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Thread: GPs Auto pilot fish finder

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    Default GPs Auto pilot fish finder

    I just got a 87 Billfisher 26, 200 hp Volvo I/O, hydraulic steering. I need to replace the auto pilot, GPS and fish finder.

    The old auto pilot is a Cetec Benmar and the GPS and finder are Furunos, I think they are the original electronics that came with the boat when it was new.

    What have you guy's upgraded to and whats your feed back?

    Thanks Randy

  2. #2
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    Apr 2004
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    No Slack will probably try to talk you into keeping the Benmar; they are actually very good pilots but don't integrate with today's more technical electronics. Furuno's NavNet system is what most of the newer boats are installing; however the Garmin GPS units are a little easier to operate IMHO, I have both. I think most of the nicer GPS units perform about the same, but I would never buy anything other than a Furuno Fishfinder. I have a 585 model which at 1000 watts covers any depth I want to fish in (Fish readings to 1000-1200' and bottom reading to 2000'); Zack has a Furuno 295 which you can get in 1000 to 3000 watt packages and his has quite a few more adjustment options and features which make it a superior unit which most of the long range fleet installs for their straight up & down metering. Raytheon is very similar to the Furuno brand and a little less expensive; Time Out has a Raytheon FF that puts out a pretty good picture and works fine on our rock cod trips to the 9; I just prefer Furuno as that is what most of the commercial fleet runs and I would think that alone would be your best indicator. As far as Autopilots go some guys have the SIMRAD AP-11 thru AP-20 and seem to like them; there's another common and less expensive autopilot that works well on the Blackman; I can't think of the brand I know Time Out and alot of others on the board have chime in guys help me out here........
    Last edited by DOGHOUSE26; 08-26-2012 at 10:10 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    La Jolla, CA
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    59

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    This sounds like my old boat. Does it have cockpit steering and an offshore bait tank? If so GPS was added in 1998.

  4. #4
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    Randy do you have the standard bench seat on your bridge or do you have a captains Helm Chair in the middle?

  5. #5
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    Jun 2012
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DOGHOUSE26 View Post
    Randy do you have the standard bench seat on your bridge or do you have a captains Helm Chair in the middle?
    I have the standard bench seat set up.

    Quote Originally Posted by DOGHOUSE26 View Post
    No Slack will probably try to talk you into keeping the Benmar; they are actually very good pilots but don't integrate with today's more technical electronics. Furuno's NavNet system is what most of the newer boats are installing; however the Garmin GPS units are a little easier to operate IMHO, I have both. I think most of the nicer GPS units perform about the same, but I would never buy anything other than a Furuno Fishfinder. I have a 585 model which at 1000 watts covers any depth I want to fish in (Fish readings to 1000-1200' and bottom reading to 2000'); Zack has a Furuno 295 which you can get in 1000 to 3000 watt packages and his has quite a few more adjustment options and features which make it a superior unit which most of the long range fleet installs for their straight up & down metering. Raytheon is very similar to the Furuno brand and a little less expensive; Time Out has a Raytheon FF that puts out a pretty good picture and works fine on our rock cod trips to the 9; I just prefer Furuno as that is what most of the commercial fleet runs and I would think that alone would be your best indicator. As far as Autopilots go some guys have the SIMRAD AP-11 thru AP-20 and seem to like them; there's another common and less expensive autopilot that works well on the Blackman; I can't think of the brand I know Time Out and alot of others on the board have chime in guys help me out here........
    For better or worse I decided to go with the Raymarine AP, GPS MFD and CHIRP Fish Finder. I wish Furuno came out with their next generation fish finder but I needed the electronics now, soooo, the upgrade is almost complete, hopefully I can test run everything this weekend.

    Thanks for your help guy's

  6. #6
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    Apr 2004
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    La Jolla, CA
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    Then it is not my old boat because mine had to captain's chairs on the bridge. Good fishing. Dan

  7. #7

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    Are you going to sale the cetec benmar and furuno fish finder? This is what I have.

  8. #8
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    Call me stupid but What is a CHIRP Fish Finder?

  9. #9
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    Apr 2010
    Location
    Escondido, CA
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    Broad spectrum frequency modulation sonar and enhanced digital signal processing. In a nutshell you can be traveling 25knts and tell if a rockcod just took a crap at 2500ft.
    Allan C.

    P.E.T.A MEMBER
    Portagee Euthanizing Terrified Albacore

    Hamachi Girl
    1981 23' Albacore Special

  10. #10
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    Apr 2004
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    And who makes it?

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