Recommended Multifunction displays

Storyline

Storyline

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 Oct 2004
Messages
2,086
Location
Liverpool - boat Ardfern
Visit site
Recommended Instrument displays (for wind and/or depth etc)

At the moment, Storyline's instrumentation is basic and getting very long in the tooth.
Thanks to a kind offer from a forumite we hope to continue to be able to use our existing depth and log for a while longer but I want to start to install a new system.

The first stage is to install a wind sensor at the top of the mast and am favouring the Garmin transducer. This outputs the data in NMEA2000 format.

Am I correct in thinking that this could be connected to any multifunction display that accepts NMEA2000 ?

If so, has anyone got any particular recommendations for a specific display ? I would really like an analogue display but I assume that these are no longer manufactured so a display that can best visually mimic an analogue dial would be preferred.
 
Last edited:
I'm not really up to date with current kit (my mid-2000s-vintage Raymarine will do me for many years yet) but you should probably be aware that "Multi Function Display" is the new name for what most of us would call a "plotter". You seem to be looking for an "instrument display", what would previously have been a dedicated wind/depth/etc instrument.

It looks like Raymarine (at least) still do an analogue wind display: http://www.raymarine.co.uk/view/?id=5127

Pete
 
Going through a similar process right now and I'm leaning heavily towards the B&G touch 7
The price seems very competitive compared to Raymarine and the like plus its designed for sailing with sailing specific features that I think would be useful.
 
prv said:
.....
It looks like Raymarine (at least) still do an analogue wind display: http://www.raymarine.co.uk/view/?id=5127

Pete
Click to expand...

They do look very nice displays but am wary about Raymarine stuff because of their proprietary software. It says " NMEA2000 (compatible) interface " but I wonder if that means I can just plug NMEA2000 data in .....

Have not looked at the price yet but suspect I will need to be sitting down with beer in hand.
 
Assuming you're talking about instrument displays rather than radar/plotters, look no further than the Garmin GMI20 display. It is truly excellent, with a huge range of choices for presentation of data, in analogue or digital form. It's also very easy to program. And it's bright enough to see in sunlight.

For many years, I've favoured Raymarine gear, but my new boat has a full suite of Garmin gear and I have to say I'm very pleasantly surprised by the sophistication of it, plus the fact that it all interfaces seamlessly and logically.
 
pvb said:
Assuming you're talking about instrument displays rather than radar/plotters, look no further than the Garmin GMI20 display. It is truly excellent, with a huge range of choices for presentation of data, in analogue or digital form. It's also very easy to program. And it's bright enough to see in sunlight.

For many years, I've favoured Raymarine gear, but my new boat has a full suite of Garmin gear and I have to say I'm very pleasantly surprised by the sophistication of it, plus the fact that it all interfaces seamlessly and logically.
Click to expand...
That sounds sensible especially as we plan to get the Garmin transducer. Also agree with your opinion of Garmin stuff - we switched plotter/radar from Raymarine and I was sceptical at first as the Garmin looked almost too easy but now I really love it. It just does what it is supposed to do and is so intuitive to use that anyone (inc swmbo ;)) can take to it immediately.
 
+ 1 for the Garmin GMI instrument display. You should be able to get it in a bundled deal, included with the Garmin masthead wind transducer, and a Garmin basic starter NMEA 2000 network. That was the first thing I did in modernising the electronics on my boat. I too don't like Raymarine's 'form' with proprietary software. Have since added a Garmin sailing autopilot, and a Vesper AIS transducer, both connected to the network.

I've drawn the line at having an MFD/chart plotter though. I'm lucky enough to have a sheltered doghouse, and I use my iPad for navigation. I'm hoping someone will soon come up with an affordable box that will broadcast NMEA 2000 data to my iPad.
 
Storyline said:
Crikey, Garmin might be the bees knees but the price - best part of £400 for one display !
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I think you'll find that's about the going rate for instrument displays, even the old standard grey Raymarine ones that were formerly ubiquitous on AWBs. Only NASA and perhaps Echopilot are noticeably cheaper. Hence why the basic instruments always seem to be the last thing to be upgraded - I see lots of boats with new plotters or radios, but if the original wind, speed and depth still work then they're usually still in place.

Pete
 
johnphilip said:
Gosh, I've used them for years without realising their awfulness. What am I not realising?
Click to expand...

Well apart from the strange colours used, and the even stranger choice of names of shore features, someone transferring info from whatever information they have chosen has been very careless. There are areas on the GB Navionics chart where there are several "+" marks, iindicating a sounding of less than 2 metres, in clear deep water. On investigation, it turns out that in these precise positions, BA charts show "R", denoting a rocky seabed. Need I go on?
 
NormanS said:
Well apart from the strange colours used, and the even stranger choice of names of shore features, someone transferring info from whatever information they have chosen has been very careless. There are areas on the GB Navionics chart where there are several "+" marks, iindicating a sounding of less than 2 metres, in clear deep water. On investigation, it turns out that in these precise positions, BA charts show "R", denoting a rocky seabed. Need I go on?
Click to expand...

Do Garmin use Navionics charts then?
 
I have not tried a Garmin GMi20 but the GMi10 that I have is not anywhere near as good as the B&G Triton, which is bright and clear and easily viewable wearig dark glasses in the Turkish sun, whilst the Garmin is smaller and dimmer.
 
Storyline said:
Crikey, Garmin might be the bees knees but the price - best part of £400 for one display !
Click to expand...

I need the complete kit as I refit Eleuthera for a RTW. I am removing vintage B&G and replacing with all Raymarine. B&G was most expensive followed by Garmin only a few 100's below and Ray was 1000's cheaper.

If you are interested, I have a Garmin 620 with all Med charts... not sure if integration with iPad is possible.
 
Just offering an alternative....

I'm *currently* planning to kit out my Horizon 26 with Nasa Clipper displays in the cockpit and a plotter in the cabin at the chart table, with wi-fi. Most of the Clipper instruments have NMEA output and I understand they are looking at adding it to the Depth.

So my plan is to network all the NASA instruments into an NMEA0183 to NMEA2000 bridge and plug that in to either a Raymarine or Simrad plotter. Then add a Tesco Hudl in a waterproof bag with the plotter remote app installed and I figure I have the best of both worlds. The Clipper instruments are tried, tester and very easy to use and read, and I have all the functionality of the plotter on a cheap disposable device in the cockpit.

If any bit of it breaks, the NASA stuff is cheap to replace.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

superheat6k
Sea Talk NG Intermittent fault
Replies
16
Views
453
superheat6k
superheat6k

Share this page

Top