Stee6043
Well-Known Member
So one of the short-list projects I have for winter 2019 is the installation of a Fusion wired helm remote for the Fusion head unit I installed last year (which I love). Two weeks ago I had a potentially expensive change of heart. I need counseling from CSR.
I also blame (or thank?) CSR member RollerCoastr for this.
The original plan was a Fusion NMEA remote ($200 +/-) and the bits needed to setup a NMEA network using Fusion parts (another $150 +/-). I'd probably have another $100 into making it all look neat at the helm. Call it $500 all-in, on the high side.
I was seconds away from buying the Fusion bits when I got to thinking about RollerCoastr's setup, which I'd eventually like to shamelessly duplicate. He's got (2) 7" Garmin MFD's at the helm with another 10" or 12" at the radar position. I thought perhaps I should consider putting the Fusion money toward the smaller MFD's (which can double as the Fusion remote) instead of doing the remote first. Of course being on the Garmin website was a slippery slope since I also want to replace my VHF.
So I could avoid the $500 on the Fusion gig by spending $2100 on Garmin. Ha. Two new Garmin GPSMAP 742 units, a new Garmin VHF 110 (still on the fence vs. Standard Horizon), the Garmin NMEA setup kit and a variety of NMEA bits and pieces. I'd be replacing a fully functional Furuno chartplotter and a West Marine VHF so maybe I'd get a couple hundred dollars for the used stuff to support the upgrade. I'll also be removing the '97 vintage chartplotter interface (far left on my dash). The autopilot will shift all the way left, MFD's in the middle, VHF stays right. Radar/CRT remains as-is until some future massive budget cycle.
Does this seem like a terrible idea? Will I miss having a standalone Fusion remote at the helm? I figure I can still use the phone app (which is not user friendly) when the electronics are off and covered. What am I missing, CSR??
My current setup:
Shameless stealing (hope he doesn't mind) of RollerCoastr's setup which I really like:
I also blame (or thank?) CSR member RollerCoastr for this.
The original plan was a Fusion NMEA remote ($200 +/-) and the bits needed to setup a NMEA network using Fusion parts (another $150 +/-). I'd probably have another $100 into making it all look neat at the helm. Call it $500 all-in, on the high side.
I was seconds away from buying the Fusion bits when I got to thinking about RollerCoastr's setup, which I'd eventually like to shamelessly duplicate. He's got (2) 7" Garmin MFD's at the helm with another 10" or 12" at the radar position. I thought perhaps I should consider putting the Fusion money toward the smaller MFD's (which can double as the Fusion remote) instead of doing the remote first. Of course being on the Garmin website was a slippery slope since I also want to replace my VHF.
So I could avoid the $500 on the Fusion gig by spending $2100 on Garmin. Ha. Two new Garmin GPSMAP 742 units, a new Garmin VHF 110 (still on the fence vs. Standard Horizon), the Garmin NMEA setup kit and a variety of NMEA bits and pieces. I'd be replacing a fully functional Furuno chartplotter and a West Marine VHF so maybe I'd get a couple hundred dollars for the used stuff to support the upgrade. I'll also be removing the '97 vintage chartplotter interface (far left on my dash). The autopilot will shift all the way left, MFD's in the middle, VHF stays right. Radar/CRT remains as-is until some future massive budget cycle.
Does this seem like a terrible idea? Will I miss having a standalone Fusion remote at the helm? I figure I can still use the phone app (which is not user friendly) when the electronics are off and covered. What am I missing, CSR??
My current setup:
Shameless stealing (hope he doesn't mind) of RollerCoastr's setup which I really like: