Upgrading Electronics...Wanting Opinions

I am looking into upgrading my original equipment and was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of the following items. Garmin 7612, Garmin GMR fantom 4' open array, Garmin Panoptix PS51 transducer, and the Garmin Autopilot Package. I'm kind of a fan of Garmin so I didn't really even look at other manufactures but open to suggestions if you think there is something a lot better. TIA

I have the Garmin 7610xsv. I haven't mounted the transducer yet, but I really like the plotter. Garmin is known, for good reason, for their intuitive user interface. I particularly like its ability to interface with my iPad, for map updates, route and waypoint transfers, mirroring, etc.

BTW, you understand that the 7612 does not have sonar, right? For that you need the 7612xsv or an external sonar black box. Also, consider the addition of a heading sensor (if your auto-pilot doesn't come with one or you plan to add that later). You'll need it in order to overlay Radar info on your plotter screen and keep your plotter oriented to your bow when you aren't moving.

Had Raymarine mfd and pilot on my old Chaparral. Have Garmin 7212s and a Garmin pilot on our Meridian. I’ll never use anything but Garmin now. The stuff is awesome. Plus on Garmin you don’t have to physically press a button to “accept” a course change while navigating a route on the mfd like you do w Raymarine. Hated that.

bobeast said:

BTW, you understand that the 7612 does not have sonar, right? For that you need the 7612xsv or an external sonar black box. Also, consider the addition of a heading sensor (if your auto-pilot doesn't come with one or you plan to add that later). You'll need it in order to overlay Radar info on your plotter screen and keep your plotter oriented to your bow when you aren't moving.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your input. I am having a reputable installer do all the work. I know him well. I explained what I want it to do so I probably have the description a little off. I think it is the xsv. I'm debating even installing the pilot. I don't hardly use the one I have. I had the 740s with radar on my 310 and loved it. I'm not the best at this electronic stuff so I thought I would see how others that have used it like it and maybe learn something along the way.

This was a couple of years ago on a 2000 400DA but aligns with what you want to do.
I still have the mold for the helm pod.
Never did get the Flowscan equipment installed - sold that boat.
http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/phase-ii-modernization-400da.76259/#post-865941

I replaced all my electronics with Garmin last year and am likewise very happy with it. You may want to consider replacing the open array radar with one of the domes. I don't think the difference in performance (48 vs. 24 NM range and beyond the radar horizon anyway) justifies the $2700 difference in price between the 4' array and the 24" dome. I originally thought an open array like I had before would look better but it really didn't make a difference in appearance.