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Author Topic:   FURUNO PLOTTER/FISH FINDER COMBOS

bigjohn1 posted 05-30-2004 07:58 AM ET (US)
Need some feedback if anyone has experience with Furuno gear. Thanks to Moe for pointing me in the direction of Furuno for my unique circumstances. I boat in Guam and C-Map is the only format that covers this area (13N, 143E). I know many are fond of Garmin units and I would likely go that route if their cards supported my area of the world.
The unit will go in my 2004 170 and I realize there is limited console space. The unit I have tentatively decided on is the GP1850WDF/NT. Broken Leg Dave has them for $1,740 with an antenna and I assume the only additional item I would have to buy would be a transducer (about $80). Aside from this unit supporting C-Map, it has 4,000ft depth capability and we have those depths and (then some) way out here. From the literature I read, the "displays" are waterproof but I see no waterproof standard (such as IPX-7, CFR, etc) for the unit as a whole. With the wet environment of a Montauk, it would be terrible to pay all that money then find out a splash of water from divers coming aboard or a sudden rain storm rendered my nearly $2,000 unit worthless. The unit will be stored inside the house and will only go in the boat when I was going out. As a rule, I don't regularly boat in rain storms but we all know everything gets wet inside a 17' boat. Thanks for the input.
Big John
AQUANUT posted 05-30-2004 08:15 AM ET (US)
hey john

I just installed one of those...friday
the unit is big...about 12 inches wide..the gps is small bout the same as the lowrance gps...mounted on a s/s rachet mount.but the transducer could be used as a trim tab...its massive!

sitting next to it is a color radar plotter..just as big..not much dash left...put it on a 20ft alumaweld intruder with a 225 yamaha I installed last week
irt the bildge on moontauk170..its a rule 1100
[1100 gph, there are larger b pumps...1200gph and above attwood and rule..but they are larger in size that the 1100..wich is same diameter as most 500/600gph pumps
bigjohn1 posted 05-30-2004 09:27 AM ET (US)
To hopefully facilitate better feedback on my Furuno decision, I forgot to mention that in Guam, WAAS and DGPS aren't available...only standard GPS. I realize the 1850 unit I am thinking about is WASS/DGPS-ready, I just won't be able to use those capabilities.
Aquanut, thanks for the pump info....sounds like they already have a very capable unit installed at the factory. I realize the Furuno is a huge unit and it will take up nearly all my console space. I suppose my thought is, this unit will do it all (except radar) and is arguably the top of the line so I really don't need anything else up on that console. Thanks for the feedback.
Big John
Moe posted 05-30-2004 09:59 AM ET (US)
John, didn't you determine that not all the C-map charts, especially the one covering Guam, were available on the proprietary cards that Furuno uses? Or was that not correct?
--
Moe
dgp posted 05-30-2004 10:05 AM ET (US)
From the Furuno USA web site, "Waterproof display suited for fly bridge installation". "Water resistance, display, IPX5, CFR46".
HawaiianWhaler posted 05-30-2004 03:09 PM ET (US)
I have the Furuno 1650 unit, flush mounted in the console of my 21 Conquest back when they still made both the 1650 and 1850. In the 5 years I've had the 1650, it has performed flawlessly. IMHO you can't go wrong with the Furuno.
bigjohn1 posted 05-30-2004 08:36 PM ET (US)
Moe,
Hmm....maybe I need to look again but I think the proprietary C-map cards for Furuno DO cover Guam. I do know one guy who uses the 1650 there and he uses C-map and states it works well. I will check again though..thanks for the reminder.
Big John
OzWhaler posted 05-30-2004 08:47 PM ET (US)
BigJohn ... would really suggest again you look at the new Navman 6600 Combo - size, functionality, waterproof rating, daylight visibility and resolution, etc. I don't know about pricing in Guam - but it has 1000m depth capability and carries two C-Charts at the same time
OzWhaler posted 05-30-2004 08:53 PM ET (US)
Sorry (gulp) ... I meant 'C-map' not C-Chart... another selection criteria for me is the very limited space on a 170MT (against a flybridge cruiser), the open nature of the boat with masses of light, and the facility to be able to easily remove the unit for storage and security
bigjohn1 posted 05-31-2004 08:33 AM ET (US)
OzWhaler....thanks for reminding me of the Navman. I did
give it a glance when you recommended before but did not look in-depth. I took a good look at the specs, pricing, and features today and it looks like it stacks up well against the Furuno. I am not totally brand-loyal but after 25 years in the Navy and seeing most of our commercial gear on the small boats as either Furuno or RayMarine, it has made me a bit close-minded I guess at looking toward other brands. The price of both units looks to be virtually identical once you factor in transducer and gps antenna purchase - more or less $2,000 complete (ouch). Although I only checked two web sites (the first two that came up on an MSN search), it did seem like there was more of a variance in price on the Navman whereas the Furuno pricing seemed fairly consistent (give or take) between suppliers.
