A little advise please

[Michael J]

O.K. folks I'm almost in the market for a radar unit for the boat.My price range should be 2500-3000. It doesn't have to be a huge screen,cause 1, I dont have the room,and 2,I dont 3000 will get me that far.
Any thoughts you folks may have would be great. Michael J.

[Joey805]

Originally Posted by Michael J

O.K. folks I'm almost in the market for a radar unit for the boat.My price range should be 2500-3000. It doesn't have to be a huge screen,cause 1, I dont have the room,and 2,I dont 3000 will get me that far.
Any thoughts you folks may have would be great. Michael J.

I don't know specific models but Furuno seems to be the industry standard across the fleet. I had one on my last boat and it worked great.

[Michael J]

Thanks ,sorry for posting the darn thread twice.Heard anything about JVC? models?

[phishy]

for $2500-3000 these days can get you a full radar/gps/fishfinder and some extra cash in your pocket.. Your shooting way to high on your price range.
Give me some details on what you want, size screen, color or mono, etc...look more like $1500 or less for a stand alone, Go furuno if you dont already have garmin.

[grantar2]

The key is get the largest antenna (no they aren't all the same size for a given power) that you can. If it helps I can dig up a recent article that compares all the brands is great detail. Cruising World did the side by side comparison.

[Michael J]

Originally Posted by phishy

for $2500-3000 these days can get you a full radar/gps/fishfinder and some extra cash in your pocket.. Your shooting way to high on your price range.
Give me some details on what you want, size screen, color or mono, etc...look more like $1500 or less for a stand alone, Go furuno if you dont already have garmin.

I already have a Garmin gps/fishfinder combo that I really like.Iwould like color,and I would think at least a 5-6''screen so you can read your targets.Why would you say go Furuno if I already have Garmin?
Thanks for your input. Michael J.

[Michael J]

Originally Posted by grantar2

The key is get the largest antenna (no they aren't all the same size for a given power) that you can. If it helps I can dig up a recent article that compares all the brands is great detail. Cruising World did the side by side comparison.

That would be great.I've had alot of expeirence w/GPS/chartploter combos over the years,but dont really know a lot about radar.Some other questions that come to mind are does it matter how close the gps antenna,and radar dome are mounted,whats the best way to mount.IE on my rocket launchers,or thru bolt it though the house up forward a bit from the rocket launcher because thats where my gps antenna is now. THanks guys for your input.
Michael J.

[Exudedude]

Originally Posted by Michael J

O.K. folks I'm almost in the market for a radar unit for the boat.My price range should be 2500-3000. It doesn't have to be a huge screen,cause 1, I dont have the room,and 2,I dont 3000 will get me that far.
Any thoughts you folks may have would be great. Michael J.

The MSRP on this is on the higher side of your budget, but if you look around you can find it for $2200.00


Client refused Session

[phishy]

i think i mis-stated myself. what garmin unit do you have. i have a 3006c where i can integrate everything using a network hub. Simply install the radar, and plug into the router.
Far as the biggest antenna, you really dont need that. When your talking strength thats another issue. Most of the new ones standard is 4kw, which is more then enough power, with i think an 18 mile is more then enough. try zooming out to 18 miles and everything is tiny, and its also not a hazard at that range. anything withing 4 miles should be watched closely when navigating. i have a 36 mile, thinking bigger was better. I cant see birds, and im very sceptical for anything a PB can see. I run many times in the middle of night and stake my life on my radar and these are the things that i look for. Good display, heading is correct and in sync with 2 chart plotters on board. My heading also matches my compass. Something i can adjust depending on conditions and easy to change with one hand. Garmin makes the most institutive units on the market hands down. You dont need to take a coast guard approved radar class to use one. Simple thumbing through the manual and some time on the water going through the functions is all you need.


Ill do a bit of research on some models for you and get back

[Michael J]

Exudedude,Thanks for forwarding the web page.
Grantar2,Thanks again for your advise.
Phishy,Thanks for all of your input also.It sounds like I may have jumped the gun by buying the GPS/Fishfinder I have now.It is a Garmin 545s.Great little unit.Phishy,do you know if that unit I have now will integrate w/a Garmin radar,im not sure it will.If it doesn't what do you think might be the next best plan from there.I want radar for the exact same reasons you were talking about.Also looking for thoughts about where to mount the thing,and if it will interfear w/the GPS antenna.Also another thought I just remembered was the 3000.00 needs to cover everything out the door w/no surprises.Thanks in advance for looking into all this as I'm pretty clueless about radars,and the reserch that I'm doing I dont understand what the h@## they are talking about. Any more help you folks can give would be great,as I dont totally trust a salesperson.

Thanks again,
Michael J.