Navigation Shopping

[Muzzey9000]

I just bought a 50' Gulfstar Ketch recently and am in the process of shopping for a new electronic navigation system as well as an auto pilot. Looking threw catalogs and surfing the internet is suicidal at best for me right now. I'm hoping to find some solutions to a fully integrated system that allows me to view my radar, depth, GPS info, chart plotter/waypoints. I was looking at Furuno's navnet 3d system but there wont be any more money left if I go that route. I've seen allot of boats with a Christmas tree of electronics that seem to be stacked on top of each other and I want to stay clear of that. I bought the boat for many reasons, one being, she had very few electronics in the first place and I saw an advantage to that as I can install a more uncluttered and simple radar/chart plotter/depth sounder right up in the cockpit. My question is, what is a good brand at a fair price(not cheap), and what will I need to purchase as far as all the other components to make the whole thing a functional unit. I know this is allot to ask but hopefully you can help me out.

[SaltyMonkey]

Why don't you give us a budget? Your parameters are too open ended.

[Muzzey9000]

I was ready to spend around 3 to 6k, but I really don't know yet. I guess it just depends on the quality, I'm kind of expecting the worst and hoping for the best, if you get my drift. I think I quoted the NAVnet 3D at around 8k for the antenna and plotter? But if I can get away with 8k for the whole system, I would be happy. But of coarse, if I can save as much money as possible for a decent system, I will jump on it.

[SaltyMonkey]

Well I don't know what you are keeping in instruments etc. When I priced for my outfitting budget here is part of the system I was thinking, and I do not plan at having as large boat as yours:

Radar/Chartplotter Combo: C80 Radar Package - $2200

Instrument Package: $1480 RayMarine

GPS: Raystar 125 GPS Sensor - $300

AIS: $500-800

and not forgetting an autopilot and VHF and SSB

Mostly sticking to RayMarine because the integration is there for ray x5 autopilot etc and the price of all is cheaper. Otherwise I would rather have:

Garmin
Simrad
Furano
Si-tex
TackTick (instruments)

[lorenzo b]

I'm happy with my Raymarine E120
Heard good things about Garmin

[sabray]

garmin 4208 very happy i have an older authelm tied in a rs 101 ais reciever and the hd radar. Only grip is the boat and ais sybols are a little big. Otherwise good stuff. The radar is phenominal

[David M]

Agreed...have a look at what Garmin has.

[Muzzey9000]

Thank All you guys for your help, Saltymonkey, I appreciate you taking the time to lay out some numbers as well. I'm going to research Raymarine as well as Garmin and see what I can come up with. Thanks again, smooth sailing.

[bstreep]

We have a boatfull of Raymarine. They would not be on my shopping list.

[rebel heart]

handheld gps + paper charts + pencil + ruler + parallel bars + hand bearing compass.

[svtaipan]

Furuno Navnet 3D would defiantly not be on our shopping list if you plan to cruise outside the US. Map Media Charts which are the only charts you can use in this system, are extreemly expensive and the cheaper Navionics derived MM Charts are absolutly useless.