I dunno.....you may have changed my thinking on this. It does seem like the water resistance standard is better on the Navman. I'd take a bet that Furuno never intended to market their 1850 model toward owners of smaller open boats like Montauk's. Looks like I have more research to do...the Furuno weighs a whopping 15 pounds and would take up the entire console while the Navman is lighter and takes up half the space - plus the Navman looks to have better screen resolution.....oh man, decisions, decisions.
Big John
bigjohn1 posted 06-01-2004 09:22 AM ET (US)
Interesting....I went to Boatersworld.com to take a closer look at the 6600 Navman. I noticed no external antenna listed on the site for this unit and no internal antenna listed in the specs. I filled out one of those customer service e-mails and sent it in with my question on antennas. I got an answer back that they were not sure and that I needed to contact the manufacturer. Lets hear it for customer service and being knowledgeable about the products you market and sell.
I was still fairly excited about this unit (despite the unasnwered question on the antenna). This excitement started to fade once I went to the Navman website and consulted the "FAQ Section". Although there was no info on the 6600, I presumed this is due to it being brand new with not much consumer feedback to this point. I did look at many FAQ's on earlier models and saw more than a few company references to various "internal issues" that required the units to be returned to the manufacturer for repair....this has got me thinking hard that there may be unknown "issues" with the relatively new and unproven 6600.
This unit looks very sweet - especially the screen resolution and smaller size compared with Furuno - but the cost is nearly identicel to the 1850 Furuno and there doesn't seem to be enough real-world feedback to make me opt for the Navman. Perhaps there is more I don't know but it is looking more and more like Furuno for me.
Big John

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Author	Topic: FURUNO PLOTTER/FISH FINDER COMBOS
bigjohn1	posted 05-30-2004 07:58 AM ET (US) Need some feedback if anyone has experience with Furuno gear. Thanks to Moe for pointing me in the direction of Furuno for my unique circumstances. I boat in Guam and C-Map is the only format that covers this area (13N, 143E). I know many are fond of Garmin units and I would likely go that route if their cards supported my area of the world. The unit will go in my 2004 170 and I realize there is limited console space. The unit I have tentatively decided on is the GP1850WDF/NT. Broken Leg Dave has them for $1,740 with an antenna and I assume the only additional item I would have to buy would be a transducer (about $80). Aside from this unit supporting C-Map, it has 4,000ft depth capability and we have those depths and (then some) way out here. From the literature I read, the "displays" are waterproof but I see no waterproof standard (such as IPX-7, CFR, etc) for the unit as a whole. With the wet environment of a Montauk, it would be terrible to pay all that money then find out a splash of water from divers coming aboard or a sudden rain storm rendered my nearly $2,000 unit worthless. The unit will be stored inside the house and will only go in the boat when I was going out. As a rule, I don't regularly boat in rain storms but we all know everything gets wet inside a 17' boat. Thanks for the input. Big John
AQUANUT	posted 05-30-2004 08:15 AM ET (US) hey john I just installed one of those...friday the unit is big...about 12 inches wide..the gps is small bout the same as the lowrance gps...mounted on a s/s rachet mount.but the transducer could be used as a trim tab...its massive! sitting next to it is a color radar plotter..just as big..not much dash left...put it on a 20ft alumaweld intruder with a 225 yamaha I installed last week irt the bildge on moontauk170..its a rule 1100 [1100 gph, there are larger b pumps...1200gph and above attwood and rule..but they are larger in size that the 1100..wich is same diameter as most 500/600gph pumps
bigjohn1	posted 05-30-2004 09:27 AM ET (US) To hopefully facilitate better feedback on my Furuno decision, I forgot to mention that in Guam, WAAS and DGPS aren't available...only standard GPS. I realize the 1850 unit I am thinking about is WASS/DGPS-ready, I just won't be able to use those capabilities. Aquanut, thanks for the pump info....sounds like they already have a very capable unit installed at the factory. I realize the Furuno is a huge unit and it will take up nearly all my console space. I suppose my thought is, this unit will do it all (except radar) and is arguably the top of the line so I really don't need anything else up on that console. Thanks for the feedback. Big John
Moe	posted 05-30-2004 09:59 AM ET (US) John, didn't you determine that not all the C-map charts, especially the one covering Guam, were available on the proprietary cards that Furuno uses? Or was that not correct? -- Moe
dgp	posted 05-30-2004 10:05 AM ET (US) From the Furuno USA web site, "Waterproof display suited for fly bridge installation". "Water resistance, display, IPX5, CFR46".
