[captmj]

I am going to be purchasing electronics for my new boat in the next month but I am really stuck. I have the auto pilot and VHF radios nailed down. The issue is chartplotter and radar/sounder. The original plan was for a Northstar 6100 for the plotter and a Furuno Vx2 for the radar/sounder with a 4kw open array. The guys on the Canyon Runner swear by Northstar, while others seem to think that I should keep Northstar for the plotter and use the Vx2 for the radar sounder. The new HD radars from Northstar look great, but still not sure about the Northstar sounder quality?

Any comments would be much appreciated...

 

[clementine]

I say go for the original pplan, Northstar makes hands down the best plotter out there, and the furuno radars and fishfinders are the best in their class. Furuno crt radars are sick, and so are their standalone fishfinders, like the fcv 1100l. If you got the $$$ look into simrad, their big sounder (EQ44 ?) is untouchable, but very pricey.
Also, what's your new boat.

This post edited by clementine 05:47 PM 01/04/2008

 

[captmj]

Sam,

Thanks for the reply. That what I thought about the Furunos too, but the new HD Northstar is getting some attention as well. The new boat is a 34' Pursuit Center console. It's there 340 model.

Thanks again...

 

[oneblitzen]

Northstar

Not sure how it is today but Northstar's customer support was not very good in the last few years. It may be better since they were sold last year to Simrad, but I know for sure that Furuno stands behind everything and has great customer support. IMO the Northstar plotters are the best to use but I am very suspect of their quality hence the customer support issue. If unsure, I would go Furuno all the way.

 

[clementine]

customer

Agreed with you, furuno has terrific customer support. I believe northstar and navman are now owned by the same company.
Btw, how's the boat coming along blitzen

 

[Boborusky]

I just put electronics in my new boat. I chose the Northstar 6100i for chartplotter only. I have furuno radar and fishfinder as well. I saw the northstar radar and fishfinder. I found the radar to not compare at all to the furuno image and same with the fishfinder. Furuno has much better picture quality in my opinion, but others may disagree. The new NavNets are great machines, and are very simple to use. The new digital fish finder's performance and clarity is great. Also, check out who sponsors Canyon Runner.

 

[Frigate]

In 2004-2005 when I was building a downeaster, I put 2 Northstar 6000i's, with the Northstar sounder as a backup, a Simrad EQ44 and repeater, and a Furuno (I don't remenber the number) 64 mile radar.

By profession I am a land surveyor, trust me when I say the Northstar chartplotter is the best chartplotter. The Furuno radar is excellent I can see birds flying and individual birds sitting on the water without playing with the gain. The Simrad EQ44 is also an excellent sounder. HOWEVER, this unit takes alot of learning to get the best out of it. By the end of this summer I feel I will be getting the best out of this unit.

My opinion I want GPS, Radar, and Sounder in different boxes. If one craps all don't go down. But what do I know, the first LORAN I used was an APN9.

 

[captmj]

Sounds like more of what I have heard before, Furuno for the radar/sounder and Northstar for GPS. Thanks guys. It helps to hear from guys currently using these units and not just listen to salesman, although in my case I trust my salesman.

Hey Frigate...still have those bass swimming around your underwater lights?

 

[Mad Mahi]

I would hold off on any decision until you look at the upcoming FURUNO NAVNET 3D...soon to be released.

While Northstar arguably produced a benchmark plotter ( 952 & 958 ) the 6000 and 8000 series have not been able to carry that torch, especially after Brunswick got involved. Simrad may straighten that out, which remains to be seen, but there are issues with reliability and as mentioned, customer service has been sketchy.

The Furuno Navnet 3D will have all of the industry leading qualities for radar and sonar with a step up in HD radar along with some really quick, and user friendly plotter functions.

NAVNET Website

This post edited by Mad Mahi 10:05 PM 01/04/2008

 

[Frigate]

Captmj,

We had bass around the underwater lights till we hauled the boat.

 

[clementine]

Navnet 3D

Navnet 3D is going to be sick. The chart redraw speed is so fast, it's going to be so nice for getting on pieces, and such.

 

[captmj]

I have looked in to the NavNet 3D equipment and there are some features like the dual radar that interest me. The thing that makes me nervous is the timing. Furuno still has not put them on the market. They had nothing at the NYC show. They won't give a date as to when they will be available. There are some dealers who are taking money and orders for the equipment that isn't even avaialbe yet, so my concern is that when it does become available there may be a back order on the stuff. I just don't want that to interfere with tuna time!

 

[Mad Mahi]

captmj wrote:
I have looked in to the NavNet 3D equipment and there are some features like the dual radar that interest me. The thing that makes me nervous is the timing. Furuno still has not put them on the market. They had nothing at the NYC show. They won't give a date as to when they will be available. There are some dealers who are taking money and orders for the equipment that isn't even avaialbe yet, so my concern is that when it does become available there may be a back order on the stuff. I just don't want that to interfere with tuna time!

Definitely a legitimate concern. Last I read/heard (Miami Show announcement) was that they were expecting release in Late March/April.

If you put in an order with a larger supplier before release, you usually get one of the first shipments. Waiting until they actually release them and then going out to order usually puts you on the long back ordered list. So it is catch 22.

Furuno has rarely introduced a new product that design wise, or programmatically, needed to be "shaken out", unlike some of their competitors (Raymarine for one). It is safe to assume that it will work as advertised with minimal glitches.

Be a shame to not load that new Pursuit (sweet boat, BTW!) with what looks like a sure winner. Early reviews of it indicate the NAVNET 3D will be the networked system that will finally produce one manufacturer that has superior design in all 3 technologies (Radar, Sonar and Gps/plotter), let alone the added entertainment/video capabilities.

How soon do you take delivery on your new ride? Do you have an electronics retailer/rigger lined up or are you doing it yourself. If you want you can PM me.


This post edited by Mad Mahi 12:32 PM 01/05/2008

 

[max171]

embrace the future

I have a 26 ft regulator.. i run a 958 northstar chartplotter,a 10 inch navnet for fishfinder with a 1kw ducer, and a 7 inch to the 4kw dome.... love the set up... love it! after playing with the navnet 3d im giving it all up and switching... Icant speak on the current northstar hd stuff.. i know when they switched out of the 900 series it was def. a step down.... furuno is the leader in ff! thats a fact.. i too am nervous about being one of the first, but the product has never let me down... radar looks sick but to be honest its least on my list of importance.
gps and sounderwaymoreimportant, ( i love my uniden vhf)..

Max