It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes you find yourself with a little extra money. Whether you got a refund check at tax time or you hit the trifecta over the weekend, many of us see a windfall of cash as the perfect time to head over to the local marine electronics shop.
Of course, no one ever has enough money to buy everything they want. So how do you select the perfect navigation package for boat and budget? That was the question Mad Mariner asked me.
RaymarineA Raymarine E-120 forms the heart of Jeff's ideal system.
The challenge was to pick the ideal electronics outfit – my opinions only – for budgets ranging from $1,500 to $50,000. At a minimum, they had to include a GPS, chart plotter, depth sounder and VHF radio, as well as all of the antennas, transducers and other accessories necessary to run them. If there was money left over, radar, cameras, entertainment gear and other toys could be added.
The resulting lists are not intended as a buyers guide so much as a collection of ideas that might help you make sense of this stuff and configure your own rig properly when the time comes (see the accompanying table for models and part numbers).
The lists were compiled using street prices, meaning the prices that the average boater could expect to pay, which I gathered by comparison shopping at half a dozen stores and web sites. Sales tax was not included, but you can calculate it yourself based on the state where you live (see links below).
Installation costs are also not included, which may cause some of you to snort. But prices vary dramatically – from $50 to $115 or more an hour – by shop and location, making it extremely difficult to generate accurate estimates. Ultimately, we decided to leave it out rather than provide inaccurate or misleading information.
Before I get on with it, remember that these are just one man’s opinions. You’ll notice, for example, that I like Raymarine gear. I am drawing on my background as an electronics wholesaler and a marine journalist, who has spent years working with products from all the major manufacturers. I’m certain there are others out there who will disagree with my choices, and have a different set of recommendations altogether. That’s just the nature of these things – and it is part of the fun.
Let the arguments begin.
