Furuno Model 1712 radar

[mr300z87]

Hi, My name is Mike and I usually hang out in MerCruiser and restoration forums, I have question about the Radar system on our new to us 1990 Sea Ray SunDancer 310. She was originally equipped with a Furuno Model 1712 Radar. We are bay/fair weather boaters and have no real need for radar, so I was thinking about removing it and using the space in the dash for my Simrad Cruise GPS/Chartplotter. My question is does it have any value or is it just a 30 year old system that needs to go in the trash. I have no idea if it works, how to test it or how to use it but I do know powers on. Basicly should I try and sell it or is it trash?

The other useless system that came on her is a Simrad auto pilot. Not that I will ever use it but does the auto pilot talk to the Radar?

To my knowledge this boat has spent its entire life on the Jersey Shore so I am not sure why she would have been equipped with these options. Some time around 2000 a Garmin GPS/Chartplotter was added to bring her into the 21st century. Now its time for more upgrades. Any advice is great appreciated. PM me if anybody wants a Furuno Model 1712 Radar.

 

[mr300z87]

I was mistaken it looks like the Radar was added to the boat around 99 - 00 time frame, at least the manuals say they were printed in 99. Still makes is 20 years old technology. The Garmin GPS was add around 2007ish again that is the date on the manual I have for it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

radar is invaluable in fog or you could run over other boaters

just an FYI sea lice (kayakers) do not show up on radar. nothing will pucker upholstery faster than coming out of the fog 3 miles off shore at 90mph in a poker run than coming across a group of lost kayakers

 

[dingbat]

I was mistaken it looks like the Radar was added to the boat around 99 - 00 time frame, at least the manuals say they were printed in 99. Still makes is 20 years old technology. The Garmin GPS was add around 2007ish again that is the date on the manual I have for it.

The basics behind radar and chart plotting has not changed in the last 20 years.

What has changed is the marketing. It’s no longer who’s equipment is built or performs the best at it task. It’s now all about “features” ie, keeping up on your Twitter and or Facebook feed while boating.

From a performance standpoint the 1712 is a good as anything on the market today. I use radar for weather monitoring and avoidance more than collision avoidance.

The Simrad Cruise lacks NEMA 2000 network capabilities which is a non-starter in my book.

Conditions on the coast are constantly changing. Days with zero percent change of storms are few and far between. Your fair weather” philosophy will have a substantial impact on useage.

Having dais that, all the functions and “options” you note are normal and usual for costal boating. Wouldn’t leave to dock w/o them

 

[mr300z87]

I appreciate the feed back, and have decided to leave the Radar where it is because it will be more work to remove and fill in all the holes including the large opening in the dash. I did turn it on and it looked to be functioning although I read through the manual after that so who knows. I can say it will most likely never be used. I am not allowed to go in the ocean, about 7 yrs ago I attempted to take our 20ft through Barnegat inlet and my wife flipped out and said turn around now and never do that again. LOL

The Simrad Cruise provides for my basic needs and has all my traces/waypoints in it already and has a nice hi -res screen for my old eyes. The boat is also equipped with a 2000 vintage Furuno color sounder which seems to work well has water temp and speed I think (can't remember). This will also stay, however the Garmin 500 series Chartplotter will be replaced with my Simrad. The Garmin was not showing depth and the screen is kinda small for me (again old eye). I think the hardest part will be fishing out the Garmin cables and in the Simrad, I am afraid to look under the dash.

 

[mr300z87]

I was at the boat earlier this week when the sun was still with us, it's been gray and rainy here, just for fun I turned on the radar. It seem to have and issue and I get HD-sig-miss error.

Manual says to check cable connection, which I will do. Any other suggestions? Not that I plan to use the radar much but my ocd requires that everything needs to work.
I also took a look at the cable pathway and I should have no issue fishing the transducer cable for the Simrad. I'll pull a string as well for the next upgrade. The Garmin was set up as a gps/chartplotter only as there is no transducer connected.
I did find an old school glass fuse bus under dash, of course nothing is labeled. I am hoping to get to the boat again this weekend, weather permitting.

 

[mr300z87]

Yesterday afternoon while the wife was napping I decided to pull the Radar cover, my plan was to make sure the plug did not have any corrosion and to re seat it. What I found was an even easier fix, as soon as I got the cover off I noticed the belt between the motor and the spinning radar thing (don't know what its called) had come off. I put is back on and now I had a signal on the screen, al though I was not sure what I was looking at.

This was a good thing because with out a ladder I could not see the plug. Still not sure I will ever use it but I am glad its working. Have a great rest of the weekend.