Upgrading Electronics

Beau Mead

Beau Mead

New Member
Oct 15, 2018
6
Boat Info
2003 380DA
Engines
8.1 Merc 370HP
Good Morning! First post and its gonna be a doozie. I have acquired a 03' 380DA with a searay navigator. Im looking to replace it with something new instead of the refurbish options i read about in previous posts. Im looking for some recommendations on which way to go. Ive been looking at the Raymarine and simrad products. The boat also has vessel view, autopilot and a RL80C+.

Would a new package take the place of the vessel view also? It seems most of the products are all encompassing. Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

-One excited new owner!
 
Are you replacing everything? Or just want to update mfd? What's your budget? Boats of that era had system view as oem. Vesselview is the replacement that's had several updates. They are rebranded Simrad
units. If you are replacing everything it may be cheaper to go simrad so you get the latest vv. If your keeping the old RM stuff you may have to stick with them for compatibility. Mercury also offers some NEMA 2k gateway stuff that will network certain info to your mfd. Then there is Garmin. Possibilities are only limited by boat
bucks.

Congrats
 
Yea boat bucks makes everything easy! From what i have researched, most of the old stuff is analog and not compatible with the new stuff, which has led me to believe I must replace everything. Thanks for the reply!
 
Beau Mead said:
Yea boat bucks makes everything easy! From what i have researched, most of the old stuff is analog and not compatible with the new stuff, which has led me to believe I must replace everything. Thanks for the reply!
Click to expand...
Beau Mead, I am in the processes also of acquiring the same year and boat, 03' 380DA, assuming you may have bought the boat from Spring Lake, anyway. My boat has the SmartCraft Sc5000 and I am looking to upgrade it to the Vessel View but not sure what I need to do. I also have Auto Pilot, RL80C+ as well... Please share info and I would do the same, if anyone has more info that would be great...
 
If you guys grab the serial #'s off your radar pedestal/antenna you'll know whether or not those will work with the newer MFD's. The serial # lookup is easily google searchable. My '97 is not useable with the new stuff but you might be getting closer in the '03 era. Not buying a new pedestal/antenna would dramatically reduce the budget requirements.
 
Whichever route you go, make sure to include DSC functionality on either the existing or a new VHF. I wish I had at least an AIS receiver.

Also consider enough "display real-estate" for engine/fuel data and possibly integration of your audio system.
 
Stee6043 said:
If you guys grab the serial #'s off your radar pedestal/antenna you'll know whether or not those will work with the newer MFD's. The serial # lookup is easily google searchable. My '97 is not useable with the new stuff but you might be getting closer in the '03 era. Not buying a new pedestal/antenna would dramatically reduce the budget requirements.
Click to expand...

I am pondering if the Simrad radar stuff I have might work like this.

MM
 
Thanks All! Does anyone have the new "Wifi" dome to mfd connection platform? Im a little unsure if wireless is the way to go. Also which MFD from raymarine would folks recommend? Currently looking at the Axiom series.
 
I had Garmin on my 370 942xs, radar and integrated with Fusion Stereo worked nice.... in my new boat I want to upgrade to the VesselView from the SmartCraft SC5000 is this possible?
 
Beau Mead said:
Thanks All! Does anyone have the new "Wifi" dome to mfd connection platform? Im a little unsure if wireless is the way to go. Also which MFD from raymarine would folks recommend? Currently looking at the Axiom series.
Click to expand...

So with yours being a later year than mine, your panel just to the left of the main dash should be larger than mine. However, it might not be large enough for a 12" MFD. In my case, I did a set of 3 ES series displays, since there were some pretty good deals to be had once the Axiom was released, and I really didn't *need* the newest Axiom features, especially with me not fishing on my boat. Upgraded to Quantum closed array radar at the same time.

My total out of pocket was $7k, which included:
- quantum radar
- 2 ES7
- 1 ES9
- Seatalk converters
- radar mount
- 3 new dash panels
- new P70Rs autopilot head
- new B60 20 degree transducer

Layout now

GrODnSl.png
 
bracketracer said:
So with yours being a later year than mine, your panel just to the left of the main dash should be larger than mine. However, it might not be large enough for a 12" MFD. In my case, I did a set of 3 ES series displays, since there were some pretty good deals to be had once the Axiom was released, and I really didn't *need* the newest Axiom features, especially with me not fishing on my boat. Upgraded to Quantum closed array radar at the same time.

My total out of pocket was $7k, which included:
- quantum radar
- 2 ES7
- 1 ES9
- Seatalk converters
- radar mount
- 3 new dash panels
- new P70Rs autopilot head
- new B60 20 degree transducer

Layout now

GrODnSl.png
Click to expand...

Very nice work.

MM
 
Very Nice! What year is that? Mine has the 41’ helm. I’m not sure of the exact specs but hopefully I’ll have room for at least a 12”. Here’s the current setup.
C01BCB31-4ACC-4798-A483-4DBFE6F53E96.png
 
Beau Mead said:
Very Nice! What year is that? Mine has the 41’ helm. I’m not sure of the exact specs but hopefully I’ll have room for at least a 12”. Here’s the current setup.
View attachment 61611
Click to expand...

Looks like you have been already upgraded to vesselview. Not the most current but a nice upgrade. I have the axiom 9 with remote pad, I70s display Ray260 w/DSC and vesselview 502. I went with axiom to get the flir night vision software. The vv502 is also a back up GPS and chartplotter that allows the whole system to networked via NEMA 2K. about 3k unvested to date. Should have spent the extra $300 on the ais radio. Live and learn.
20180915_150740.jpg
 
I did a full upgrade this summer to my boat, went with the Raymarine Axiom Pro line - absolutely LOVE the system.

My previous boat I installed Simrad - I also loved that system, I just feel the Axiom felt a bit better to me when I was comparing this summer.
 
swaterhouse said:
I did a full upgrade this summer to my boat, went with the Raymarine Axiom Pro line - absolutely LOVE the system.

My previous boat I installed Simrad - I also loved that system, I just feel the Axiom felt a bit better to me when I was comparing this summer.
Click to expand...

Pictures pictures pictures
 
Stee6043 said:
If you guys grab the serial #'s off your radar pedestal/antenna you'll know whether or not those will work with the newer MFD's. The serial # lookup is easily google searchable. My '97 is not useable with the new stuff but you might be getting closer in the '03 era. Not buying a new pedestal/antenna would dramatically reduce the budget requirements.
Click to expand...
 
My 2004 Raymarine scanner would not work with the new MFDs in 2015. We ended up doing everything and don't regret it.
 
Craig said:
Looks like you have been already upgraded to vesselview. Not the most current but a nice upgrade. I have the axiom 9 with remote pad, I70s display Ray260 w/DSC and vesselview 502. I went with axiom to get the flir night vision software. The vv502 is also a back up GPS and chartplotter that allows the whole system to networked via NEMA 2K. about 3k unvested to date. Should have spent the extra $300 on the ais radio. Live and learn.
View attachment 61612
Click to expand...
Craig, (and others with cramped engine rooms!)
How did you replace the transducer? So far, I have located 2 on my boat (320,07,350 vdrives), one on the center line (0 degree dead rise, it is perfectly horizontal), and the other is the original speedo, which is just off center, I can see both directly down when standing on the deck with the hatch lifted, but I see no practical way to remove one and install a new one. I guess I could find a suitable location for a new one and just make those zombies, but I could not find any surface in the engine room with good access and still be forward of the props. I guess I could use a transom mounted device? I thought about an in hull transducer as well, not sure about how those perform.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,228
Messages
1,428,962
Members
61,120
Latest member
jingenio
Back
Top