Chartplotter/Radar Repeaters

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Looking at buying a boat which has a 7" Geonav monochrome chart plotter and Furuno radar fitted to the lower helm but without any repeaters on the flybridge helm. I'm wondering what my options could be. I've never heard of Geonav but the one fitted to this boat has a small monochrome screen whereas I'd rather like colour and runs Navionics charts. The Furuno radar seems to be a proper jobbie with loads of knobs and buttons so it must be OK and has a decent size screen and I'm happy with it

As I see it I could do the following

1. Buy repeaters from Geonav and Furuno, assuming they're still available but then I'd still only have a monochrome plotter with a small 7" screen

2. Junk the Geonav plotter and fit a new colour plotter and repeater. Loadsamoney and it may not fit the hole on the lower dashboard

3. Buy another stand alone colour plotter for the flybridge helm but can you have 2 plotters interfaced to the autopilot/radar at the same time? This solution may mean I end up with 2 different sets of chart cartidges as well 'coz doubtless the existing Navionics ones wont run a colour screen. And I'd have to set up any route on both plotters individually

I suppose the proper answer is to junk the Geonav and replace it with a colour plotter/repeater but seems a waste to throw away a serviceable plotter

Any advice?

 

[BlueChip]

Lots of web dealers are selling off Raymarine RL series radar/plotters for a fraction of the original prices
Talk to Kevin at Yachtbits - he is a straight sort of guy and will give you good advice

 

[DERF]

Mike, not sure how old kit is, but with the new electronic kit available today I'd opt for a whole new system.

Furuno's new Navnet Max is excellent and having got used to the different format( I had Raymarine) I'd recommend it to anyone looking to change.

It is perhaps not as user firendly as the Raymarine kit but IMHO more professional.

As for the cost, as an overal price of the boat it will no doubt be peanuts.. even for dual station flybridge.

 

[DAKA]

I don't think a radar at the upper helm is too important, every time I have been in fog it is so cold and damp (even in August) I go downstairs and put the heating on, crew down there also help.

I have a Radar and plotter at the lower helm
I have a Plotter on the Fly which is the only one I set a route on.
I have duplicate brackets and plugs at the lower helm

Hence when it gets foggy I take my plotter downstairs and plug it in there.

My radar plotter at the lower helm gives me a plot on the chart and my upper helm(now down stairs) points the way.

They can all be linked but I wanted a back up , if one fails.


I did junk an Autohelm Plotter (still up for offers if anyone wants it) and I replaced it with a Raymarine Plotter/radar and yes I did have to fill a hole. My Navman is the large screen version and because I can take it home and use it the Raymarine is not really in use hence my advice as above.

All you need is to buy a plotter that uses the same charts.

The Navman 5500i is cheap and has the advantage of an integral aerial
so you only need a bracket and 12v source.(but uses c-map)

There must be a simular product that uses navtronics charts.

My Navman can also be taken home and played with so route planning is more relaxed.

 

[jfm]

Mike I'd junk it all and buy the Raymarine phased out HSB2 stuff quick. You could get prices like £1000 per 10.4inch screen plus about £500 for the radar scanner. So a superb 3 screen networked system incluidng remote control etc for under £4k, or £3k if you choose 2 screens

I'm sure you would find radar on flybridge useful because its main use in the Med is warm nighttime passages. With this Raymarine kit you can view either chart plotter or radar from any screen, in full screen or split screen windowed mode. Or overlayed, though the overlay will need a G series computer for extra 500 or so (which I wouldn't bother with if I were speccing it again, the radar overlay is a bit of a gimmick imho, I prefer separate screens wiv linked cursors)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Cheers, jfm. Its going to be a couple or 3 weeks before I complete on the boat, if I do, because we're still at the arguing stage about who's paying for rectifying some faults found during the seatrial
Is this HSB2 stuff still available from Raymarine or remainder stock at dealers only?

 

[PhilF]

i'd agree with this, just gone through the same process, junked the cetrek, bought the RL80CRC 10inch plotter/radar for the fly and a B/W RL 72 for the lower helm, that was a mistake, should have bought a colour repeater,
Phil

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Would agree with you regarding radar position in UK. I always used to go below at first sign of anything unpleasant - fog, rain, spray, slightly cold breeze etc but in Med, as jfm says, its v pleasant to helm from fly for night passages
Good idea re movable plotter. I'll have to check whether existing Navoinics charts will drive colour plotter

 

[jfm]

It's all remainder stock at dealers as far as I know. So far there seems to be plenty available. Tis amazingly cheap, I paid £3.5k for one 10.4inch extra screen for the flybr, last summer, so feel a bit of a goon seeing it now at £1000. But that's how it is with electronics I suppose

I have a 7 inch colour BNIB which i bought for £700 as remainder stock. Not sure I will ever fit it. So if you need one of those and cant get one let me know. But better to get the 10.4" if you can, and if you have space to fit them

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Whats a BNIB?

 

[jfm]

Brand New In Box

HTH
LOL

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Sweet of you to send me Lots Of Love (LOL) but whats HTH mean (Had To Heave?)

 

[jfm]

Keep up Deleted User!

Happy To Help/Hope That Helps

 

[Nick_H]

The Raymarine HSB2 stuff is the sale of the century. Got the 10" plotter I always dreamed of, and fitted it last weekend, after cuddling up to it for a couple of nights of course.