Repower/Electronics?

Grady Smith · Post by **Grady Smith** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:32 am

Hey guys, I decided to drop the gas engines I was going to install in my boat. Took it to Wanchese to have a pair of 370 recons with ZF 220A's installed. I have a pair of 425 hp merc's for sale for 20k if anyone is interested. Basically new. Also have a set of 50 hr takeout ZF 63A 2:1's for $1400/each. I am going to install a Northern Lights 8 kw gen, new 1.5 shafts, etc. I am wondering about the cummins panels and was leaning towards installing them as is in the lower console panel. It appears it will have to be widened by about an inch each side. Flybridge I was looking at Doug's setup and really like it but would kind of want the cummins panels there too. I am leaning on adding a strip to the center and routing the outside edges and trying to make that work. Anybody done this that could chime in and give me suggestions please holla........ Any thoughts on this genny? The guys at Just Right Marine are dealers and they prefer this. They also do Onan but the 9kw Onan was just built and they both leaned me to the NL's unit. What electronics package should I do? I want the whole deal and plan to add a hardtop this winter so I need radar capability for later but for now I want a nice setup and autopilot........any thoughts here would be much appreciated as I know nothing about electonics. My boat had a 182C........ Also preferences for an autopilot?......... Thanks in advance, Grady

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:42 am

Grady, Glad to hear you've finally decided on a power plant. As far as the gennie was concerned, I went with a 7.6 Westerbeke. While mine was a running takeout with about 300 hours on it, I was also considering buying this as a new unit as well. I chose the Westerbeke because it is a 3 cylinder motor that runs smoothly and quietly. Another reason I bought it is because I knew that it and a sound shield would fit as Brian Davin had installed the same unit in his boat last spring. I would not go for more than 8KW's as you won't be able to keep enough of a load on it. Remember, this is diesel not gas so you want to keep it fairly loaded everytime you run it. As far as electronics go, its a toss up. I also have the Garmin 182C. Even though its now going into its 6th season, its never missed a beat and is ridiculously easy to use. Garmin's bigger and newer units also appear to be just as easy to use. Garmin's radar is fairly new to the marine electronics scene, having arrived 2-3 years ago. When they first came out, most of the electronics guys at the boat shows said they weren't very good. I do know that a couple of guys here have them and that Garmin has come out with a lot of software upgrades that make them much better. I also have the Raymarine C120 with the RD218 2kw radome and the Raystar 125 gps antenna. The radar is fantastic and the clarity of the Navionics Gold chart is great on the 12 inch screen. However, the chartplotter functionality is no where as easy to use as the Garmin. I can't speak to Furuno's radar and plotters, though there fishfinders seem to be top notch. I also cannot comment on auto-pilots. I think if I were starting from scratch I might be tempted to go with a pair of the Raymarine E120's, the 5S 4kw open array, the Raystar 125 GPS antenna w/ Navionics Platinum chip, the DSM300 sounder module w/ an Airmar b260 1000w through hull transducer, and finally their SR100 Sirius weather antenna. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Grady Smith · Post by **Grady Smith** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:17 pm

Wow Doug, I think I already busted the bank. I don't know much about electronics but you are saying 2 E120's. Aren't they about $3800 each? Grady

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:46 am

Well a quick google search showed a bunch of on-lone stores have them for $3400 or so. You didn't specify a price range. What are you looking to spend? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]