Replacement VHF For Northstar

[wyrman]

My boat had a Northstar NS100DS installed at one time. It was removed before I bought the boat and now I'm looking for a new radio to replace it and I'm hoping to find something that will fill the hole if possible and not break the bank.
I will mainly be running our river and would like to take a trip through the San Juan Islands some day but other than the islands I'm thinking that I'll just use it to navigate the locks.
Tha hole is approximately 4"x4".
I saw the Standard Horizon GX2100W VHF that is advertised here and would consider it but I don't know if I need to spend that much. I might be able to make a stainless adapter to fill the gaps if I needed to.
The less I spend, the more I'll have to spend on other things like a Magna bbq grill and a depth finder/ chart plotter.

 

[tbirdvet]

I was going to replace my NS100 with the Raymarine 240 unit. The speaker hole is smaller than the NS so I made a trim flange that fit perfectly and colored to match the Raymarine speaker. I sold my boat before installing. The Raymarine unit is now what Sea Ray installs. I have the parts if interested in buying (PM me)

 

[Doc Garrett]

wyrman:

Just went through the same drill. My Northstar NS100POS when TU on my 260DA. Replaced it with a Standard Explorer GX1700W GPS unit. Flush mounted the unit (2.82"H x 5.39W) on the left side of the helm below the ignition/remote stereo gauge set. I used a blank to cover the Northstar POS Speaker.

The unit cost $230.00 and required minimum MacGvering. The GPS navigation is a bonus however, I have little experience with it. Certainly a lot packed into a small package.

Doc

 

[wyrman]

Thank you Doc, that's some great info.
What was the blank, just a piece of plastic?

 

[Doc Garrett]

Found a blank at http://www.searay-parts.com/product-p/bbgpanel1630318.htm

Had it cut to fit hole left where the external speaker was removed. It matches the rest of the dash.

Doc