Replacement for (second) B&G Vulcan 7

[jwilson]

In 2016 I replaced a defunct Garmin plotter at the helm for the second time: both Garmins had failed through water ingress. I then changed to the then new B&G Vulcan touch-screen plotters, on the grounds that they had nothing but glass at the front and no buttons or dials to let water in. I liked them but The first Vulcan 7FS died in 2019, and I bought a new Vulcan 7FR. This has just died - going into an endless booting loop and never getting to a chart or menu. I really have RTFM - no help.

I would be absolutely delighted if someone could tell me the fix for the "endless booting loop" fault. I've tried starting up with chart card, without chart card and with a B&G update card. It will not respond to the supposed factory reset on-off-on power button press option, as it never gets to the menu, which would also give an in-menu reset option.

As this is a Saturday I cannot of course talk to B&G service, but I am thinking of just buying NOT ANOTHER B&G plotter, similar spec maybe Raymarine Elements or Axiom 7". Anyone had trouble with those? I am a bit reluctant to have Garmin again as I have had problems with these too. A 2015 boat has now had five new plotters at the helm: one is however still working but moved to the chart table - a little SH180.

 

[lustyd]

If I were you I’d learn about warranty rather than buy yet another plotter. 2015 isn’t nearly long enough for 5 plotters unless you’re in the US where short warranty is a thing

 

[jwilson]

If I were you I’d learn about warranty rather than buy yet another plotter. 2015 isn’t nearly long enough for 5 plotters unless you’re in the US where short warranty is a thing

Warranty not much help when the one or two year manufacturer warranty has expired. And life is too short to pursue a court case against a large company for items not being of satisfactory quality.

 

[lustyd]

That’s only an issue if you live somewhere a limited warranty is a thing. In the whole EU it’s a minimum 2 years and in the UK it’s minimum two years or “reasonable life” which for a plotter is a LOT longer than two years.