Fitting Radar (Furuno? Raymarine?) - Advice needed please

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Babylon

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I'd like to fit stand-alone radar this winter. As budget is an issue, I was intending to fit the Furuno 1623 entry level unit (monochrome screen, radome included), but I've been advised by an electrician that although relatively inexpensive to buy, they're difficult to install and set up and sometimes require a call-out by Furuno engineers at a cost. Is this true?

Electrician suggested I consider instead a reconditioned Raymarine multi-function colour display (plus separate new radome), link it to my existing fixed Garmin GPS, buy the relevant electronic chart cards, and be able to then overlay radar image on chart-plotter, etc - a more expensive option before even buying electronic charts.

Right now I'm fairly happy using paper charts with GPS readout as a position backup, don't want to 'find fish' and can't afford to spend too much money... just wanted some sort of radar fitted before I find myself in Channel shipping lane fog (again).

Am I being short-sighted? Is going down the stand-alone Furuno route a false economy?
 
The physical installation should be straightforward, but the Furuno 1623 does require some setting up once it has been installed, but i cant think of any occasions where a Furuno engineer has had to be called out in fairness.

If you are having the unit fitted by a competant engineer, i cant see why there should be any cause for concern.

Dependant on where you choose to buy it from, help is often only a phone call away if you get stuck.
 
I fitted my Furuno 1623, absolutely no problem. The only operation remotely "tricky" is wiring the cable to the Radome. This involves a few small screws and is best done "on the bench" rather than in a bosun's chair, but the job is clearly explained in the manual. The rest of the installation is just plugs and connecting the 12v power. There are two or three setting up tasks, again clearly described but probably not essential anyway. Operationally, I'm very pleased with the set. One point, mine is about 3 years old, there was an issue with the scanner drive motor, but a modification has been introduced.
 
My present radar is Raymarine and exactly what your electrician describes, my previous radar was a JRC1500, before that a JRC 1000 which I fitted myself, an easy job.

I would fit the Furuno or the JRC 1500 Mk 2 either will work well for collision avoidance in the channel there is little to choose between them. Feed GPS NEAMA to them and they will display your next waypoint and make a good repeater for COG, SOG and POS etc. I prefer the user interface of the JRC and the display quality of the furuno, price is much the same. The extra couple of inches on the JRC 1500 scanner diameter make a lot of difference to target differentiation and is worth having. My current Raymarine setup was expensive, it does not do some basic things as well as the JRC. Its user interface is complicated my crew hate it and according to its MARPA "coasters" can do 70kts! - IMHO its not worth the extra money.

I do have a C Chart and colour plotter with radar overlay which is a good "nice to have" but on a 7" screen this function pales into insignificance when compared to the simple Yeoman sport plotter I have connected to the GPS - this setup has a radar plotting function that gives more accurate computation of target course and speed than MARPA in rough seas.

MOST important is to learn how to interpret the display in good weather so you know what to do in fog.
 
I don't want to be unduly cynical, but is the 'refurbished' Raymarine Radar one that your electrician just happens to have for sale?

Despite my cynicism, you might look carefully at the specs of the radars you have been offered/selected, because a lot of very good Raymarine radars have been removed from boats by people who want the latest integrated Raymarine package. Some of the older Raymarine radars were not forward compatible with the chart plotting/ais engines that Raymarine produced, but the older Radars are still very servicable. We have an older one on our boat and the display definition (depite being monochrome) is very very good.

Just in case Guapa reads this (and I know he hates Raymarine kit) - I will add that Furuno make some good bits of kit - but I've not fitted or used their Radar, so can't comment on whether they are easy or difficult to fit and use. I would be VERY suprised if they aren't fairly straighforward to fit.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'd like to fit stand-alone radar this winter. As budget is an issue, I was intending to fit the Furuno 1623 entry level unit (monochrome screen, radome included), but I've been advised by an electrician that although relatively inexpensive to buy, they're difficult to install and set up and sometimes require a call-out by Furuno engineers at a cost. Is this true?

[/ QUOTE ]

Total and utter rubbish - most likely he wants to sell you something else.
Had the 1623 on our previous boat. Brilliant bit of kit. More than up to the job.
Installation took just under two hours - that included linking it up to my GPS (you can then see your waypoint on screen).
 
I fitted a Furuno this year. It was easy. I second the suggestion that you wire the cable to the scanner on the ground as there are a fair number of small screws on an internal panel that has to be removed to make the connection.

Provided that you ensure that the dome is accurately set (as near as you can get it) fore and aft even the final setting up is simple.
In the installation instructions there is reference to a test procedure that may need an engineer, but it does say that it shouldn't be necessary do do the test. I think it's to do with checking the magnetron temperature.

I strongly suggest that you do a radar course so that you understand how to set it up in use. Also it helps with interpreting all those strange black blobs on the screen.
 
I installed a Furuno 1623 last year without problems. The instructions are very clear. Feeding the cable can be time consuming but that's where you save by doing it youself.

Phil
 
Thanks for the usual very helpful, informative replies.

I'm going to stick to my original plan and go for a stand-alone unit: lower cost, fewer interface issues, meets primary objective. (I don't think the electrician has a stake in selling me Raymarine gear; probably just a personal preference or prejudice of his, but not his own money or boating needs.)

Although the Furuno 1623 is my original choice at about £800 best price, I'll research the JRC 1500 Mk2 at a similar cost (£100 less if go for the discontinued Mk1 green screen option) as I like the idea of a slightly larger display and fewer knobs.

BTW, I also inhereted a Yeoman Pro chartplotter which I'll be connecting to the GPS, so really have all the elements one ever really needs.. and I can be be the 'interface'.

…and doing a radar course is on my winter activity-list
 
Just to add to the Furuno fan club.

I fitted the next model up, 1723 which has a chart plotter in the same box.

Fitting is well within most peoples abilities. Attaching its cradle to the mast is easy when taking the mast down. I trunked the cable up on the outside of the mast, thus the cable can be attached to the Radome inside the boat.

The kit is excellent. I compared the 1723 to the JRC models about 4 years ago. Screen was superior then.

I have had a problem with the radome, and felt that Furuno were less than helpful. However I would certainly recommend it.
 
I have installed the 1623 earlier this year. Followed the instructions, wired dome up on the ground, plugged in and played. The heading line might need adjusting but most problems occur when the cable is cut so Furuno told me, so I avoided cutting the cable. Very pleased with it though have not used it in anger yet. When first using try it in an area devoid of other boats, etc. I turned my on at the mooring and all the other boats "swamped" the display. I now know better.
 
Another one here that's fitted the 1623 and as everyone else has said, very straightforward with easy to understand set up instructions. I foolishly didn't connect mine on the ground and regretted it as I stood on one of the handrails and a ladder wiring it in on the radar arch. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
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