Furuno, Brooks & Gatehouse, or Raytheon?

[stearman65]

We are speccing a new 40ft catamaran (Probably Lagoon or Leopard). Most of the video's we've watched on Youtube use either Raytheon or B&G. On our last boat, we had a Furuno colour plotter, using CMap charts, in 4 years it never let us down sailing from Corsica to Portugal. It would now be 16 years old so technology has advanced somewhat. We are looking for an all singing & dancing system, to include Plotter, Radar, wind instruments & AIS. Our main aim is reliability & ease of use. Has anyone any comments.

 

[Neeves]

If it took 4 years to sail from Corsica to Portugal - was this a fault of the chart plotter?

We have a Lightwave 38 catamaran (built in Oz). We started off all Raymarine. When the radar went down we had to make a decision.

The plotter is commonly compatible with other bits of kit, autopilot, radar, sonar etc. You may want a B&G radar but not be fussed about which autopilot. This would then point you toward B&G as it is easier to not try to mix and match (and sometimes impossible). So consider what other items you think are critical as this may be the deciding feature - not how good the plotter itself is (which are very much of a muchness).

We have a Navico plotter - because we wanted Broadband radar - and accept that if and when our old Raymarine Autopilot goes down, its 17 years old, we will inevitably choose a B&G replacement. I am sure it is possible to integrate Raymarine with B&G - but to me, who would do the installation - its not worth the aggro (and I'll get full support from B&G and they might be less enthusiastic if I mix and match).

Jonathan

 

[knuterikt]

We are speccing a new 40ft catamaran (Probably Lagoon or Leopard). Most of the video's we've watched on Youtube use either Raytheon or B&G. On our last boat, we had a Furuno colour plotter, using CMap charts, in 4 years it never let us down sailing from Corsica to Portugal. It would now be 16 years old so technology has advanced somewhat. We are looking for an all singing & dancing system, to include Plotter, Radar, wind instruments & AIS. Our main aim is reliability & ease of use. Has anyone any comments.

I'm not impressed by Furuno and their support for the NN3D i threw out last year.
Replaced by Raymarine (don't think Raytheon produce equipment for smaller boats any more).
B&G is now a part of Navico (Simrad, B&G and Lowrance).
Garmin is also a company to look at.

Garmin and Raymarine all have new generation radars similar to the Navico broadband technology.

 

[stearman65]

Thanks Jonathan & Knuterikt. Your info is in my memory bank. I thought Raytheon & Raymarine were the same company seems like I need to delve further. B&G are ahead at present.

 

[Flica]

Thanks Jonathan & Knuterikt. Your info is in my memory bank. I thought Raytheon & Raymarine were the same company seems like I need to delve further. B&G are ahead at present.

Raytheon are a major US defence electronics producer. In 1923 they pioneered and introduced a echo sounder.
They bought Autohelm in 1990, which was then subject of a management buyout in 2001.
In 2010 the US company FLIR Systems (defence contractors for thermal imaging) purchased Raymarine.

Simrad, who own B&G and Navico, are a Norwegian marine instruments company.
No doubt you will find a high degree of intrerchangeability between systems manufactured by the companies you mention.

 

[knuterikt]

Simrad, who own B&G and Navico, are a Norwegian marine instruments company.
No doubt you will find a high degree of intrerchangeability between systems manufactured by the companies you mention.

Radar units and MFD (Multi Function Displays) must be from same manufacturers .
If you must be able to remote control the Autopilot they must be from same vendor, autopilots will normally be able to steer to a waypoint from a MFD from another manufacturer.
NMEA 2000 data exchange between equipment from different manufacturers is normally OK.
Updates to software can be tricky in a heterogeneous setup since most manufacturers use the MFD to update other connected devices, and will only support their own equipment.

 

[Tranona]

On functionality there is not a lot to choose among them - all offer far more than most people will ever need. Likewise with service as they are all well represented world wide. The main differences are in the interfaces, that is the way you interact with the system and the way the information is displayed. Usually with a new production boat the decision is made for you because builders tend to offer only one manufacturer's range, usually in packages.

If you do have a choice then the starting point is to list the functions that you are sure you will need and then try and see if you can determine how these are provided on each brand. This is the bit that is most difficult because you only really discover how well it works and how well it suits you when you have learned to use it. Recommendations from others have some value, but few people have wide experience of all three current manufacturers' current offerings, so they tend to be of the "this works well" or "this aspect I find annoying" variety.

I have a Garmin system because that is what was fitted by Bavaria. Generally I find it works well for what I want, has clear readouts and simple controls. Garmin were very good sorting out the one failure sending a technician to the boat and providing a free software upgrade to solve the problem. The big downside (for some) is that Garmin only use their own (expensive) charts. Bavaria now fit B&G so if I bought the same boat now that is what I would have, and I expect I would be making the same comments after a season's use!

In terms of market presence, at least in the OE market Garmin have lost out as Bavaria were their only account (having taken it from Raymarine) and B&G have gained ground by taking this account to add to Beneteau and Jeanneau. Raymarine seem to do well with the power boat market and are probably still the leaders in the aftermarket.

Personally not sure you will go wrong with any of the three and there are benefits in having all the equipment from one manufacturer. However there will always be compromises or aspects of your choice that are less than perfect, but the features you list as priorities are "everybodys" priorities so will be well provided by all systems.

 

[stearman65]

Keep it coming guys, all good stuff. We've been away from sailing since 2004 so are a bit cloudy on current trends. I don't think AIS was available for non commercial craft when we swallowed the anchor, & broadband digital radar is something unknown to us. Watching most of the live-aboard stuff on YouTube provides a wealth of info.

 

[AndyL]

"Updates to software can be tricky in a heterogeneous setup since most manufacturers use the MFD to update other connected devices, and will only support their own equipment." Posted by Knuterikt above. This is very important! I bought a Raymarine iTC-5 to connect my old transducers to the backbone and had to borrow a Raymarine plotter to update it.
Also combining Raymarine with B&G requires Raymarine Devicenet Adaptor Cables (Seatalkᶰᵍ to NMEA2000).

 

[vyv_cox]

I have B&G Zeus2 plotter and instruments, no linked radar. The instruments are simply brilliant, readable in any conditions and with superb fuctionality. The MFD looks great and also has many useful functions but is not easy to use en-route, particularly when replotting the course to steer. If you don't use this much you would not notice but we use it constantly. It was far easier with our old Garmin 2010.