Need electronics recommendation

[gibbsb]

I am purchasing a 23' Center Console with a t-top to be used primarily on the Texas coast. My current boat has a Lowrance LCX-15MT sonar/GPS and I want something in color. I talked to a guy at the Houston Boat Show and he recommended a Furuno color unit. I am also interested in radar for those times when you can't see and he recommended Furuno there, as well. I don't want to go overboard (no pun intended!) but want to have adequate electronics. We were in Galveston over New Years and were in a fog bank for 3 days. We ventured out a ways, but with only a GPS, I was concerned about getting run over. At least with radar, you can see what's going on around you (hopefully). I have not found anyone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that I feel confident about installing this equipment. Breakwater Marine Electronics was the company at the Houston show. Does anyone know anything about them? Just trying to do it right - the first time! Thanks.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Need electronics recommendation

It might help to start by narrowing down what you want; individual units that do or don’t network, or a combination unit that uses a single screen to display any results of sounding/radar/GPS/charting functions. There are pros and cons to each approach.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Need electronics recommendation

I'm using a Raytheon SL-72 radar. My fish finder is a Furuno 582L using an Airmar M260 transducer. I use a Garmin 2006 for finding my way around. If I was putting together a package today about the only change I might make would be a Furuno 1712 radar, but it wouldn't bother me a bit to stick with the Raytheon (now Ray Marine). I haven't seen anything that would cause me to want a different depth finder or chartplotter, nothing at all.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Boatist]

Re: Need electronics recommendation

Gibbsb<br />Can not help you with the dealer but can tell you the best Saltwater dealers out here also recommend Furuno. I belive Furuno Depth finders are the best for deep salt water. One thing to make sure of in the Furuno GPS line is that it has WAAS. Furuno slow to add WAAS to many units. I belive this is because they market world wide and WAAS is only in use in a few areas, the USA is one of the areas.<br /><br />Their Radars are also top of the line.<br /><br />One thing You may want to consider also is a Lowrance X-19c 7 inch display or the X-104c 10.4 inch display or the X-18c 6 inch display. All very good fish finders / GPS units and have the same controlls as your LCX-15mt but are color. I belive these as good or better in fresh water and shallow saltwater as Furuno. Deep saltwater, over 400 feet Furuno wins.