I'm going to be purchasing a radar for my boat very soon. Do any of you own or have any of you owned in the past a JRC Radar and if so how do you like it compared to other brands you have owned? I've heard lots of comments like " its no Furuno" and " a 4k JRC is about as powerful as a 2k Furuno or Raymarine" . What do you guys think?
JRC Radar's
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371 Posts
i almost bought a jrc but decided on a raymarine 4kw and love it never heard anyone complain about the jrc my freind has one on his boat and he likes it buts its not color....
Radar
On the same note. I am also thinking of investing in a radar unit\system. I go offshore a half dozen times a year sharking (fog) & I want to fish the gut \ race this summer at night. I do not want to pay an arm and a leg. Can anyone tell me what I should budget for my 24' center console for a radar system? Can you install one easy enough if you are somwhat mechanicaly inlined? Recommendations would be appreciated.
On the same note. I am also thinking of investing in a radar unit\system. I go offshore a half dozen times a year sharking (fog) & I want to fish the gut \ race this summer at night. I do not want to pay an arm and a leg. Can anyone tell me what I should budget for my 24' center console for a radar system? Can you install one easy enough if you are somwhat mechanicaly inlined? Recommendations would be appreciated.
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245 Posts
HI Mako,
For your size boat, I would assume you are putting it on a T top, and as such you will have limited range anyhow. Stay in the 8-16 nm range, and look for a unit that is splash-proof to avoid any spray issues. As far as the wiring of it goes, I would have it installed, it can be done if you are a good DIY'er, but why chance it?? THe newer units can be had for around $1000 or so. If you are in RI, I would recommend seaport communications ( down in S. Kingston) or Pawtuxet cove marina ( Joe Pagano is the guy to ask for). The radar is nice, but learn to keep it on ALL THE TIME. you need to associate what you see on the screen with whats on the water, and you cant do that in the fog. Practice in clear weather to help you in bad weather.
For your size boat, I would assume you are putting it on a T top, and as such you will have limited range anyhow. Stay in the 8-16 nm range, and look for a unit that is splash-proof to avoid any spray issues. As far as the wiring of it goes, I would have it installed, it can be done if you are a good DIY'er, but why chance it?? THe newer units can be had for around $1000 or so. If you are in RI, I would recommend seaport communications ( down in S. Kingston) or Pawtuxet cove marina ( Joe Pagano is the guy to ask for). The radar is nice, but learn to keep it on ALL THE TIME. you need to associate what you see on the screen with whats on the water, and you cant do that in the fog. Practice in clear weather to help you in bad weather.
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10,097 Posts
JRC? Excellent goods.
I've had a JRC-built Raytheon RL9 on my boat for the past 11 seasons. Its a 2kW model. Very reliable, works beautifully for what I need it to do - which is to pick up the bay bouys up to a half mile out.
Also fine in the ocean on the 3-mile range for tracking the movements of the "Big Boy" cargo ships and tankers relative to my course.
I've also run a boat that had a older JRC-built 4kW Ratheon R20XX on it. An excellent and highly resolute machine. Gorgeous display.
Those that think a JRC radar isn't the match of a Furuno or Raymarine unit, in any wattage range are very much mistaken. Its just that people get stuck on the big names, and that certain manufacturers catch on in a group and become very familiar within that group, thus the proliferation of Furuno within the commercial fishing community and Raymarine with the recreational boaters, for example.
Also, if you've read post boards for any length of time, a pattern becomes apparent. People tend to fall in love with the brands they've selected for their own boats and talk them up like crazy - to the point of being contentious and even confrontational in many cases. Just check out the big boating boards, like THT.com. Most of those "What do you recommend for . . ." threads turn into train wrecks after the first page or two. Its just the way it seems to be.
Years and years ago my first job after college was as as Ship's Agent, operating out of one of the oldest firms in NY that specialized in that difficult & trouble-prone business. A principal part of that job would be lining up repair firms to take care of any ship's mechanical or electronic issues as soon as they came into the Port of New York. We had many ships come in with electronics problems. A good portion of those issues were with their primary or secondary radar systems. Though the JRC radars were among the most popular on those big ships, regards of the flag of origin, alomst never were the problematic radars built by JRC.
