Nav equipment differences between makes

[lanerboy]

I am looking at various boats and one I have come across has this set up

Furuno Radar Scannar

Simrad AP20 Autopilot

Raymarine ST60 Depth

Furuno chartplotter

how do these compare to say this set up

Raymarine C 80 Radar /colour chart plotter

Raymarine ST6001+ autopilot

Raymarine ST60 depth sounder

VDO Sumlog log

which out the two set ups would you choose and why

cheers shawn

 

[Nick_H]

I am looking at various boats and one I have come across has this set up

Furuno Radar Scannar

Simrad AP20 Autopilot

Raymarine ST60 Depth

Furuno chartplotter

how do these compare to say this set up

Raymarine C 80 Radar /colour chart plotter

Raymarine ST6001+ autopilot

Raymarine ST60 depth sounder

VDO Sumlog log

which out the two set ups would you choose and why

cheers shawn

From the info you've given us, the set up on the new boat you're looking at is somewhere between antiquated rubbish and industry leading state-of-the-art technology

Seriously, it's impossible to say without at least knowing the age and model numbers of the Furuno kit. The only generalisation i'd make about Furuno nav gear is that parts and repairs are even more ridiculously expensive than other makes.

 

[lanerboy]

Nick I don't have any model no's but the ferono is on a 2003 boat and Raymarine on a 2004 boat not sure if that helps

 

[vas]

VDO sumlog on a 2K model boat???

rather odd!

V.

 

[powerskipper]

I am looking at various boats and one I have come across has this set up

Furuno Radar Scannar good
Simrad AP20 Autopilot good

Raymarine ST60 Depth good

Furuno chartplotter complecated

how do these compare to say this set up

Raymarine C 80 Radar /colour chart plotter easier to use

Raymarine ST6001+ autopilot good

Raymarine ST60 depth sounder good

VDO Sumlog log good

which out the two set ups would you choose and why

cheers shawn

see above

 

[lanerboy]

thanks for the info again :encouragement:

 

[Nick_H]

Nick I don't have any model no's but the ferono is on a 2003 boat and Raymarine on a 2004 boat not sure if that helps

Well if the nav gear is the original spec from 2003 (and that's quite a big "if"), then it's probably a series 1 Navnet plotter and radar. These are generally quite good for the age of them, but are let down by the trackerball used to move the cursor. It works OK when the unit is installed in a cabin, but is horrible to use on an external helm because salt gets behind the ball and causes it to stick. Also the plastic of the ball seems to deteriorate in the sun. It's a very poor design IMO.

Otherwise, as I say, it's good kit. The resolution is fairly low by todays standards of course (640x480 on the 10.4"), and the radar will be analogue, but that's true of any ten year old nav gear. The screen is quite bright, and whilst it's not the most intuitive to use, it's far from being the worst.

So, I wouldn't let it put you off buying a boat, but you will get frustrated with the trackerball on an external helm.

This is all redundant info of course if the nav gear was fitted later. Furuno ditched the trackerball on the next gen kit.

Either way though, as I said above, parts and repairs are expensive, (eg.£800 for a new glass, £400 for new trackerball laser).

 

[MapisM]

which out the two set ups would you choose and why

TBH, I wouldn't even bother including them in a comparison checklist between the two boats.
I mean, out of say a total of 1000 points which you might assign to all the boat components when comparing two 10+ years old boats, these aren't worth more than 10 points.
And I'd rank the two setups as 7 and 6 respectively, just because in my experience Furuno stuff is a tad more reliable than Raymarine.
But we are still talking of one point out of a thousand, if you see what I mean....

 

[lanerboy]

nick here are a couple of pictures not sure if they tell you anything or not though its on a sports boat so hopefully the ball will not be f***ed

 

[lanerboy]

TBH, I wouldn't even bother including them in a comparison checklist between the two boats.
I mean, out of say a total of 1000 points which you might assign to all the boat components when comparing two 10+ years old boats, these aren't worth more than 10 points.
And I'd rank the two setups as 7 and 6 respectively, just because in my experience Furuno stuff is a tad more reliable than Raymarine.
But we are still talking of one point out of a thousand, if you see what I mean....

yes I see where you are coming from and too be honest I will not use either hardly as I don't go on long trips I just tootle around the bay and a 20 min blast down the coast for the day

BUT I am going to the IOW in August in my current boat which will be my longest trip yet on my own

I was just wondering what the two compared like didn't know if one set up was a 9 out of 10 and the other a 2 out of ten so to speak

 

[Nick_H]

nick here are a couple of pictures not sure if they tell you anything or not though its on a sports boat so hopefully the ball will not be f***ed

I don't know anything about the Simrad autopilot, but the plotter is indeed a series 1 Navnet, so my comments above were relevant. You don't need sea water pouring over the trackerball to make it sticky, just salt mist in the air which you get with any external helm, however well protected. It is quite annoying, so i'd sooner have Raymarine of the same era, but it's not even close to being a reason to dismiss a particular boat.