Marine Electronics

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Ian_Rob

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Missed the SIBS this year. What’s the best showroom on the south coast for seeing working, marine electonic equipment (inc radar), side by side?
 
Only place I can think of is Marine superstore in Port Solent as a starter but I would expect Force 4 might be another at say Chi branch . Clearly if you want to learn more about radar on say Raymarine kit there is a useful course you can sign up to for a day or 2 days so maybe other makers offer the same ? It might be a case of mailing a few electronic suppliers to see what display facilities they offer but I'm not aware of any specific comparison physical locations where you can test drive each make and model except as mentioned. Maybe there is a model comparison website out there somewhere though?
 
You should check out Hudson Marine electronics at Mercury Yacht Harbour. A lot of fit on show and very knowledgeable.
 
The problem is going to be live demonstrations. Unless they have one of every type connected up and with the scanner also mounted somewhere meaningful (and at a coastal site), it isn't going to happen. And the capital investment to do that is not really likely, either; it would be thousands, as the demo equipment would either have to be written off or (at best) sold at a substantial discount. So comparison sites are probably the best way forward, that or waiting till next year's SIBS!

Personally, I wouldn't regard showroom demos as being terribly useful; you could see how intuitive the controls are, but not get a realistic appraisal of their effectiveness at sea. Good for deciding between close competitors, but only that.
 
Caladh said:
+1 for Hudson. David is very helpful - but he is trying to sell you his kit !!!
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+1. David advised me not to waste my money and why. Not many salesmen are that honest. His technicians/installers are excellent. No connection just happy with what he has done for me. Good first stop against which to judge others.
 
Rob

If you are ever around Southsea marina I can let you play with a couple of B&G Zeus 2 Touch plotters side by side with Raymarine eS series MFD (all with Navionics charts).

The Zeus plotters are connected to a Simrad 3G radome and the eS78 is connected to a Quantum radome. Quite easy to compare radar images side by side then.

I also have a Raymarine i70 and a B&G Triton T41 mounted on the coachroof so you can compare them as well.

For wind, I like the analogue displays so have a couple of Raymarine i60 analogue displays (one 360 and one close hauled) mounted between the i70 and the T41.. Nice to compare those analogue needles to a wind graphic on both the i70 and T41 displays to see what you prefer. A point to note - The masthead wind unit is B&G 508 but displays quite happily on the i60 wind displays. I've yet to try connecting the B&G 608 MHU but can try it if needed..

Just thought - I've got AIS on board so you'll be able to compare how that displays as well..

Can't think about much else but happy for you to try it all out on board..
(As well as play with NMEA 2000, Seatalk NG and different ethernet style connections)..
 
Forgot to say... With all that kit, there's Simnet connections on board as well.. (as well as in the spares kit) and a Simrad is20 wind display (again, analogue style needle pointer).
 
Martin_J said:
Rob

If you are ever around Southsea marina I can let you play with a couple of B&G Zeus 2 Touch plotters side by side with Raymarine eS series MFD (all with Navionics charts ..[/QUOTE

That’s very kind of you. I will pm you if I may.
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