Furuno v Raymarine

[Cozzy]

I've spent a few days looking at potential new (to us) boats and one strong contender (42ft fly) is fitted with Furuno plotter / radar kit.

To be perfectly honest, I admit that it took me some time to become familiar and comfortable with my previous Raymarine E120 and wonder if the Furuno kit will be too complicated for me to master.

I have also viewed a similar (newer) model fitted with Raymarine kit similar to my old boat. Both craft are in excellent condition with full history etc but I find myself leaning towards the familiar kit which of course is stupid.

So, how easy is the Furuno kit to use v Raymarine ?

 

[Elessar]

I've spent a few days looking at potential new (to us) boats and one strong contender (42ft fly) is fitted with Furuno plotter / radar kit.

To be perfectly honest, I admit that it took me some time to become familiar and comfortable with my previous Raymarine E120 and wonder if the Furuno kit will be too complicated for me to master.

I have also viewed a similar (newer) model fitted with Raymarine kit similar to my old boat. Both craft are in excellent condition with full history etc but I find myself leaning towards the familiar kit which of course is stupid.

So, how easy is the Furuno kit to use v Raymarine ?

After 3000 miles with top of the range furuno kit i still hadn't got the hang of it. Radar exceptional though.
If everything else was equal id get the raymarine. But everything else rarely is, and changing nav kit isnt that hard.

 

[alanch]

I see more Furuno kit than any other maker on commercial ships. Its excellent stuff, especially their radars, and well liked by ships officers. And no, I don't sell it!

 

[Elessar]

I see more Furuno kit than any other maker on commercial ships. Its excellent stuff, especially their radars, and well liked by ships officers. And no, I don't sell it!

He's not a ships officer and he's familiar with raymarine......

 

[mjf]

I think the raymarine is easier to use and the touch screen stuff is wonderful.

I have furuno kit and its fab - problem is that unless you use it very frequently like they do on commercial tonnage its a hassle remembering how to alter some settings and the handbook is not an easy read either

The latest stuff is more intuitive

So IMHO buy the best boat and learn the nav/radar

 

[Nick_H]

Which Furuno kit?

I have Navnet1, and find it easy enough to use, but i've expressed on here a number of times just how rubbish the trackerball is. The Navnet3D reverted to a radial button which is much better. Furuno service and spares are very expensive, but the same may be true of other makes.

None of this is reason enough to dismiss a boat though

 

[MapisM]

If everything else was equal
...
But everything else rarely is

Seconded 100%.
Look carefully at the two boats, and you are bound to find some good reasons to prefer either one or the other.
After all, you managed to become familiar and comfortable with Raymarine.
Why shouldn't you be able to do the same with anything else...?

 

[Bazzer]

I had the navnet 3d and although it was good its no where near as good as the new TZ Touch system (bit pricey) it is so simple and very easy to use, i didnt even look at the manual its that simple.

 

[Jurgen]

For me Raymarine, way good enough for most of us and looks better than the Furuno Ray Dome.

Agree with previous comments, buy the best boat

 

[Cozzy]

Thanks for replies above guys. Info in from the brokers concerned is
The Furuno is Navnet VX2 (both helms)
The Raymarine is E120 (both helms)

Both boats are otherwise similar ie. same engines, similar hours, FSH, BT, genny, Eberspacher heating, furnishings etc. in fact if you berthed them beside each other you couldn't tell them apart.

The Raymarine boat is one year younger so obviously more expensive but I'd say they are equal on value for money.