[Fiddlehead]

When we bought our 2002 3500 Open about 18 months ago, we knew we wanted to do a complete electronics update on the boat.  It had the original 2002-era Furuno NavNet chart plotter and 4kw open array radar, along with a Lowrance depth finder and Standard Horizon VHF.  In the cabin, the boat still had the original TV/VCR combo.  Everything worked fine, but technology had come so far that we really wanted to bring things current.  

The old helm ...



I spent quite a bit of time researching systems and brands.  The same old "Garmin vs. Furuno vs. Raymarine vs. Simrad" decision that everyone makes when they redo a boat.  In the end, I chose to go with Furuno.  I really like the features and ease of use, and in this part of the country Furuno is heavily used on many (most?) of the commercial boats who depend on their gear in some really tough conditions.  My choice wasn't anti-Garmin or any of the others, just pro-Furuno.  I've been really pleased so far.

Here's a list of our new gear:
Furuno TZTouch 14 & TZTouch 9
Furuno DRS4A 3.5' Open Array Radar
Furuno DFF1 Digital Fish Finder
Simrad RS35 VHF/DSC/AIS Radio  
Simrad GS25 GPS Antenna w/Rate Compass
Airmar B60 12/20 deg tilted element transducer
Shakespeare AIS/VHF 4' Antenna

KVH TracVision M1 w/Dish network receiver
Samsung 19" LCD TVs (x2)
Samsung BluRay DVD player

We kept the old Standard Horizon VHF & Antenna as a backup, with the radio relocated into the cabin, and we kept the Lowrance depth finder & transducer, also as a backup.

So far all the new gear is working great.  We put one of the new TVs in the forward berth area, and mounted the other in front of the area where the old TV/VCR combo unit was.  The dish works great, and the TVs are a terrific upgrade. 

I can't stress enough how much I love the TZ Touch units.  They are awesome!  They've been rock-solid reliable and are easy to use.  We're on our second season with the new gear now, and really pleased with our choices.  If I had to change anything, I might go with 8' antennas instead of the 4', but I was matching what was there already.  We can always upgrade both to 8 footers in the future.

Here is a shot of the new helm:



Now all I need to do is replace those old helm switches.  They're making my new console look bad!

[Uhehner]

Looks great. Neat job.
I always ask owners of new VHF's " Did you interface it with the GPS, did you get a FREE MMSI number from Boat/US and did you install the MMSI number in your VHF?"
The DISTRESS button needs this info to send help in an emergency.
Capt. George

[Fiddlehead]

Yes, yes, and yes. I also showed the Admiral how the VHF displays Lat/Long and how to make a distress call using that info should I become incapacitated. She even practiced (with a dead mic).

 

[NYMarine1]

Yes, yes, and yes. I also showed the Admiral how the VHF displays Lat/Long and how to make a distress call using that info should I become incapacitated. She even practiced (with a dead mic).

 

Looks great!  I am prepping for a upgrade as well (same systems on my 03' Tiara 35 Open).  Did you replace the transducer as well?

---

Yes, yes, and yes. I also showed the Admiral how the VHF displays Lat/Long and how to make a distress call using that info should I become incapacitated. She even practiced (with a dead mic).

 

Looks great!  I am prepping for a upgrade as well (same systems on my 03' Tiara 35 Open).  Did you replace the transducer as well?

Disregard; just read your post again and saw the new Airmar!

[fisher.setha]

that looks awesome. Ours is due for an upgrade too. Original electronics on a 1998. Where did you get all the gear? Did you shop around, or one source it?

[Fiddlehead]

I shopped around, but my local dealer (Sawyer & Whitten Marine in Portland, Maine) ended up matching most all of the pricing I found online.  He has a great reputation in the area.  He does a lot of commercial work, along with most of the high-end yachts in the area, and is known to stand behind what he sells.

I was also fortunate to catch a $1500 Furuno TZ Touch rebate early last year, which helped tremendously.  Don't know if they'll do that again or not.  The 'TZ Touch 2' units are about to be released, so maybe they will.

  

[fisher.setha]

ok, thanks. all said, you put about say $10K into the electronics?

[Fiddlehead]

Depends on what you're including.  

I spent a good bit more than that all-in, but I'm including the TracVision, BluRay & TVs, and other work like relocating the old VHF.  I also had some other work done at the same time, like replacing my spotlight control pad & relocating my gas fume detector - so it's hard to break out just the electronics part of the labor cost.   

Taking everything into account, you're probably not far off.

[fisher.setha]

That's good stuff... I don't plan on the KVH or TVs, but do need a radio and a spot light control...mine is an old remote that turns on at random....Layout on the 1998 isn't as good as the later models, but I'm sure I can squeeze in a 14 and an 8.  If the local shop would agree to work with me, i'm only a few hours south in RI.  Ask him if he'd be cool with doing business with a referral.  

[Fiddlehead]

I received a PM asking if I was able to fit the KVH on my arch or if I installed a hardtop.  The answer is that everything fit onto the arch easily - no issues at all.     


Here's a pic of the arch with the gear ...


L to R there's the horn, old VHF antenna, radar, GPS antenna, new VHF/AIS antenna, and KVH sat dish. 

Now that I've used the new setup a few months more I couldn't be happier.

fisher-setha: Absolutely I'm sure the folks at Sawyer & Whitten will help you out.  Tell them Mike Stair sent you.  They're good folks.