to just take their chances bobbing along in the gulf stream

 

[bats]

Got a good deal on a Garmin GPSMap 4010 and GMR18HD radar. I like this size of screen and the cable loom stretches to a second bracket for mounting the plotter in the companionway of my 28 footer. The plotter normally sits at the chart table. Very happy with my setup. Easy to install. Personal preference but I like Garmin charts better than those from Navionics.

Mike

 

[Sans Bateau]

Robin, hope all is well for you. I installed Garmin 4008 + GMR18 + Comar Ais 3 years (?) ago. Installation could not be easier! Genuine plug and play. Garmin support is first class, probably even better in their home waters. For the price it has to be the smart choice.

 

[snooks]

If you want ease of installation NMEA2000 is the way forward, only downside it the you have to drill bigger holes to get the plugs through. You can get infield plugs but these require wiring in.

I have a Garmin 5008, and standard non HD radar, does every thing I could want. If you want very accurate marpa you'll need a heading sensor, AIS receiver (digital yacht) is great, if I was to do it again I'd have got rid of anything 0183 on board rather than trying to integrate 0183 and 2000. 2000 stuff just works

 

[Robin]

If you want ease of installation NMEA2000 is the way forward, only downside it the you have to drill bigger holes to get the plugs through. You can get infield plugs but these require wiring in.

I have a Garmin 5008, and standard non HD radar, does every thing I could want. If you want very accurate marpa you'll need a heading sensor, AIS receiver (digital yacht) is great, if I was to do it again I'd have got rid of anything 0183 on board rather than trying to integrate 0183 and 2000. 2000 stuff just works

thanks snooks,that is what is happening anyway as the old ST30 instruments, wind depth and boatspeed are all duff so we will get new Garmin transducers to display on the plotter screen which is very neat. Only problem I see is fitting n in-hull depth transducer since the boat (Beneteau Oceanis 36 centre cockpit) has secondary grp mouldings in most bilge spaces. THE heading sensor is pricey at around $900 so we may do without marpa initially but will go with the 18" HD Radome We Will have a specialist fit and wire the gear so he 9 or she0 can struggle with the plug sizes::

 

[Siosarnoir]

I have. A garmin 4010 plotter with an 18 HD radar. this will be its 3rd season. The software initially was not very good but after a few upgrades which are easy to do from the Garmin web site , it is now excellent. I have a Maretron heading sensor which means an accurate radar overlay, and MARPA. I have found it all to be excellent.

 

[Robin]

I have. A garmin 4010 plotter with an 18 HD radar. this will be its 3rd season. The software initially was not very good but after a few upgrades which are easy to do from the Garmin web site , it is now excellent. I have a Maretron heading sensor which means an accurate radar overlay, and MARPA. I have found it all to be excellent.

Update:_ We are going ahead with a Garmin 4210 (same as your 4010 model but with preloaded charts for all the USA coast plus Bahamas an Caribbean) plus an 18' Hd radome, AIS and wind instruments oh and speed depth and temp via a new thru hull triducer, plus we will hve the Garmin HD heading sensor for overlay and MARPA accuracy and garmin AIS transceiver as well with all the displays inc AIS available on the 4210 either separately or split screen or as overlays on the chart or radar screen.