Electronics Upgrade for 2002 340 Sundancer

[guye926]

Happy New Year everyone! I recently purchased a 2002 340 Sundancer and I'm looking to replace the original electronics and add a radar unit. The original equipment is listed below, with pictures. Has anyone replacement their original electronics recently and if so (or even if you haven't), can you recommend or suggest a way to go here, I'm not even sure where to start? Also wondering about sizes and dealing with the cutouts from the existing units. Any input would be helpful, thanks!

Plotter: Furuno Color Video Plotter GD-1700-C
GPS Receiver: Furuno GPS Receiver GP-310B
Radar: NONE (looking for suggestions)
VHF Radio: Raymarine Ray215
Depthfinder: Raytheon ST60 Tridata

 

[Good 2 Go]

Lots of choices out there, my 04 340 has Raymarine a SL70CRC Radar/Chart Plotter that would fit in your space, 7" screen, it's decent gear but out of date if buying new. It has GPS plotter with radar overlay or in separate windows if you choose.

I had Garmin on my old boat and I think Garmin has a more intuitive user interface. I still have to reacquaint myself every spring when I launch for the season with the Raymarine gear, it comes back but isn't intuitive, at least to me. I can't justify replacing mine but if I did would go with Garmin HD Radar with Chart Plotter, as large as I could fit in the space. The touch screens are also appealing to me, $$. Have fun!

 

[HUMPH]

I don't believe the Foruno was original with that boat was it? You can go to the manufacturer's website and usually get a template for the cutout required. I know Garmin has them...

 

[Greg]

I had an RL70 in my 2000 340, dash area looked the same. I replaced it with a Raymarine E80. I had to open the hole up a bit to fit the new plotter, but it was worth it. I also added a new radome and a new VHF radio.

Here is a pic:

 

[fc3]

I don't know. It's hard to tell with those pictures. 1425px × 801px!

 

[Scottzzzy]

I am in the same situation as you except my 02 340 has no electronics on her at all. I was leaning toward the Garmin 4208 or the Garmin 740 upon the recommendation from Jim from BOE Marine on here. I have read on here many times that the interface between tasks and the operation of the Garmin's is very user friendly.

Plus not with me not needing the Radar yet I have an available system to add when I am ready and have the $$!:wow:

I have not done anything yet and I can not imagine cutting that first hole into the dash, but I am close based on all the units I looked at.:smt101:smt024

ALSO, dont you just hate the VHF being located there on the dash? I bang that thing with my knee constantly climbing down!! I was hoping they made a patch panel so I could move mine up where your GPS is now.:thumbsup:

 

[Greg]

I have not done anything yet and I can not imagine cutting that first hole into the dash, but I am close based on all the units I looked at.:smt101:smt024

ALSO, dont you just hate the VHF being located there on the dash? I bang that thing with my knee constantly climbing down!! I was hoping they made a patch panel so I could move mine up where your GPS is now.:thumbsup:

Cutting the hole is a little scary, I covered the entire area with painters tape, marked out the opening with a sharpie, then just went to town with a jigsaw. the tape was to prevent the bottom of the saw from scratching the dash.

As for the VHF, yeah it did bug me, the mic connector on the original radio was actually broken from knees hitting it.

What I did was install a second station Raymic on the right side of the helm. I still have the mic if anybody is interested in it.

http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=830&PRODUCT=4107

 

[Hoo'sdave]

Plotter: Furuno Color Video Plotter GD-1700-C
GPS Receiver: Furuno GPS Receiver GP-310B
Radar: NONE (looking for suggestions)
VHF Radio: Raymarine Ray215
Depthfinder: Raytheon ST60 Tridata


I have the same boat and upgraded to
5208Garmin touch screen
Garmin radar HD
Icom 412
Move the radio under your new Garmin and install a cover plate over the hole where the old radio is now.I all so had the same problem with my knees hitting it.Hope this helps.

 

[guye926]

Great info, thanks. If I can swing it I'd like to go with a Garmin touchscreen, 5212 possibly?, replace and move the VHF per Dave's suggestion, and add a Garmin 18" HD Radar. Anything not sound right there? Anyone with pics of what their set up looks like now after an upgrade vs. the orig?

