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Author Topic:   Fuel Flow Meter/Computer

Tom W Clark posted 06-17-2007 01:47 PM ET (US)
Now that NAVMAN (which also made the Standard Horizon instruments) has apparently disintegrated, who besides FloScan makes a fuel flow meter for outboard powered boats?
Jefecinco posted 06-17-2007 06:31 PM ET (US)
Tom,
Lowrance makes a nice low cost unit. For those who have Lowrance head units installed no additional display is required.
Butch
Plotman posted 06-18-2007 10:08 AM ET (US)
I thought Northstar has essentially taken over the Navman line.
The former Navman 3100 fuel flow meter is now sold as the Northstar 310 and the Navman 2100 is sold as the Northstar 210.
They also sell most of the Navman GPS and fishfinders under the Nortstar name - the model numbers generally just drop the final zero - eg my Navman 6600 is now sold as the Northstar 660.
David
Tom W Clark posted 06-19-2007 10:21 AM ET (US)
David,
That's just the information i was looking for.
Butch,
I'll check out the Lowrance unit too.
RJG posted 06-19-2007 09:50 PM ET (US)
It just so happens that I got my new 'Consumers Marine Electronics' catalog last week and they carry the full line of Northstar products.
davej14 posted 06-20-2007 12:05 PM ET (US)
Tom,
I have the Lowrance EP-10 fuel flow sensor and it is quite accurate. It ties into the LowranceNet NMEA2000 network and is not stand alone.
Here is the installation manual:
http://www.lowrance.com/Manuals/Files/EP-10FuelFlow_0154-431_100205.pdf
Let me know if you have any questions.
kamie posted 06-20-2007 12:49 PM ET (US)
David,
I found the 210, but I can't find the 310 or old Navman 3100 anywhere on the web site? Got a link?
Tom W Clark posted 06-21-2007 12:31 AM ET (US)
Kamie,
Just Google "northstar 310 fuel" and see what comes up. Here is one hit:
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/316572148. htm?bct=%3Bcifuel-flow-instrument
$349 seems to be the going rate for the 310 at this time. I have searched several vendors and they are all the same.
Dave,
Will the Lowrance slave to a GPS output from any GPS? Or does it need to be part of a proprietary Lowrance network?
Peter posted 06-21-2007 08:20 AM ET (US)
I've had the Navman F3100 (NorthStar 310) for four seasons now. It's a high quality product. Unless connectivity to a NMEA 2000 network is needed, I don't think the Navman/NothStar fuel computer can be beat. It has a nice big easy-to-read LCD display and its relatively easy to use. I probably look at that display more than anything else while underway.
I vaguely recall paying about $350 with the twin transducers. I think that was the first year for the product. The Boater's World listing doesn't indicate any transducer so that price might be just for the display unit.
Tom W Clark posted 06-21-2007 10:14 AM ET (US)
$350 for the 310 is all-inclusive for a single motor installation. The display unit by itself is considerably less.
Jefecinco posted 06-21-2007 07:21 PM ET (US)
Tom,
Sorry but I don't know how the Lowrance fuel flow xducer and cable work with another brand of GPS.
The fuel flow IS sold as a system, ie. xducer cable and gage. You can check that on lowrance.com, get the model number and then try a google for the best price.
Personally I've not found froggle to be too helpful despite many admonitions to try it.
Butch
JMARTIN posted 06-22-2007 01:36 AM ET (US)
Tom, my 2 plus year old Navman 3100 said it would work with any NMEA or NavBus output GPS. John
Plotman posted 06-22-2007 11:25 AM ET (US)
Tom, $295 for single engine or $365 for twins here vitelectronics.com/ns310f.html
jimh posted 06-25-2007 10:47 PM ET (US)
The NAVMAN 3100 Fuel instrument needs a GPS input via a NMEA-0183 interface if you want it to instantaneously compute fuel mileage in MPG or other units. This is a standard type of signal and interface, and most GPS receivers can provide it. I believe the Northstar product is just the same NAVMAN unit repackaged with different color buttons.
I am totally satisfied with my NAVMAN 3100 Fuel, however, if I were doing this all over again, I would also consider the LOWRANCE LMF-400 instrument and fuel flow sensor. This would make a miniature NMEA-2000 network. I don't know if you could interface a GPS to it unless the GPS was also NMEA-2000 compatible. You might have to research that. However, the cost of the LOWRANCE system would be lower, I think, and it would give you the potential to add more NMEA-2000 devices to the network in the future.
On the other hand, the display on the NAVMAN or Northstar is very, very good, and the design of the controls and user interface is terrific. It is very handy to use. It is an excellent product.
DJones posted 06-27-2007 03:43 PM ET (US)
I liked the NavMan 3100 until the display segments began disappearing after 2 seasons of running. Now the thing is unreadable. The first one I had was bad in the same way out of the box.

