I had a GREAT MFD on the big boat 10 years ago and I can't remember what it was (I swear we could spot halibut in 400' of water under the right conditions, and the Kings when they were running 300' deep). Depth, fish (dual beam) good to VERY deep, radar, chart, etc. A nice alarm when those container ships would come around 25 miles out.
I've got 10+ year old Raytheon on the sailboat, but I haven't had a chance to fire that up yet, either.
Hmmm. Autopilot. Old Raymarine gear on the sailboat. No idea if it works . . . Might even think about it for the Downeast.
Radar on the Downeast? Well, where it will be fishing it would be used mostly for finding birds. I have a 24" Raytheon dome I can't use on the sailboat. Whoever originally mounted it on the backstay - I don't know what they were shooting for - but it's way too heavy.
I grew up on Penobscot Bay without radar. We survived. One or two times clanging that bell like a madman. Used the bag of potatoes method of navigation. But sure glad I had radar on the Pacific coming in - at night, in the rain, through the jaws at Humboldt Bay. If I hadn't had it, we'd have gone to sea until daylight.
So what companies are good these days and where is the best place to buy? GPS, MFD, Radios, fishfinder, transducers, AIS, etc. I use Defender for a lot of stuff, Hamilton Marine (I get a great discount from Wayne - always have), Hodges Marine. I just like to know if something screws up I can deal with the Vendor to an extent. I just haven't dealt with it in almost 10 years.
I've got 10+ year old Raytheon on the sailboat, but I haven't had a chance to fire that up yet, either.
Hmmm. Autopilot. Old Raymarine gear on the sailboat. No idea if it works . . . Might even think about it for the Downeast.
Radar on the Downeast? Well, where it will be fishing it would be used mostly for finding birds. I have a 24" Raytheon dome I can't use on the sailboat. Whoever originally mounted it on the backstay - I don't know what they were shooting for - but it's way too heavy.
I grew up on Penobscot Bay without radar. We survived. One or two times clanging that bell like a madman. Used the bag of potatoes method of navigation. But sure glad I had radar on the Pacific coming in - at night, in the rain, through the jaws at Humboldt Bay. If I hadn't had it, we'd have gone to sea until daylight.
So what companies are good these days and where is the best place to buy? GPS, MFD, Radios, fishfinder, transducers, AIS, etc. I use Defender for a lot of stuff, Hamilton Marine (I get a great discount from Wayne - always have), Hodges Marine. I just like to know if something screws up I can deal with the Vendor to an extent. I just haven't dealt with it in almost 10 years.