Thinking of changing my Electronics

jezza2011 · 11 September 2011, 08:46

Hi I am thinking of replaceing my aeging electronics on the old rib.

I have a Eagle Cuda 168 wide screen and a garmin 126 Gps.
Both are good but take up alot of my limited console space.

I was looking at getting a GPS/SOUNDER combo but which one??

any suggestions oh Gurus.

Channel Ribs · 11 September 2011, 09:09

The Garmin 4" and 5" screen chartplotters both come in a sonar capable version, they are stunning value for money as they now include British Isles charts as standard.

If you have room for it then Garmin's 750S is stunning.

If you want something really amazing in terms of sonar, then Lowrance do a comparable unit that works with broadband sonar and, if you really want to knock socks off, Structurescan.

http://channelribs.com/shop/index.php/cPath/22_23

Cookee · 11 September 2011, 10:15

Raymarine have taken a big step forward with the E7: Raymarine E7

Dirk Diggler · 11 September 2011, 10:17

556S or 750S Garmin

jezza2011 · 11 September 2011, 21:22

wow the 750s looks ace.but I dont have a engine new enought to use the features.
556S looks good

Dr Doof · 11 September 2011, 21:30

Lowrance HDS units are pretty good.

Happy with mine.

Pikey Dave · 12 September 2011, 05:20

For Navigation I'd look at units that use Navionics charts. If you want to see what's under the boat rather than just knowing how much water you have, Structure scan is the way to go. I'd seriously look at Lowrance.

Dirk Diggler · 12 September 2011, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

Raymarine have taken a big step forward with the E7:

And a massive step backwards with their customer service!

Into The Blue · 12 September 2011, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

And a massive step backwards with their customer service!

Just as a matter of curiosity, and without wishing to open a whole can of worms, whats the customer service issue?

willk · 12 September 2011, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Into The Blue

Just as a matter of curiosity, and without wishing to open a whole can of worms, whats the customer service issue?

They were playing silly bu@@ers with him recently...

9D280 · 13 September 2011, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jezza2011

wow the 750s looks ace.but I dont have a engine new enought to use the features.

Spend a few hundred on some NMEA2K sensors?

jezza2011 · 13 September 2011, 15:42

Really you can sensor a old mariner 75 1991 up so it sends to the 750s???

9D280 · 14 September 2011, 08:20

Not easily.

There are companies out there do "bolt on" NMEA2K sensors, and others do adaptors, so you buy the NMEA adaptor & connect in off the shelf analougue sensors so you could, for example fit water pressure, temp etc, and bus them all up down a 2K cable for the trip to the console (can also then add a sounder and not need to run another cable!). The down side is you would need to fit them yourself, although if it's a Merc based Mariner there may be a place to bolt a thermal sensor on the head. Water pressure tapping might be a bit more interesting to fit... From memory there was a pulse - 2K converter for RPM on someone's list.

A few to peruse, just google "NMEA2000 sensors" for more.

http://www.maretron.com/
http://www.seagauge.com/index.htm
http://www.floscan.com/html/blue/NMEA2000.php

I half looked at it, but decided to put on the back burner 'till I build the console instrument pod extension so I have somewhere to put the plotter!

jezza2011 · 14 September 2011, 10:35

HMM the kit is not cheap.!!
Ok well I think a nmea2000 set up is far too expensive on the old engine.
Will take a look at the 500 series and smaller units.

But saying that I do like the look of the ribeye on boatsandoutbards listing. 2004 with a yam.. hmmmm new boat with seats.hmmmm

can I convince the other half I need a new one lol

9D280 · 15 September 2011, 08:08

There was another set of kit out there that didn't need the big data converter. Unfortnately I lost the link, but they were standalone sensors with about a metre ov cable and an NMEA2K plug on the end - dataconversion was performed in a moulded in blob in the cable. They were between £50- 150ish depending what sensor was on the end.

You might need to trawl deeper! (assuming of course the recession hasn't folded them)

Poly · 15 September 2011, 08:21

How about this? NoLand Engineering

Cookee · 16 September 2011, 07:37

I think it would be a total waste of time and money and be cheaper and much easier to replace the motor! If you want information just add some analogue gauges to the dash! Water pressure is useful but there isn't much else I would bother with to be honest.

9D280 · 16 September 2011, 11:19

Aye, but if you have a console the size of mine ( not even room to put the plotter that started this discussion on in the first place!) then a wee NMEA2K gauge would do the job nicely.....

When I build the instrument pod, water pressure & tacho are the engine gauges I'll be fitting. I might if I can find a suitable switch put an overheat alarm in, but there's an argument that says that would only tell me after my engine has just gubbed itself.