Pitch Pocket, or anyone else, help with Furuno Navnet?

[Tagster]

Or anyone else that has it or has researched it...

I have put a deposit on a 24' 8'6" beam NR and am starting the outfitting process. I have checked the archives and found that Furuno seems to be a top choice, especially the NavNet system.

I got a couple of quotes from the sportsman show, and with the WAAS sensor and fishfinder combo, this baby gets pretty spendy (1722 model)

Pitch, I know that you have this. Are you still happy with it? Would you change anything? It seems like I could almost do this cheaper by having separate units instead of one display head, but, I'm not sure.

I am looking at having the radar overlay on the chartplotter screen. Is this really as cool as it sounds?

Really, I am looking for input on the Furuno. Maybe some opinions of the Raymarine system?

Thanks for any help! I really appreciate it!

Tag

edit: I meant Raymarine, not Raytheon.

[ 02-08-2004, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: Tagster ]

[sturgn]

I Loved my Furuno, I will get another, the only thing I would change on the setup you are looking at is a number pad so you can manually enter the GPS coordinates easier. I had a GP1610CF it was by far the best piece of electronics I had on the boat. The color option is very nice, not sure if the 1722 is color or not, but if your gunna spend that kind of money you should get it! Just my thoughts.

[Tagster]

The unit is color. I was told that Furuno is phasing out the monochrome screens. I like the idea of a number keypad, is that an aftermarket item, or does furuno incorporate it into some head units. I didn't see any at the sportsman show that had a keypad.

Thanks!

Tag

[Birdnest]

I have put a deposit on a 24' 8'6" beam NR

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">[img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

I assume you are talking about the Seahawk, the verson they took over from Almar? Sweet, sweet, looking boat. Congrats.

Joe

[Tagster]

It's not the bad boy that they have had at the sportsman and boat shows. That is an awesome boat.

It is a Seahawk, though. Twin 115 yamaha 4 strokes mounted on an offshore platform. 100 gallon fuel tank. She will have 1/4 inch bottom and .160 sides. I guess they don't offer 1/4" sides anymore. I wanted the ability to remove the top. My wife wanted a rigid top for security, so we compromised with the welded frame top that NR makes. It is beautiful!

I should get delivery in June... :depressed:

Weld North river Weld!!!

Tag

[ 02-08-2004, 01:57 PM: Message edited by: Tagster ]

[Birdnest]

June...that will only seem like about 10 years. Sounds like a salmon, tuna, halibut, and anything else it feels like kind of boat.

[Pitch Pocket]

I have the 1722c and think it's great. The Nobeltec software with the proper charts are better, but for a stand alone it's as good as it gets. I prefer to run my Dell 8100 laptop with the Nobeltec Visual Mariner alongside the Furuno. The computer is way more powerful and the software is much better than Furuno's. Windows type menus are more intuitive and you have much more control of the functions.

That said, I wouldn't do it differently. The Furuno is pretty bullet proof and the radar overlay with heading sensor is excellent. I bought the Cmap and am not too impressed compared to the computer. It's hard to compete with the capabilities of the Pentium 4 compared the slower processor of the Furuno.

If you have any specific questions, send me an email and we can discuss it.

[Onokai]

Tagster-I have the 1722 cnt That has a 18 Radome and has c-map charts with a waas reciever and a black box depthfinder. The price from www.Consumermarine.com electronis last year was around 3500.00 for all the stuff. What I would do different is get the 24 inch radome due to the sharper images.I also would spend the $ for the 10.4 inch 160131 c-map if I could fit it on the dash which in my 23 center console boston whaler only the 7 inch fits The overlay is a good funtion I'm told but is far better in the 10.4 sreen as in the smaller screens it's alot of stuff on a small screen to view at once. This extra I passed on and am glad.You should go view the layover an see how busy it looks. The larger screen unit you can have all three funtions running Radar. chartplotter, depth/fishfinder. On the 7 inch unit only two functions work at once.If you can fit the 10.4 inch unit get it! You will be happy with either unit..
If you can fit a computer like pitch pocket go with his system. His boat must be big and roomy .The only computer I could fit is a palm pilot in my pocket which I might pitch overboard no pun intended. I also do not do windows only Macs for me. Mark

ONOKAI

[kamloops]

The Raymarine solution for Radar overlay is second to none. The screens are easy to naviagte
through. In the spring of 2001 when I upgraded to Raymarine it was a cheaper package than the Navnet. I am very satisfied with my install.

[Pitch Pocket]

I really don't find a problem with the 7" display even in overlay. The overlay is the chart plotter with the radar display overlayed. It zooms to reasonable magnification and is not too cluttered for me. If I am in the overlay mode with radar pumping, I'm generally most interested in moving safely in the dark or fog. The depth, speed and other functions you select to be displayed can be in numeric format in small data boxes that you can place anywhere on screen.

Everything is a compromise. The 10" display is WAAAAYYY more money than the 7" making the 7" display a very reasonable compromise. Although the SeaSport has a generous dash, the larger screen would block the window making it difficult to visually navigate debris and other boats in the water. When I use the laptop's 15" screen (bigger IS better when using a chart plotter), I have to fold it down when I want to look out the window. You cannot fold down the fixed Furuno display. Given my dash configuration, the 10" display is simply too big in any brands fixed display.