HawaiianWhaler	posted 05-30-2004 03:09 PM ET (US) I have the Furuno 1650 unit, flush mounted in the console of my 21 Conquest back when they still made both the 1650 and 1850. In the 5 years I've had the 1650, it has performed flawlessly. IMHO you can't go wrong with the Furuno.
bigjohn1	posted 05-30-2004 08:36 PM ET (US) Moe, Hmm....maybe I need to look again but I think the proprietary C-map cards for Furuno DO cover Guam. I do know one guy who uses the 1650 there and he uses C-map and states it works well. I will check again though..thanks for the reminder. Big John
OzWhaler	posted 05-30-2004 08:47 PM ET (US) BigJohn ... would really suggest again you look at the new Navman 6600 Combo - size, functionality, waterproof rating, daylight visibility and resolution, etc. I don't know about pricing in Guam - but it has 1000m depth capability and carries two C-Charts at the same time
OzWhaler	posted 05-30-2004 08:53 PM ET (US) Sorry (gulp) ... I meant 'C-map' not C-Chart... another selection criteria for me is the very limited space on a 170MT (against a flybridge cruiser), the open nature of the boat with masses of light, and the facility to be able to easily remove the unit for storage and security
bigjohn1	posted 05-31-2004 08:33 AM ET (US) OzWhaler....thanks for reminding me of the Navman. I did give it a glance when you recommended before but did not look in-depth. I took a good look at the specs, pricing, and features today and it looks like it stacks up well against the Furuno. I am not totally brand-loyal but after 25 years in the Navy and seeing most of our commercial gear on the small boats as either Furuno or RayMarine, it has made me a bit close-minded I guess at looking toward other brands. The price of both units looks to be virtually identical once you factor in transducer and gps antenna purchase - more or less $2,000 complete (ouch). Although I only checked two web sites (the first two that came up on an MSN search), it did seem like there was more of a variance in price on the Navman whereas the Furuno pricing seemed fairly consistent (give or take) between suppliers. I dunno.....you may have changed my thinking on this. It does seem like the water resistance standard is better on the Navman. I'd take a bet that Furuno never intended to market their 1850 model toward owners of smaller open boats like Montauk's. Looks like I have more research to do...the Furuno weighs a whopping 15 pounds and would take up the entire console while the Navman is lighter and takes up half the space - plus the Navman looks to have better screen resolution.....oh man, decisions, decisions. Big John
bigjohn1	posted 06-01-2004 09:22 AM ET (US) Interesting....I went to Boatersworld.com to take a closer look at the 6600 Navman. I noticed no external antenna listed on the site for this unit and no internal antenna listed in the specs. I filled out one of those customer service e-mails and sent it in with my question on antennas. I got an answer back that they were not sure and that I needed to contact the manufacturer. Lets hear it for customer service and being knowledgeable about the products you market and sell. I was still fairly excited about this unit (despite the unasnwered question on the antenna). This excitement started to fade once I went to the Navman website and consulted the "FAQ Section". Although there was no info on the 6600, I presumed this is due to it being brand new with not much consumer feedback to this point. I did look at many FAQ's on earlier models and saw more than a few company references to various "internal issues" that required the units to be returned to the manufacturer for repair....this has got me thinking hard that there may be unknown "issues" with the relatively new and unproven 6600. This unit looks very sweet - especially the screen resolution and smaller size compared with Furuno - but the cost is nearly identicel to the 1850 Furuno and there doesn't seem to be enough real-world feedback to make me opt for the Navman. Perhaps there is more I don't know but it is looking more and more like Furuno for me. Big John