Glastron GT 185 —replacing a radio unit and depth finder advice.

[Fishiv]

New boat owner. We bought a 2013 Glastron GT 185 from original owner.
Currently at Marina for winter storage and was going to have them replace depth finder and radio unit with a Bluetooth unit.
1. The estimate for the depth finder is $1050 part/labor which seems really high. Is this a lot? Is this something one could do themselves?

2. Replacing the glovebox radio unit. We have a radio unit so they would only be swapping it out with the old one. Not changing speakers. They want $250 for that the labor for that. That also seems high. (They are replacing the spark plugs for just $100 as a reference).

I can’t look at the boat right now (in storage) but thinking the radio is likely easy to swap out—a few screws and wire changes. Is this right?

For the death finder, we may skip replacing it. We only use the boat on the same small lake and know the depth of it so don’t really need to rely on it. The current one was always going off saying we were at 3’ when we were in the middle of the 60’ lake so it was annoying and we would just turn it off. $1000 seems like a lot for a replacement.

Any thoughts?

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, welcome aboard

second, just a dash mounted depth finder (small round 2" gauge) is $250 here on iboats (forum members also get a discount)

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if you can operate simple hand tools without stabbing yourself in the face and you can follow the written directions. you can change all the stuff yourself.

 

[JimS123]

There are depth finders and there are depth finders. My current 2 boats have OEM factory installed units that cost $1000 and $1200, but they are premium units that also have GPS and chart plotters. In past boats I have installed really good Humminbird units in several boats for only $99. Depends how fancy you want to go.

If the radio works, why need to replace? I currently have a bluetooth unit and its no better than the cheap ones before it.

In either case, installation is quite simple.

Spark plugs cost $3 each and 15 minutes labor. All you need it a wrench. Do the math and you'll see what its worth.

 

[roscoe]

There are depth finders and there are depth finders. My current 2 boats have OEM factory installed units that cost $1000 and $1200, but they are premium units that also have GPS and chart plotters. In past boats I have installed really good Humminbird units in several boats for only $99. Depends how fancy you want to go.

If the radio works, why need to replace? I currently have a bluetooth unit and its no better than the cheap ones before it.

In either case, installation is quite simple.

Spark plugs cost $3 each and 15 minutes labor. All you need it a wrench. Do the math and you'll see what its worth.

A good bluetooth equipped stereo will sync with your phone, play your music library, internet streaming sporting events, podcasts, audio books, etc., and answer your phone calls.

I do the same thing only without a stereo, I just use a bluetooth speaker.

If the installation, or the price is too much, pick up a bluetooth receiver that plugs into your current stereo. The cost anywhere from $15 to $50.

 

[QBhoy]

Sounds crazy expensive to me. Not too clever with the radio, but I’d hazard a guess that your in dash depth gauge is a faria unit. They are warranted for life.

 

[Lou C]

I would install a depth finder myself & you can add a Bluetooth receiver to the accessory terminal of your present radio to play Spodify etc. My sound system is connected to Sirius & I added the Bluetooth receiver. Easy job. I installed a Garmin 441S which is a combo GPS/Depth finder; which is also linked to my Standard Horizon VHF.
Lastly I just got a Standard Horizon 890 portable with GPS as a back up. Both allow distress calls sent just by pushing a single button.

 

[briangcc]

1. This is the 2-3" round gauge on your dash that allows you to set a shallow alarm correct? If so, look at the back of the unit for a manufacturer. You might just be able to replace the unit with the same manufacturer keeping all the wiring. That would be a few bolts and unplugging/replugging wiring. Maybe an hour or so of work IF your dash is difficult to get under/behind.

2. Radio. Depending on what is installed in the boat and what you purchased, it's probably several wires and some nuts/bolts. Depending on accessibility behind the glovebox, maybe an hour or two IF you map everything out first - which I would encourage you to do. Grab the wiring diagram for the current unit and start labeling. Doesn't have to be elaborate...piece of masking tape will work. Then move wiring onto the new unit. I prefer soldering and shrinking my connections so that I know they are tight.

But I'm with others here at this point...why bother? If it works, use it. If you need bluetooth and don't have it, they do sell adapters that you plug into power and voila.

Spark plugs I'd do myself. That's awfully expensive.