Need reccomendations for Plotter and Fishfinder

[POON MAN]

Need reccomendations for Plotter and Fishfinder for 35 foot C/C that will be fishing out of West Palm year round with a few trips to the islands

I have fallin out of the Loop with all the new stuff out there

Radio
Plotter
Fish finder

would like to stay under 3k

Is Radar needed for this area ? day time running

[FinRazr]

Furuno after talking to my electronics guy who did the same thing in the navy.He said furuno was the most durable in the industry.

[Nimrod]

POON-

I agree that Furuno makes outstanding equipment and it is tops on my list when it comes to sounders and radar. Their plotters are good too but I really like the Nortstar 6000i and 6100i. Northstar's sounders are very good too now.

If i was doing 2 seperate units I would go with a Furuno dual frequency color sounder and a Northstar 6Ki plotter. If you are going to do a combo it is kind of a toss up. I would make it over to the local electronics shop and play with them to see what you like and don't like. If plotter is your main focus go with the Nortstar (so easy to use and great graphics) and if sounder is most important I would lean towards the Furuno. You really can't go wrong with either set up.

Whether to go with radar or not is a good question. Do you have to have it? IMHO probably not. Would I want it? Absolutly! There are so many things you can do with it and on the few occasions that you actually NEED it you will be so happy to have it.

Now if you do decide to add radar both set ups can run radar on the same display. Again, I tend to lean towards Furuno for the big radar units but in a small application the Northstar would be good.

As far as VHFs - everyone makes radios these days but I like the Icoms.

I hope this helps a little. Let me if we can help.

[JD5652]

Poon-

I have the Furuno FCV-585 FF with a 1K watt xducer and it's a great machine. I haven't learned all the tricks on it yet, but it's definitely versatile.

ICOM can't be beat for their radios. I have the ICOM 602 and 402 and 802 SSB and love 'em. All with MMSI technology.

I also have the Furuno 1942 MK II radar. It would be overkill on the vessel you're looking at, but Furuno does make a sweet radar. I went with the green screen versus the LCD for my personal preference. You probably don't "need" it in Fla, but I sure would like to have it for thunderstorm avoidance if nothing else.

I tend to like the Garmin chartplotters, I have the 3010 with the sounder and XM weather. Nothing like having real time weather when the late afternoon thunder storms approach so you can dodge them. Garmin has a couple newer generations of chartplotter out now, the newest being the 5XXX models with touch screen technology.....again that might be a budget buster for you, but you can get the 3010...or better yet the 3210 (built in maps) for a very good price these days since they are pushing the newer units.

Good luck!

[Seaker]

If you want to add weather then Garmin is the lowest cost solution out there. That's gonna save you 750 versus add in modules for the other guyz and now spend that savings on a kick butt transducer and look for fish breaking wind

Radar for certain for bird watchin alone

furuono sounder or add in into the chart plotter a netwroked unit with a great ducer


I have been all over the weather deal and can't justify upgrading my navnet 1to vX2 so I can spend another 1k on the black box Went with the portable one for delivery's and added the XM hockey puck

Just like that little puppy you pulled out when we brought seaker up

[mrfishy]

For seperate units I'd go with Furuno but a combo unit I'd go with Raymarine.

[fishskipper]

Originally Posted by Capten

POON-

I agree that Furuno makes outstanding equipment and it is tops on my list when it comes to sounders and radar. Their plotters are good too but I really like the Nortstar 6000i and 6100i. Northstar's sounders are very good too now.

If i was doing 2 seperate units I would go with a Furuno dual frequency color sounder and a Northstar 6Ki plotter. If you are going to do a combo it is kind of a toss up. I would make it over to the local electronics shop and play with them to see what you like and don't like. If plotter is your main focus go with the Nortstar (so easy to use and great graphics) and if sounder is most important I would lean towards the Furuno. You really can't go wrong with either set up.

Whether to go with radar or not is a good question. Do you have to have it? IMHO probably not. Would I want it? Absolutly! There are so many things you can do with it and on the few occasions that you actually NEED it you will be so happy to have it.

Now if you do decide to add radar both set ups can run radar on the same display. Again, I tend to lean towards Furuno for the big radar units but in a small application the Northstar would be good.

As far as VHFs - everyone makes radios these days but I like the Icoms.

I hope this helps a little. Let me if we can help.

DITTO............ This man knows what he's talking about

[ACF Marine Inc]

I get this question all the time. First off I would not go with a consolidated unit unless dash space is really an issue.

For fish finder you will not beat the Furuno FCV series. Add a 1K ducer and you have the best out there.

As for plotters I highly recommend Garmin plotters. The new 4XXX and 5XXX series are going to be very nice and the existing 3XXX series is great.

As for radar I don't know why it's still considered a luxury item. When all else fails and the shit hits the fan, the ability to see what’s around you on radar is the most valuable tool you can have. Garmin's introduction of the GMR-18 makes having solid 4KW radar affordable and it will work with any of the previously mentioned display units.

[29topaz]

Hey Poon,
The Davis is in the water and we run both units (Furuno, Northstar) side by side, if you want to check each out yourself. I aggree with Capten and I think you would aggree also when you see each operating. Drop me a note if you want to stop by New Bedford. Talk to you later!

[POON MAN]

Thanks Guy's for the support and offers to see it real time

I am still reviewing all the options and pricing

need to seriously think about adding radar so the decision and the lay out

are still up in the air. It's a florida CC so radar is not a priority but a

consideration for the future

I will be down there in a few weeks to finalize the choices and then purchase and get it installed

1 more Question

what do you guy's think about shoot thru transducers ? it will be rack stored and i think it would be safe than having a ducer sticking thru the hull ???