Play with both user interfaces and, perhaps, Simrad, as well -- there
are real differences in the way they do things, not right or wrong,
just different. Then let your spouse or significant other do the
same. Pick the one you like best.

I dismiss most of the "this one is better quality" as the same as "my
Ford is better than your Chevy". There are subtle differences, but
they average out.

We picked Furuno for Fintry after looking hard at all three, but the
autopilot will be Comnav. These may not be good choices for you.
Aside from the fact that you may like another user interface better,
Fintry is a little bigger, a little heavier, and a lot more steel than
your boat.

The installation has to be competent, but it's not brain surgery.
Protected cable runs, away from potential interference. Beefy power
supply wires, appropriately fused or circuit breakered. Solid mounts
that can be easily removed for connection and maintenance. Good
soldering, where required.

The installation manuals for both Raymarine and Furuno are on line, so
you could read them and decide for yourself whether you're up to it.

If you have an installer do the work, make sure you see (eyeball, not
photos)other installations he or she has done, and talk to owners.
There's a lot of bad work out there....


Jim Woodward
www.mvfintry.com

(Tom Young) wrote in message om...
Anyone have a definite thought on the differences between a Raymarine
package and a Furuno package. I've got a new boat due in shortly and
I have been really hung up on the reputation and apparent quality
differences of the Furuno. But, I've got a dealer/installer claiming
the Raymarine is everybit as good and what really matters is the
quality of the installation and of course, his choice of installers is
him. I'm going for a radar/plotter/depthsounder/ autopilot with a
couple of repeaters involved. (36' boat-upper and lower stations.)

Anyone had a situation where they ordered the stuff from someone like
"Marine Electronics" or some other big discounter and had a FREELANCER
install all the stuff on your boat. What do the Mfg's do about
warranty when a "non-Authorized" dealer/installer was used. Isn't
most of this stuff "Plug and Play"?

Thanks for any help you can give....I'm sorta bewildered at the
moment.