Well I finally did it, after 6 months of looking at electronics online, pricing out installs via professional installers, getting shipped out with work leaving the boat behind.....I FINALLY got the time and oppurtunity to change out my dash and upgrade electronics.
I had intially decided on a Garmin 4212 all in one, radar, plotter, fishfinder, but I really wanted a stand alone fish finder, but couldnt make up my mind on units price and transducer options, since I already had a Sitex and thru hull installed I went with their new SVS 650 unit and my existing transducer.
I also really wanted to mount my primary vhf on the dash, I found that ALOT more useful when I moved it to the dash on my last boat the the electronics box, but despite all I could do, I couldnt make everything fit, I even decided to go with the Garmin 4210 vs 4212 due to the depth being 4.7" onthe 12"vs 3.9" on the 10". After I got everything mounted, I think I probably could have fit the 4212, but the hieght may have been an issue too (being to close to my screw heads) So I guess its OK, granted I could have relocated the screws for the dash to accomodate the larger unit, but I think the 10" is a good fit.
It took a full 2 days to get it done, despite the feeling of cutting WAY more holes than I like to in the hard top, and the 110 heat index I got it done, I really like the Garmin HD radar, having come from a Raymarine C120 I thought that was good, but this new HD unit has INCREDIBLE target definition I took the boat out today to do a quick test un the lake, that Garmin would pick up tiny shoal buoys at 2 miles away, small boats were easily tracked and the detail was suberb. The new Sitex is leaps and bounds better clarity and detail than my previous CVS 206 unit, although I really want to yank the older transcucer and go with a B60 flush mount, that is going to require alot more fiberglass work than I have time for now so its on the "to do" list.
Lessons I learned.....Garmins require ALOT of 12volt connections.....the network stuff is nice but requires alot more reading of instructions, alot more wires and room to stow them all!! Starboard is great, but drill with caution, tends to "eat" drill bits fast.....countersink using a real counter sink bit.....Simple Green removes dirt and grease easily from Starboard, blood soaks in and doesnt like to come out.....there is NO substitute for 3M 4200, couldnt find any locally in my area of NE GA, I'll probably be redoing alot of sealing later. A helper would be nice while working on the hard top......
Still need to figure out the NEMA connections, the quick attempt I made at the end didnt get the functions hooked up correctly to anything, there are SOOOOO many wires on the Garmin NEMA 0183 connector Im gonna have to spend a whole day just reading and researchiing how to get it all right.
Overall I would rate my cleanliness and professional install a B.....I tried, but between building, costumizing, heat and interuptions I just started to get sloppy. that or just tired either way I wish there were a few more corrected spots, but it really performed well and will boost my confidence in fishing at night during the upcoming striper season (radar!!)
The Sitex unit has HORRIBLE access to post holes for flush mounting, infact it was VERY dificult to get to fit, its shaped strange and took a lot of filing and sanding to get flush on the back. I ended up cutting the bracket mounts and using them as flat wedges to hold the unit in place better (along with the tiny posts on the corners). The Garmin 4210 uses what I like, holes on the corners for mounting vs posts, but they shipped screws, changed those out for bolts, but ended up overtightening and squeezed out my gasket on the upper corners, not happy about it, but its done for now I dont want to go back and change for now.
Hope the pics and/or info helps for anyone else considering the change, Im much happier with the electronics and look of the dash now vs before.
I had intially decided on a Garmin 4212 all in one, radar, plotter, fishfinder, but I really wanted a stand alone fish finder, but couldnt make up my mind on units price and transducer options, since I already had a Sitex and thru hull installed I went with their new SVS 650 unit and my existing transducer.
I also really wanted to mount my primary vhf on the dash, I found that ALOT more useful when I moved it to the dash on my last boat the the electronics box, but despite all I could do, I couldnt make everything fit, I even decided to go with the Garmin 4210 vs 4212 due to the depth being 4.7" onthe 12"vs 3.9" on the 10". After I got everything mounted, I think I probably could have fit the 4212, but the hieght may have been an issue too (being to close to my screw heads) So I guess its OK, granted I could have relocated the screws for the dash to accomodate the larger unit, but I think the 10" is a good fit.
It took a full 2 days to get it done, despite the feeling of cutting WAY more holes than I like to in the hard top, and the 110 heat index I got it done, I really like the Garmin HD radar, having come from a Raymarine C120 I thought that was good, but this new HD unit has INCREDIBLE target definition I took the boat out today to do a quick test un the lake, that Garmin would pick up tiny shoal buoys at 2 miles away, small boats were easily tracked and the detail was suberb. The new Sitex is leaps and bounds better clarity and detail than my previous CVS 206 unit, although I really want to yank the older transcucer and go with a B60 flush mount, that is going to require alot more fiberglass work than I have time for now so its on the "to do" list.
Lessons I learned.....Garmins require ALOT of 12volt connections.....the network stuff is nice but requires alot more reading of instructions, alot more wires and room to stow them all!! Starboard is great, but drill with caution, tends to "eat" drill bits fast.....countersink using a real counter sink bit.....Simple Green removes dirt and grease easily from Starboard, blood soaks in and doesnt like to come out.....there is NO substitute for 3M 4200, couldnt find any locally in my area of NE GA, I'll probably be redoing alot of sealing later. A helper would be nice while working on the hard top......
Still need to figure out the NEMA connections, the quick attempt I made at the end didnt get the functions hooked up correctly to anything, there are SOOOOO many wires on the Garmin NEMA 0183 connector Im gonna have to spend a whole day just reading and researchiing how to get it all right.
Overall I would rate my cleanliness and professional install a B.....I tried, but between building, costumizing, heat and interuptions I just started to get sloppy. that or just tired either way I wish there were a few more corrected spots, but it really performed well and will boost my confidence in fishing at night during the upcoming striper season (radar!!)
The Sitex unit has HORRIBLE access to post holes for flush mounting, infact it was VERY dificult to get to fit, its shaped strange and took a lot of filing and sanding to get flush on the back. I ended up cutting the bracket mounts and using them as flat wedges to hold the unit in place better (along with the tiny posts on the corners). The Garmin 4210 uses what I like, holes on the corners for mounting vs posts, but they shipped screws, changed those out for bolts, but ended up overtightening and squeezed out my gasket on the upper corners, not happy about it, but its done for now I dont want to go back and change for now.
Hope the pics and/or info helps for anyone else considering the change, Im much happier with the electronics and look of the dash now vs before.