And the most asked for radar when those ship's owners, real high seas international COMMERCIAL vessel operators - not local area fishermen - had to replace or upgrade their radar system(s)?
JRC.
True story. And a lesson I never forgot.
Its the deal same with bottom sounders - for years people talked up one or two builders as the only ones to own. Little by little the advantages of what would be considered "fringe" builders became apparent - and you now see very knoweldgeable fishers using and recommending machines by Lowrance, for example.
Same deal with GPS receivers - the "old" standby, Northstar, still makes a very nice machine. Still has a big following too. But I personally think that other newer players, like Garmin for example, are as good or even better than the old gold standard, Northstar. That Garmin machines are considerably less expensive is a very nice plus.
Same deal with JRC radars. Less money, same or even better performance.
Lousy advertising budget though . . . or so it seems.
best, Lep
This post edited by Leprechaun 12:00 PM 03/04/2008
I've had a JRC-built Raytheon RL9 on my boat for the past 11 seasons. Its a 2kW model. Very reliable, works beautifully for what I need it to do - which is to pick up the bay bouys up to a half mile out.
Also fine in the ocean on the 3-mile range for tracking the movements of the "Big Boy" cargo ships and tankers relative to my course.
I've also run a boat that had a older JRC-built 4kW Ratheon R20XX on it. An excellent and highly resolute machine. Gorgeous display.
Those that think a JRC radar isn't the match of a Furuno or Raymarine unit, in any wattage range are very much mistaken. Its just that people get stuck on the big names, and that certain manufacturers catch on in a group and become very familiar within that group, thus the proliferation of Furuno within the commercial fishing community and Raymarine with the recreational boaters, for example.
Also, if you've read post boards for any length of time, a pattern becomes apparent. People tend to fall in love with the brands they've selected for their own boats and talk them up like crazy - to the point of being contentious and even confrontational in many cases. Just check out the big boating boards, like THT.com. Most of those "What do you recommend for . . ." threads turn into train wrecks after the first page or two. Its just the way it seems to be.
Years and years ago my first job after college was as as Ship's Agent, operating out of one of the oldest firms in NY that specialized in that difficult & trouble-prone business. A principal part of that job would be lining up repair firms to take care of any ship's mechanical or electronic issues as soon as they came into the Port of New York. We had many ships come in with electronics problems. A good portion of those issues were with their primary or secondary radar systems. Though the JRC radars were among the most popular on those big ships, regards of the flag of origin, alomst never were the problematic radars built by JRC.
And the most asked for radar when those ship's owners, real high seas international COMMERCIAL vessel operators - not local area fishermen - had to replace or upgrade their radar system(s)?
JRC.
True story. And a lesson I never forgot.
Its the deal same with bottom sounders - for years people talked up one or two builders as the only ones to own. Little by little the advantages of what would be considered "fringe" builders became apparent - and you now see very knoweldgeable fishers using and recommending machines by Lowrance, for example.
Same deal with GPS receivers - the "old" standby, Northstar, still makes a very nice machine. Still has a big following too. But I personally think that other newer players, like Garmin for example, are as good or even better than the old gold standard, Northstar. That Garmin machines are considerably less expensive is a very nice plus.
Same deal with JRC radars. Less money, same or even better performance.
Lousy advertising budget though . . . or so it seems.
best, Lep
This post edited by Leprechaun 12:00 PM 03/04/2008
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322 Posts
you can get a furuno 1623 for 999. or a 1715 for 1299. i believe they are no longer being made. it you were just looking for a cost effective unit. they are both black and white though. do you already have a full sized chart plotter? if you do you can add a dome for around the cost of the 1623 depending on who's you have and what you choose.
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2,240 Posts
i had the 4kw unit on my boat and never had a problem with it....like evryone said...its a raytheon unit.
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