Good News for Navman 3100 owners

FullCircle

FullCircle

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After Plastimo passed their warranty responsibilities for Navman 3100 instruments to Navico, I have given them a week.

I phoned them just after Plastimo had despatched them to Navico (without telling me of the new arrangement!!). They answered the phone in good time.
Navico promised me a written acknowledgement of my units and an RMA number with a contact.
This duly arrived in the same week. Good score. Dated 28th Jan 2009
It had all relevant detail and contact. Great

I phoned them today, 5th February, got straight through 1st time to Warranty Support. They have given me firm dates for despatch of 10th February for my Speed and Depth and 10th March for my Wind 3150.

I consider that to be excellent service.

If they arrive, I will swoon on the doormat.

I am told these will be replacement,new Northstar units, so (I hope) I will be able to sail off into the sunset and not haver to worry for another 5 or more years.

I will keep this post updated.
 
Good for you. I hope they turn out OK. As you may recall from my previous posts on this matter, the news for those with 3100 units that fail <u>out</u> of warranty is not so jolly.

In my own experience I had a Navman 3150 wind and a 3100 depth unit bought in early 2006, both of which lost the LCD display. This is a known problem and was down to poor design and component supply. Later Navman instruments were completely re-designed inside and are claimed to be more reliable ( jury still out on that).
The older instruments cannot be repaired because the components fitted to the later units are incompatible.
I got a pair of the later 3100s and 3150s Navman units from Navimo ( Plastimo) at a discount which they offered as a goodwill gesture which in my view is the least they could do. But it left me with the option of junking the lot and buying a different suite of instruments or spending almost £350 on the discounted replacements. Frankly I would expect stuff that costs as much as this to last a bit longer than three years.
Failure of the LCD ( especially on the 3150 wind unit) is pretty much inevitable, although the time to failure varies according to sailing conditions and where the boat is kept etc. I am pretty sure that this problem is pretty widespread and not limited to a "bad batch." So, whoever is fielding the complaints could be in for a busy time. As I understand it ( from Full Circle) Plastimo has "hospital passed" the warranty handling to Navico (no connection to PLastimo or Navimo) but for those of us who have duff Navman nstruments outside the two year warranty period, the options are becoming limited. All welcome to PM me if they think I can help.
 
Many thanks for that.

With reference to your replacements, am I correct in thinking that Northstar made Navman instruments ?

Looking at the Navico site, they appear to have the Northstar brand of instruments that I assume were previously badged Navman ?

If the above is true, can we still get Northstar parts for our Navman stuff ?
 
Well,
its worth kicking up.
I bought the instruments in January 2005 at LIBS for my boat delivered in February 2005.
I have had 3 sets of instruments, and insist that (as I believe) the warranty clock is reset at each renewal.
I am sure there is a European law which covers this for known defects inherent in the design.
Therefore, i have badgered them, been sucky-licky to Plastimo, and almost exchanged Xmas cards.
i have always chided/berated them for late deliveries and made damn sure they know my thoughts on their longevity.

If I were you, I would most definitely play up on the known defect, and the fact that you werent going to ruibn the end of another season because they could not resupply.

As it is, mine were notified to them in October last year, but I sent them in December. I emailed photos of the defects in action.

I am sure they exceeded the original date warranty, but they did listen to the reputation and fitness for purpose arguments.

I can only recommend you give it another go with Plastimo first to setup the swap out with Navico, which is no doubt funded by Plastimo anyway.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Many thanks for that.

With reference to your replacements, am I correct in thinking that Northstar made Navman instruments ?

Looking at the Navico site, they appear to have the Northstar brand of instruments that I assume were previously badged Navman ?

If the above is true, can we still get Northstar parts for our Navman stuff ?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, Navman made Navman instruments, owned by Plastimo. Northstar (Navico) have got the tools and have fixed (we hope) the inherent issues with the 3100, which is LCD mounting failure, and a non IP66 case.

They are offering a direct replacemetn if sanctioned by Plastimo, see above.

Parts will not be available for your Navman 3100, as they will never go any distance in a water environment.

I have had my 3100 Repeater mounted by the chart table down below with no failures in 4 years - but that is warm & dry.
 
Maybe I have not got your honeyed tongue, but I am pretty hopping mad. If your latest replacements go t**s up let's consider a class action! I'm sure there are others out there who would join the cause.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I have not got your honeyed tongue, but I am pretty hopping mad. If your latest replacements go t**s up let's consider a class action! I'm sure there are others out there who would join the cause.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the next lot go TU, I will bin them for something else. Quite happy to act as your diplomatic representative for a pint.....
 
I bought mine in 2003 and they lasted a couple of years before showing signs of failure. I would chuck them out today and buy something else but it's all the wiring, masthead unit and transducers that stop me. It was a pig of a job running all the cables between headlinig mouldings etc.

Does anyone know if other manufacturers kit can use the navman windvane and transducers?
 
I am just replacing a Navman set.

John at JG Tech recommended the Nexus NX2 system.
He has sent me a wiring diagram the allows me to reuse the navman sounder and speed transducers.
Not tested yet as we are only just installing the system along with a complete re-wire.
Not sure about the wind as I had to replace that anyway.

Drop John an e-mail.
You will find him very helpful.

No connection apart from a satified customer.
 
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