New Navigation/Radar Package

[Scottdidesch]

My factory president depth finder readout quit working. Just wondering if anyone knows of a replacement for the president readout that works with the factory sounder? Thanks

[bud37]

Welcome to the forum...any pics of these instruments, a visual might help.

[SplashyLady]

It has a 200KHz transducer with a 2 wire conductor. Look for a replacement depth sounder that uses a 200KHz transducer with only 2 wires. These are fairly common - note some depth finders use CHIRP or other HD technology that is NOT compatible with your original transducer. Best bet is a simple, single frequency unit. Check the user manual - it will always list the transducer frequency or frequencies. It may still have some bells and whistles like shallow depth alarms, and you may even find a combo gps unit that will work - good luck!

[Sadey]

We are new owners of a Carver 356. We will use the boat primarily to go from Chicago along the lake shore to door County Wisconsin. Maybe the occasional across the lake trip. Most of our boating will be daytime or twilight. Maybe an occasional evening trip but we will always try and avoid low vis situations. However unexpected things happen on the water. Also the only fishing done on the boat will be with bobbers at the dock with kids. The boat currently has a Raymarine RL80C Plus MFD with an open array radar and a ST60 Tridata instrument. I would like to replace the radar and navigation package on this boat. I am interested in the Raymarine Axiom 12 inch MFD. I’m not sure which radar to pair this with. I like the idea that you have the option of a wifi connection between Raymarine’s radar and MFDs. Plus the mounting holes are identical for the older and new radars which means less holes in the boat. Obviously there are numerous choices on the market so I’m wondering if anybody can offer tips or suggestions. A couple things I have specific questions about are Chirp on the radar or not? And what the heck is Chirp? Open array radar or not? Which navigation chip is best used on the Great Lakes? Thanks in advance for the help.

[bud37]

Whatever manufacturer you choose, get all the equipment from the one, there sure is some nice equipment out there now....then they will all play nice together.....there is nothing worse or next to impossible, than trying to mate up odd pieces...a dome is probably fine for your intended radar use IMO........

[Viper]

CHIRP stands for Compressed High Intensity Radar Pulse or Radiated Pulse depending on who you talk to. The sounding method and interpretation of data serve to give much higher definition in sonar units.

Radomes are fine but you will get better definition with an open array as the antenna is longer which makes for a norrower beam resulting in a sharper image and target discrimination. Really depends on personal prefference, type of boating you do and the waters you navigate in.

You can interphase a lot of systems into the network to be displayed on the screen if want such as engine info, etc. The more items/windows you have open at the same time, the smaller the information gets and is harder to read, so the bigger the screen the better, or multiple screens dedicated to certain functions also helps. Sky’s the limit here! Personally I’m not a fan of wifi for this type of thing.

[waybomb]

If you are crossing lake Michigan, if you can afford it, buy a 72 mile open array unit.

I can tell you for a fact NOAA can be VERY wrong. With a powerful radar, you can become the weather man and take evasive action.

Lake can get real nasty in severe storm.

You'll also pick up jets landing at Mitchell. Since marine radars are two dimensional, that "boat" coming at you at 150+ knots can be a real fooler the first time you experience it.

[RGrew176]

On my last boat I had radar. I can tell you from experience that it can be very useful in dodging storms out on the open lake.

[mbenner]

Hey Scott!

Did you resolve your problem? I am having the same issue...

[Sadey]

Not yet. Going between Garmin and Raymarine. Trying to narrow down to one or two models in each brand then wait for the Chicago boat show to get my best deal.