Quote:
Originally Posted by Neptune's Gear
Get everything from one supplier, then they cant blame each other for any issues.
I like having a plotter at the helm and one below, and in my own boat my one at the helm can rotate forward, so can be seen from anywhere in the cockpit.
However most users want 2-4 instruments as well, so they can save the MFD for charting displays etc.
|
Neptune's Gear has some good
advice. I too sell this stuff and agree with him. I would also like to add a few comments.
First, the comment about all from one supplier is very sage
advice. Although the new stuff is supposed to be compatible, there can be issues when dealing with different manufactures. Not only do you want to avoid the blame
game, but you will save an awful lot of time by not having to go back and forth and then trying to get a conference call to resolve differing opinions.
You absolutely want to have a few key instruments in addition to the MFD, or multifunction device. A depth finder is one of those. You do NOT want to be scrolling between screens or find yourself with information overload when concerned about depth. The same is true for engine temperature. Very few people I know find it convenient or even efficient to scroll between screens when time is critical. Yes, many MFDs have three or four buttons that can be preset to allow this, but it is way to easy to get bogged down looking at the device when you just want a quick look.
I highly recommend that you go to your nearest dealer as well as other boats and play with the
equipment you are interested in. There is more to a device than just the features. Few people use more than five or ten percent of the features of an MFD. How easy are they to use? Are they intuitive or do you need to use the instructions for lesser used features? Do you like the menus that are offered? What chart options are offered and do you like the charts that can be used?
Many people come into my store and say they want Raymarine until they play with it. Many, not all, don't like the Raymarine menus. Others don't like the Garmin look or the
Navico look. This is a big
purchase and you want to be sure BEFORE you buy and install them that you like them, are comfortable with them, and feel confident with them. It is all too easy to look at one at the
dock or in a store and pronounce satisfaction, but using it at night in less than ideal conditions, when you are tired can be different.
Talk to others and see how the support is. I have found Navico (B&G, Simrad, Lowrance) and Garmin support to be good. We don't even try to call Raymarine om a Monday or Tuesday in the spring and summer (here in the U.S.) as we can never get through on the dealer line without a major wait, if at all. I had a Coast Guard commander
purchase well over $30,000 worth of
equipment for search and
rescue and it took almost two months for me to get to a second level rep!
Also, talk to each manufacture about their warranty. Find out what happens when you are 3,000 miles from the distributor and somethings dies.
As far as radar is concerned, the new chirp radars are really good. If possible, I recommend having a separate display for the radar and keep it oriented north. If it is oriented with the direction of the vessel, every time you turn, even a little, the targets will move. Here in
NYC the harbor (harbour for my friends down under, across the pond, and up north. Aka, everywhere other than the U.S!) most professional captains do NOT use radar overlay. The issue is that of information overload. It is easy to lose the targets amongst the chart data, thus the reason for the separate display.
Most MFDs today have the ability to do a split screen, e.g. radar on one side and a chart on the other side. It works, but it reduces the image size a fair amount. Depending upon your preferences, as well as the size of the unit, it may be an issue. A separate screen solves this if you are able to do it.
Most people in a store walk up to a unit and stand two to three feet from the MFD and instrument. Figure out how far from the unit you will be when on the boat and stand that distance when deciding if the 7" or the 9" unit will
work. or whatever sizes you are considering.
Good luck with your new yacht!