Replacing 20 year old Furuno chart plotter/ radar, suggestions

[Puget Dan]

I am replacing a 20 year old chart plotter and radar on our 1998 38' Horstman Trimaran.
Currently looking at the newest model of Garmin system and would work well with my new Vesper xb 8000 AIS.

Looking for other suggestions or confirmation that I am on the right track.

Thanks Dan

[sv_pelagia]

Why not look at Furuno?

[DeValency]

A year ago I have replaced an old (and still perfectly working) Koden radar (same family as Furuno) with Raymarine Quantum II, as I have also upgraded the MFDs to Raymarine Axiom. B&G has now a great deal on their combo radar and MFDs - Both Raymarine and B&G has the more recent CHIRP solid state digital radar technology - a very low power consumption and really nice display with a lot of great features.

Not sure about Furuno and if they also have the CHIRP (or alike, technology) but if they do, I would go with Furuno or the upper two but not so much with Garmin.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Puget Dan

Currently looking at the newest model of Garmin system and would work well with my new Vesper xb 8000 AIS.

Our new-to-us fixer-upper came with a Garmin 7612xsv (with radar and depth), which is about one generation older than current. It's OK.

I haven't completely figured out their charts yet. I updated what was one the boat when we got it -- Garmin G2 to G3 -- at no cost, but then I've seen others talk about high Garmin chart costs... and I dunno why that is.

In the meantime, I'm adding a Furuno TZT3 system too... because I like the free NOAA charts (and free updates)... and I like the idea of optional C-Map and Navionics charts in case I choose to need those for some reason in the future. And also because Furuno tech support on our last system was excellent, and the various individual components were all supported almost forever. (Garmin doesn't have a get rep for that kind of long-term support for their products, but as yet I have no first-hand insight in that.)

-Chris