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Author	Topic: Fuel Flow Meter/Computer
Tom W Clark	posted 06-17-2007 01:47 PM ET (US) Now that NAVMAN (which also made the Standard Horizon instruments) has apparently disintegrated, who besides FloScan makes a fuel flow meter for outboard powered boats?
Jefecinco	posted 06-17-2007 06:31 PM ET (US) Tom, Lowrance makes a nice low cost unit. For those who have Lowrance head units installed no additional display is required. Butch
Plotman	posted 06-18-2007 10:08 AM ET (US) I thought Northstar has essentially taken over the Navman line. The former Navman 3100 fuel flow meter is now sold as the Northstar 310 and the Navman 2100 is sold as the Northstar 210. They also sell most of the Navman GPS and fishfinders under the Nortstar name - the model numbers generally just drop the final zero - eg my Navman 6600 is now sold as the Northstar 660. David
Tom W Clark	posted 06-19-2007 10:21 AM ET (US) David, That's just the information i was looking for. Butch, I'll check out the Lowrance unit too.
RJG	posted 06-19-2007 09:50 PM ET (US) It just so happens that I got my new 'Consumers Marine Electronics' catalog last week and they carry the full line of Northstar products.
davej14	posted 06-20-2007 12:05 PM ET (US) Tom, I have the Lowrance EP-10 fuel flow sensor and it is quite accurate. It ties into the LowranceNet NMEA2000 network and is not stand alone. Here is the installation manual: http://www.lowrance.com/Manuals/Files/EP-10FuelFlow_0154-431_100205.pdf Let me know if you have any questions.
kamie	posted 06-20-2007 12:49 PM ET (US) David, I found the 210, but I can't find the 310 or old Navman 3100 anywhere on the web site? Got a link?
Tom W Clark	posted 06-21-2007 12:31 AM ET (US) Kamie, Just Google "northstar 310 fuel" and see what comes up. Here is one hit: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/316572148. htm?bct=%3Bcifuel-flow-instrument $349 seems to be the going rate for the 310 at this time. I have searched several vendors and they are all the same. Dave, Will the Lowrance slave to a GPS output from any GPS? Or does it need to be part of a proprietary Lowrance network?
Peter	posted 06-21-2007 08:20 AM ET (US) I've had the Navman F3100 (NorthStar 310) for four seasons now. It's a high quality product. Unless connectivity to a NMEA 2000 network is needed, I don't think the Navman/NothStar fuel computer can be beat. It has a nice big easy-to-read LCD display and its relatively easy to use. I probably look at that display more than anything else while underway. I vaguely recall paying about $350 with the twin transducers. I think that was the first year for the product. The Boater's World listing doesn't indicate any transducer so that price might be just for the display unit.
Tom W Clark	posted 06-21-2007 10:14 AM ET (US) $350 for the 310 is all-inclusive for a single motor installation. The display unit by itself is considerably less.
Jefecinco	posted 06-21-2007 07:21 PM ET (US) Tom, Sorry but I don't know how the Lowrance fuel flow xducer and cable work with another brand of GPS. The fuel flow IS sold as a system, ie. xducer cable and gage. You can check that on lowrance.com, get the model number and then try a google for the best price. Personally I've not found froggle to be too helpful despite many admonitions to try it. Butch
JMARTIN	posted 06-22-2007 01:36 AM ET (US) Tom, my 2 plus year old Navman 3100 said it would work with any NMEA or NavBus output GPS. John
Plotman	posted 06-22-2007 11:25 AM ET (US) Tom, $295 for single engine or $365 for twins here vitelectronics.com/ns310f.html
jimh	posted 06-25-2007 10:47 PM ET (US) The NAVMAN 3100 Fuel instrument needs a GPS input via a NMEA-0183 interface if you want it to instantaneously compute fuel mileage in MPG or other units. This is a standard type of signal and interface, and most GPS receivers can provide it. I believe the Northstar product is just the same NAVMAN unit repackaged with different color buttons. I am totally satisfied with my NAVMAN 3100 Fuel, however, if I were doing this all over again, I would also consider the LOWRANCE LMF-400 instrument and fuel flow sensor. This would make a miniature NMEA-2000 network. I don't know if you could interface a GPS to it unless the GPS was also NMEA-2000 compatible. You might have to research that. However, the cost of the LOWRANCE system would be lower, I think, and it would give you the potential to add more NMEA-2000 devices to the network in the future. On the other hand, the display on the NAVMAN or Northstar is very, very good, and the design of the controls and user interface is terrific. It is very handy to use. It is an excellent product.
DJones	posted 06-27-2007 03:43 PM ET (US) I liked the NavMan 3100 until the display segments began disappearing after 2 seasons of running. Now the thing is unreadable. The first one I had was bad in the same way out of the box.