Also, you guys are right, the orig. VHF placement was so horrible that if you look at most photo's of 340's for sale, you'll notice the mic part broken off... as is mine...

 

[RollerCoastr]

I'm a diehard Garmin fan, but based on Greg's picture of the E80, a 5212 would a squeeze - it's 2" wider than an E80, and I don't see much extra width on that panel. A 5208 would be more comfortable...

 

[guye926]

Yes, I see that, trying to get as much screen that I can, but see your point, looks like it might be too big. Ayone else out there with a similar year 340 been able to fit a Garmin 5212?

4210 would probably fit but won't have the touchscreen and Garmin didn't make a 10" screen in the 5200 series.

 

[Hoo'sdave]

Sorry a 5212 will not fit .if it would i would have gone that route.You will love the Garmin very fast at setting up trips.I will try to take some pictures this weekend.

 

[billnpat]

We went from the OEM RL70 to the Raymarine C90W,and new Digital radar,

i agree the Garmin is easier to work with, but we got a great deal on our Raymarine

You can see in one of the pictures the difference in the hole in the dash

 

[guye926]

I've seen a Garmin 3010C in the same spot so I just need to figure out if the Garmin 5212 will fit in the same size cutout. I've heard the touchscreen allows a 12" system to fit into a smaller space than a 12" non-touchscreen would since the touchscreen doesn't have the buttons taking up the space. About to see if I can make sense of the flush mount PDF templates to help answer my question. Thanks again.

 

[RollerCoastr]

I've heard the touchscreen allows a 12" system to fit into a smaller space than a 12" non-touchscreen would since the touchscreen doesn't have the buttons taking up the space.

That's true. In fact, the 4210 is actually wider than the 5212. The templates are a big help. When I first started looking, I expected the 5212 to be an awkward fit compared to the old Ray XX it replaced, but appearances can be deceiving - the Garmin was actually a better fit!

 

[JimFromMD]

Has anyone considered the new SIMRAD setup with their new RADAR? Just curious. I'm going to outfit my electronics-less 300DA in the spring. Likely going the 5208 with radar setup, but waffling.

Also, I only have the smartcraft gagues (under the tachs and speedo) but no vessel view. Understand that the data from those guages can be integrated into the Faruno GPS screens. Anyone know if thats the only one or can the data be read by other systems?


Lastly, do any of you with the smaller sized touch screen models have any problems operating the unit while underway and boucing around? The chesapeake kicks up some seas on occasion and although the 300 handles most conditions nicely, just wondering if slight/moderate chop causes any issues which would make you re-consider touchscreens.

 

[guye926]

Dave, thanks for the reply. I talked to some Garmin reps at the Atlantic City boat show yesterday. There are a few 2002 340's that have the Garmin 3010 installed and here's the dimensions comparison.

Garmin 3010 Unit Dimensions are: 13.1"W x 8.8"H x 3.25"D

Garmin 5212 Unit Dimensions are: 13"W x 9.5"H x 4.7"D

The 5212 width is actually less than the 3010 so that will be ok, and although it's a bit deeper, the top of the 5212 is thinned, so if there's an issue it looks like it would have to be the add'l 7/10th of an inch in height. Was that the case when you looked it it? I will go with the 5208 if I have to but the 5212 is only $500 more so I'd really like to know if it will fit, even if it's tight (without re-glassing). Might be something only an an installer can tell me but I have to get a definite answer somewhere before I purchase. Thanks!

 

[guye926]

Here's the photo of the 3010 installed in a 2002 340 Sundancer.

 

[SR400DB]

I am going to upgrade my electronics later this year. I am going to go with the Simrad system. I have been on one boat with the setup (radar, sounder and plotter), pretty impressive. IMHO pretty close to the furuno target acquisition with a better display.

Sent from my DROID PRO using Tapatalk

 

[anduz1]

Well, finally decided on the C90W unit in my 1999 340 Sundancer. This unit is just a bit larger than the RM unit and it fits. This looks great and the deals are really good right now. Thanks, this shot convinced me that the unit will fit and look great. Thanks