My main complaint with the Furuno is the lack of transportability of the Cmap cartridge. You cannot use the Furuno Cmap or Navionics charts on your computer yet. All other brands have a reader you can plug your cartridge into and use your computer to plan routes and waypoints. The Furuno has a proprietary format and they have not yet seen fit to market a reader. It is pretty new technology and they say it's coming, but I'm still waiting.

You can upload/download data to and from your computer, but it is only cursory data at this point (waypoints and routes, boundries and marks do not transfer). They say more is coming, but it's not fast enough for me.

However, for a compact, full function radar, chart plotter, depth finder (one of the best in the business), overlay aid to navigation, The 1722c is a great tool. One display does it all and after you learn how to use it, it is simple to operate. It has it's limitations, mainly with size, but so far it hasn't been enough of a problem for me to reconsider my choice.

[MYRTLE BEE]

TAG
HAVE TWO NAVNET SYSTEMS ON MY 31 CABO THEY
WORK EXCELLENT, VOTED BEST NAV/RADAR SYSTEM
BY NMEA FOR YEARS. I KEEP MY BOAT AT SOUTH
BEACH, IF YOU WANT A DEMO CONTACT US.
JOHN

[Miss B Haven]

Had Furuno on my old boat, have Raytheon on Miss B. Both make quality Electronics but I prefered the Furuno having more button and knob functions on both the FF and the Radar (didn't have a Furuno chartplotter, it was Sitex). Functions like gain, seaclutter and rainclutter were all tuneable with knobs on the furuno. My Raytheon has them buried in menus/softkeys. It's much harder to use and still keep control of the boat in limited visibilty and/or rough seas.

That's the only gripe I have with my Raytheon gear.

[uboatcdr]

Tag,
I have the 1650df and really like it. Furuno has
an office in Camas. You could call them direct
and talk to their customer service dept and they
should be able to answer any questions. Maybe
even arrange a demo on the equipment.
good luck

[treegolfer]

Went with a Furuno 1712 and FCV 582L on my new boat. I really didn't want everything on one display unit. Looked seriously at the Navnet system but decided separate display units fit me better. Since I am going with a Garmin 2010 GPS, I was still going to have multiple units. The Garmin units I've used in the past have been so reliable that I really wanted to stick with them for the GPS. The 2010 has a keypad for number inputs. Mark Mc recommended the FCV 582L depth sounder. After researhing this unit and other possibilities, I think he made the perfect recommendation. Still have a couple of months before all the pieces come together to water trial, but believe this setup will work very well and I will be very happy with it.

treegolfer

[Tagster]

Thanks for all the reply's :smile:

I have received a quote from a well known local marine electronics shop and I am suffering from a little bit of sticker shock.

The Furuno 1722c installed with the waas enabled gps, sounder, raday/chartplotter overlay, a marine radio, antennae, and mount will run over $6200.

I guess that Raymarine is coming out with the latest and greatest system this march and I was quoted about an equivalent price for this system as well.

The part that really threw me was the install pricing. They actually quoted me the lowest price for the Furuno that I have seen...but they want over 1500 to install the unit and the radio. At $60 (? a guess)/hr shop time, that would mean 25 hours of labor?

Maybe I am thinking it is too simple, but isn't it just installing the hardware on the boat, hooking electronics up to the power source, and then cabling them together? Maybe an 8 hour job at best?

I don't mind paying a premium for quality equipment and service, but, before I counter them, I would like to make sure that I am not off-base.

Thanks again,

Tag

[Pitch Pocket]

It is a lot of money. I got a competitive quote by a recommended local company when I bought it and they were $800 more to buy and install than the dealer who already had the interior apart anyway. I saved the $800, but had to go to Furuno to ask questions. They were very helpful and solved all problems and answered all questions competently.

The NavNet is actually a local area network. Each function is a module that hooks up to the network and is routed to the main display. You have to install the GPS, depth finder, fluxgate compass, heading indicator and radar as separate units. If you have anything more (like an additonal display), you need a network hub added to the system to handle the extra components.

It is a big job, but someone who is familiar with your boat and the system would have some of the mystery taken out of it. I'd negotiate with the dealer. I talked my dealer into selling me the system (actually all the electronics) at their cost and paid them to install. They needed the work at the time so I had a lever, but you may be able to get them to deal too.

[Onokai]

Tagster. I put my nav net 1722 in myself but that said,as mentioned in an earlier post unless you are part electrician, can work on your head for hours and shrink into very small spaces- let someone else do it.If I had it to do again I gladly pay someone. I live in hicksville with regards to electronic boat work being done and had no choice.Fununo is in Camas and they are very user friendly -feel free to talk to them and ask for advise.I agree with pitch pocket dicker with your sales place in regards to the install. The radar needs to be tuned after it is in,I had to pull all the radar and wass wires thur the t top tubing something not for the tame.I also installed my auto pilot but that is another story.Best left for the truely insane.Good luck you will be happy with all furuno gear. Mark

ONOKAI

[northriver1]

If you have not already done so check psicompany.com. They are located in Tacoma and I found them easy to deal with. Their web site has prices.