I'm trying to outfit my new-to-me Grady White 208 Adventure with a new electronics package.
I'm looking to spend no more (or not much more) than $1000 on a dual-function unit with as large a screen as possible.
Right now, I think I've narrowed my search to the now end-of-life Raymarine A65 dual function unit. It sells in a package from boemarine.com for about $1,000, but I think I can grab the components separately for even less:
I came up with the following:
* Raymarine A65 for $349 (with RS12 GPS antennae and Navonics Silver USA) at http://www.wmjmarine.com/raya65chart.html
* Raymarine DSM25 Digital Sounder Module for $329.99 at http://store.walleyetacklestore.com/25269.html
* P58 Transom Mount Transducer for $92.80 at
http://www.toptransducer.com/servlet...nsducer/Detail
Total price = $771.79
That's about $300 shy of what the total package runs from BOE.
Am I missing anything that I'd need that the BOE package includes?
I know the new A70D system is the latest and greatest, and if money were no object, I'd be looking there. But even at substantial discounts from the MSRP (i.e. Defender had a deal for the A70D package at $1,330 a little while back), the A70D package is almost twice as expensive as the A65.
I'm mostly going to be fishing inshore with the occasional trip 20 miles out for something different. For what I'm going to be using this electronics package for (basic chart plotting and fish finding), should I really care about the limitations of the old A65 unit (no WAAS, limited Nmea 2000 compatibility)?
Let me know what you think. Thanks!
I'm looking to spend no more (or not much more) than $1000 on a dual-function unit with as large a screen as possible.
Right now, I think I've narrowed my search to the now end-of-life Raymarine A65 dual function unit. It sells in a package from boemarine.com for about $1,000, but I think I can grab the components separately for even less:
I came up with the following:
* Raymarine A65 for $349 (with RS12 GPS antennae and Navonics Silver USA) at http://www.wmjmarine.com/raya65chart.html
* Raymarine DSM25 Digital Sounder Module for $329.99 at http://store.walleyetacklestore.com/25269.html
* P58 Transom Mount Transducer for $92.80 at
http://www.toptransducer.com/servlet...nsducer/Detail
Total price = $771.79
That's about $300 shy of what the total package runs from BOE.
Am I missing anything that I'd need that the BOE package includes?
I know the new A70D system is the latest and greatest, and if money were no object, I'd be looking there. But even at substantial discounts from the MSRP (i.e. Defender had a deal for the A70D package at $1,330 a little while back), the A70D package is almost twice as expensive as the A65.
I'm mostly going to be fishing inshore with the occasional trip 20 miles out for something different. For what I'm going to be using this electronics package for (basic chart plotting and fish finding), should I really care about the limitations of the old A65 unit (no WAAS, limited Nmea 2000 compatibility)?
Let me know what you think. Thanks!