electronics - help me decide

[anaisdog]

good to know.  i think i'll stick with the ipad, some software, and the unsupported garmin as a backup.  thanks for all the info.

[Capt.Jim]

I've been offered a Garmin 741xs + GMR 18HD Radar for: $1,562.49 from West Marine.
I guess not a bad price...

While that is a good price "today" both the GMR-18HD and 741XS are both slated to be discontinued soon. The prices will likely get much better within a few weeks to months..

With the Fantom domes due out in about 6-8 weeks, with INCREDIBLE performance gains over the GMR-18HD, you may want to seriously consider a Fantom. In fact my own GMR-18HD will not be going back on the boat come spring.

I am sorry but I just realized I am an idiot! 

I ended up getting a Simrad NSS7 with Evo2/3G Radar combo together for $1,199.00...
They are still in the box sitting next to me at home.
There are lot of other stuff need to be done before the installation of my electronics.

[Capt.Jim]

I've been offered a Garmin 741xs + GMR 18HD Radar for: $1,562.49 from West Marine.
I guess not a bad price...

While that is a good price "today" both the GMR-18HD and 741XS are both slated to be discontinued soon. The prices will likely get much better within a few weeks to months..

With the Fantom domes due out in about 6-8 weeks, with INCREDIBLE performance gains over the GMR-18HD, you may want to seriously consider a Fantom. In fact my own GMR-18HD will not be going back on the boat come spring.

What will be those improvements to make a BIG difference?

[Indian Falls]

Since you need a speed transducer and it sounded like a wind instrument too... have you considered a Garmin bundle wireless wind speed direction, depth speed and water temp?  Have a look at what I put on my boat last summer and the topic of getting it all work with a free chartplotter program for a tablet or PC.

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,9092.msg66283/topicseen.html#msg66283

[anaisdog]

interesting.  any ideas are welcome.  thanks