Zeus plotter, remanufactured?

[Jerry Woodward]

I noticed that Defender is selling re-manufactured Zeus 2 plotters for half the price of new ones. A remanufactured Zeus 2 9" MFD is $799 compared to $1699 for a new one. The Zeus 3 9" is $2,299. The warranty is 1 year compared to (I think) two years for a new one. If I were buying new, I would probably go with the Zeus 3. But I don't really need wifi and the plotter will be close to me at the helm so I think the resolution of the Zeus 2 will be fine. So, the remanufactured Zeus 2 is looking real good to me right now. I would think that if there is a problem due to the remanufacturing, it would show up in the first year warranty period. Am I being penny wise and pound foolish?
B&G Zeus² 9 Multifunction Display - Remanufactured

[Suijin]

Well if you are then I am too. I have a remanufactured Zeus 2 9" at the helm and it's great. Came packaged like a new one...new plastic film on the front, etc. Got mine from Defender as well and added the wifi-1 so I can use my iPad/iphone as a display. Love it.

[NakedCity]

I bought one also, I believe the units are in fact NEW and probably B&G 's way of marketing an oversupply of 2's when the 3's hit the market.

[noelex 77]

Jerry, I recommended on another thread that you look at the Zeus 3, but that looks like a great deal on the Zeus 2.

I don't think the Zeus 3 is even remotely worth over 2.5x the cost of the Zeus 2.

When marine equipment is superceded there are often some bargains in the marketplace. On the other hand, sometimes the older equipment is sold at only a very slight discount to people that don't realise that new models have been released, with better features and performance, sometimes for only a little more.

It pays to do your homework.

My only caution is with any "refurbished unit" wire it up at home, and let it run for a few days before you install it in the boat. Once you have made the instrument cut out it is difficult to make an exchange. New units are often subtly different in size, so exchanges are not practical.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by NakedCity

I bought one also, I believe the units are in fact NEW and probably B&G 's way of marketing an oversupply of 2's when the 3's hit the market.

Often reman products are in fact new, but were store displays, open box etc.
I always buy reman if it's been remanufactured by the original manufacturer. But you have to be careful with that, apparently there are many that "reman" IPads etc., and they are really just old beat up merchandise, of course they are not remanufactured by Apple

[deluxe68]

Originally Posted by NakedCity

I bought one also, I believe the units are in fact NEW and probably B&G 's way of marketing an oversupply of 2's when the 3's hit the market.

That is exactly what I was told by the guy at Defender. He said they had sold hundreds of them in the past year and only had 1 or 2 returns. I bought a 9".

[Hoghead]

I am looking at this too buy it seems these are long and narrow displays compared to the Ray C90W that it will be replacing

If I am reading the specs correctly the sun cover is 285 x 84mm for the 9" and 350 x 110 for the 12" display

Have I got it right?

Are these touch screen only or are there buttons as well for wet and unstable conditions?

[noelex 77]

No, the units are wider than that. For example the Zeus 3 9" is 287 x 166.3mm (the sun cover will be slightly bigger).

I have not yet installed my Zeus 3, but have hooked it up on the test bench and all the operations can be done via the touch screen or the buttons/dials on the side, depending on your preference.

[Hoghead]

I was looking at the cutout drawing:
http://www.defender.com/pdf/Zeus2-W9_MT.pdf

The specs for the Zeus 2 x 9 inch give:
Width: 10.98" / 279 mm
Depth: 4.13" / 105 mm
Height: 6.42 / 163 mm

But will it talk to my Ray digital radar?

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by Hoghead

I was looking at the cutout drawing:
http://www.defender.com/pdf/Zeus2-W9_MT.pdf

The specs for the Zeus 2 x 9 inch give:
Width: 10.98" / 279 mm
Depth: 4.13" / 105 mm
Height: 6.42 / 163 mm

But will it talk to my Ray digital radar?

I'm %90 sure it will not.. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong..

[LaBrisa]

I'm so close to jumping on the Zeus2 deal at Defender with a 4G radar but for the life of me I can't figure out what transducer to use with this unit? Perhaps, maybe, someone here does? Would an Airmar p79 Nema 2000 work with this? What about the 7pin novice p79? I currently have a Garmin P79 that has always worked great.

[PeterSailor]

Yes the NMEA2000 P79 will work with a Zeus2. I have a Garmin P79 N2K working fine with my B&G Zeus Touch. For the 7 pin P79, you will need a sonarhub as the Zeus2 do not have ecosounder input.

[Scott Fuller]

I purchased a reman Zeus 2 from Defender early in the season. It has been great and I am very happy with it. As other have said, it came packaged as brand new.