Small Furuno radar good value?

Yeah, but he clearly stated that he didn't want to get into a debate or put down others choices. Like the anchor debate,it's never a black and white issue (are we still allowed to use that phrase? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ). So if he doesn't want to respond, then it's his call. No need to be rude.
 
hi well yes thats right ,,,, but you should have said that first not jumpin with that silly comment and you said we,, it should have been you,,,,will ignore him , anyway go have a nice cup of tea,, and try to think before you dig in ... to the next comment .. you dont agree with . and think before you write your comment , as your answer to me should have been to him and as he had already answerd that you need not have writen any more ,,, see what i mean , dave
 
2 years ago when I was looking into buying a stand alone radar Furuno was top of my list. You just have to look at how many fishermen use them to realise how popular they are by the profesionals.
I use radar every day while at work and have found that a simple radar is the best. Have had radars with all the bells and whistles and they are OK but need a lot of maintenance, we have just scrapped our new fancy Kongsberg sets because they couldn't do the basic stuff like a reliable ARPA plot. They had great AIS and chart overlay but could not do the basic radar functions very well at all.
So as a professional and leisure sailer - I would recommend going for proven simple technology. If all you want is to keep out of trouble in poor visibility then you wont go far wrong with Furuno. Spares/repairs should be OK too - it's been around a while. Although our electronics repairers say they rarely get called to fix Furuno gear. I had a Furuno 1623 on a previous sail boat and it worked perfectly.
 
I agree with pvb about buying a combined set (but not with his dig at Graham). If you have neither radar nor chart plotter and are planning to install both, go for a combined set. You will get a cheaper and better quality system that way. Also consider what sailing instruments you have or are planning to buy and whether you want them to interface with the plotter/radar.

As a rough rule of thumb, buying a system from one manufactuer gives better interconnectivity and more reliable performance because all manufactuers use their own protocols. It's very irritating for people like me who tend to ugrade systems piece meal but great for people who do clean-sweep upgrades.

The Furuno radar is very good but for a complete system I'm not sure they have the range of say, Raymarine.
 
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The Furuno radar is very good but for a complete system I'm not sure they have the range of say, Raymarine.

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If you don't mind me saying so: a cheap and unnecessary comment, James.
You're not sure if Furuno have the range of Raymarine - you're comment would have carried more weight if you had been sure.

If there's one brand that has issues with inter-operability it's got to be Raymarine. Sure, Furuno also has it's own protocol but fully supports NMEA - without the need for an extra adaptor. If and when I'll replace the log, you can be sure it won't be with another Raymarine one.

We have a Furuno combined radar/plotter/sounder which has got the following bits seamlessly linked to it:
- a Mariner echosounder
- an Icom 603 VHF
- and a Cetrek inboard autopilot

We carry one bit of Raymarine equipment (log) - which has never worked despite being sent back for repairs twice.
First time they could not find a fault, second time I was told they had found the fault but that as the new ST70 was now available they no longer supported the ST50.
If and when I replace the log, you can be sure it won't be with another Raymarine one.
 
My Furuno radar (1722) has now twice dropped it drive belt in the Radome.

I wrote to Furuno, who replied that there was an issue with the motor cog rising, allowing the belt to come off.

They recommened that I get a new stronger motor.

I contacted the local Furuno engineer in January to book a motor replacement.

Now in March the local engineer says that I was given th wrong information by Furuno. The rising cog was a problem on another Furuno radome.

So now I am awaiting a sensible reply from Furuno.

After it dropped the belt last year I took the dome to a Furuno registerd engineer, who 'serviced' the dome and put on a new belt and gave the dome a clean bill of health.

Fat lot of good that did.

I have been very pleased with th unit which I bought new 4 years ago, but my pleasure is being pushed a bit at the moment. Whilst I enjoy challenges, going up the mast and fitting radomes is not one of them.

Mind, I am getting a certain expertise in it!!

I have no doubt the Furuno's are excellent radars, and I am just having a little bad luck.

regards

Mj
 
Has anyone had any exp. with the older furuno 1821 radar 8 inch screen, id be interested to hear what you think of it.
 
Graham is one hell of a nice guy and anybody who is a pilot vessel coxwain deserves to have his opinion taken seriously.

John
 
Certainly if I was in the market for a new radar the Furuno would be at the top of my list. The real question is will you get any significant additional value in paying double the price, I suspect not. Remember when comparing you need to compare the benefits not the features, features which give no benefit have no value to you, though they may give benefits and thus value to others.
 
Thanks to everyone for the answers -- helpful and encouraging despite the odd spat. I'll go ahead with the Furuno. With a bit of luck I'll be able to keep out of your way when things get dark and murky.
 
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