CPseudonym
Moderator Emeritus
Purchasing used electronic navigation gear is not a topic I see discussed much. Not nearly as fun as posting opinions about the latest gee whiz gadgets and gizmos. For my particular inland boating area I fail to see any real value in the systems currently available through normal vendors. My current vessel will not be taken outside the protected waters so bullet proof reliability and redundancy are not high priorities. Serious long range coastal cruising is definitely not in the cards for this vessel.
Adequate depth sounder and brand new VHF are already installed as well as compass, the basics. I am toying with the idea of adding a small radar to the mix. Long range is not needed as this will all be short range work. Console space is at a premium so size matters.
The problem is someone like myself that is as yet not acquainted with radar, recognizing a good deal on used equipment is not an easy task. I understand Furuno is a great brand and well supported but are there other brands with a long shelf life? Besides avoiding cathode ray tube screens is there anything else one should look for while shopping for this kind of gear on E bay?
Adequate depth sounder and brand new VHF are already installed as well as compass, the basics. I am toying with the idea of adding a small radar to the mix. Long range is not needed as this will all be short range work. Console space is at a premium so size matters.
The problem is someone like myself that is as yet not acquainted with radar, recognizing a good deal on used equipment is not an easy task. I understand Furuno is a great brand and well supported but are there other brands with a long shelf life? Besides avoiding cathode ray tube screens is there anything else one should look for while shopping for this kind of gear on E bay?