Alright - since the new boat has no fishing electronics at all - nope not even a fishfinder - I will be refitting it this winter. The question is what speed and temp sensor should I use - Fishhawk, Subtroll, cannon, something else? I've been on many boats with the FishHawk and it has always worked well. But I've read some very strong opinions for and against all of the options. What do y'all think?
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Greg , I have a Fish hawk and I love it , there have been some interference problems with a Fish Hawk and Lowrance graphs , the transducers use close freq. from what I've ben told. I have a Raytheon L-750 fishfinder and have no interference problems. The SubTroll use's the downrigger cable to transmit info. up to boat , I had one on old boat and I like the Fish Hawk better , but it was an older SubTroll so they may be better than before. I like the digital display for the speed and temp. on the Fish hawk , I have heard the early Cannon speed-n-temp were junk but they have fixed them , never used one so I can't comment. I also have a Raytheon Auto pilot and one of my radios is a raytheon and have had good service out of them. My radar is a Furuno and that has been a good unit as well and I run a Garmin 210 gps/map that I love . So I think if you stay with good brand name quality products you will be in good shape. The old saying , you get what you pay for. If I had the money and was rigging a new boat I would really look at the raymarine hbs system with radar , fish graph and gps and interface my auto pilot to it. Just my opinoion as there are a lot of good products out there.
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The only problem I have with the FishHawk is the fact that the enclosure is like 1970s computer enclosure, but a do believe I have a solution for that. I it works it's going to be pretty cool. Yeah probably going to go with the FishHawk in the end.
As far as onboard electronics goes - I'm probably going to go with the Raymarine C120 non-hsb multi-function display. I have the XX series Raytheon/Raymarine stuff - also had a L850C on the Grady-White all of which have performed well. I was looking at Garmin but whaler's research into the new radar and the 3010 screen problems have eliminated Garmin as a supplier. I'm not sure if I will ever get any value from the HSB components which are more expensive but I haven't completely written them out of a scenario yet. I don't see the need for more than one screen - especially when the one scren is 12+ inches.
Plan on fully re-outfitting - replacing the radar with new stuff - may go back to a dome from an open array just to make more room for rod holders on the arch. The open array that I have now encroaches where rod holders will be installed. It's kind of fun converting a cruiser back to a sportfishing boat which the 3600 OPEN was really meant to be. Looking forward to trying the "digital fishfinding" modeule from RayMarine. I have a Ray 650 Autopilot right now - not sure I'm going to replace it although you can never tell with these things LOL.
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Sounds like you are geeked for the challenge...I will do wiring, but I won't like it!! It will all go towards making the winter shorter and spring here sooner....as silver fish dance in our heads. I only have surface temp on my boat. But, with the combination of a mechanical speed (paddlewheel) and the gps (both Furuno) I think its all pretty accurate. One day, when I get to out fit my new boat (I'm not holding my breath), I'll think about putting all that really neat fancy stuff all over it....domes sticking up from everywhere, things spinning around in symphony with the waves rolling by, bright lights blinking and things beeping in harmony with the hum of the downrigger cables!!! Oh my.......I might have strained something Good luck Greg, it will be neat getting the boat "just like you want it". Best, Chip
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Oh yeah I'm geeked for sure ... not just for the electronics - we have some other projects planned for the winter too. Like turning the wet bar into a tackle station. Considering the ice maker isn't working - going to pull it out and put some drawers and shelves in it's place. Then taking the wine and alcohol locker and converting that for tackle also - should be really cool.
Adding rod holders to the radar arch ... and and and .... LOL
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Hi Jen, no that was not an offer , just a confession . Wiring is not one of my favorite things to do, but sometimes you just have to....... I suppose if the garage is heated and there's a good football game on it wouldn't be too bad... well you get the picture. Be glad to lend a hand if I can. Let me know, I'll bring the snacks!!! Best, Chip
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Greg , I added rod holders to my radar arch but I didn't want to make it too permanent so I installed a section on stainless hand rail across the top /rear edge of the arch and put on the clamp on Perkco holders along the rail , that way I can move the holders if I want or take them off when/ if I sell the boat. I have 6 { could put 8} on the arch , 3 up each side of the arch for birds and lead core , 3 Great Lakes holders on each side for divers plus 8 holders on the riggers and 4 more extras that I can place on the back or sides and 2 more clamp on Perkcos at the rear for lead balls or diver straight out the back , you can never have too many rod holders. I do need to work on tackle storage at the rear of the boat , but I don't know if I could remove the wine rack/beverage holder that you are talking about. Hmm , wine rack vs tackle storage , hard one to decide. I also have a remote speaker mounted in my arch for the vhf radio so that I don't have to have the radio blasting to be able to hear it , also have acouple of work lights mounted for setting lines as the mood lighting just don't cut it for fishing. You are working with a lot bigger boat than I so you have alittle room to play with. I have my boat in my barn so I can go out a work on it during the winter but normally I get lazy and don't do much over the winter and then try to cram it all in during the spring. I should get a coat of wax on it and another coat of bottom paint but it is getting a little cold for that now.
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FR we have done anything yet - but we will get started fairly soon. Going to see if Towers Unlimted will make a roh holder rack for the arch - hope to get 14 - 16 rods across. I'd liek to put some holders on the side of the arch for cores - might wait for a bit on that - got lots of cash going out for everything else. Got two triple vectors on the sides and 5 riggers with two holders each works out pretty good for now - gives me 16 holders.
Post edited by: tiara3600, at: 2004/11/23 22:32
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Looking forward to trying the "digital fishfinding" modeule from RayMarine. I have a Ray 650 Autopilot right now - not sure I'm going to replace it although you can never tell with these things LOL.
, just a confession 
. Wiring is not one of my favorite things to do, but sometimes you just have to.......
