Furuno GP-7000F

[frank100]

Hi Guys,
My Lowance ( LCX-16c) is showing signs of dying, it won't always turn on properly (might be going cheap) , I am looking at the Furuno GP7000F (combo unit).
Anyone got one ? I'd appreciate any comments good or bad, it's a shame the dollar has gone south but I think I can get one at the old price (if the minister agrees to te expenditure)

Frank

[Tazmaniac]

Hi Frank,
I run a GP7000F and as a sounder it is as good as I could wish for. With the 600 watt transducer ( Airmar P66 ) I'm able to read the bottom in 100 metres at over 30 knots, of course the quality of the picture IS determined by sea conditions. However, I don't find the GPS to be of the same standard, slow to update and cumbersome to use. In fact I was so disapointed with the GPS, that I gave up on the idea of running a combo ( I use the Furuno as a sounder only ) and added a Garmin 2006c. This way I always have the Furuno as a backup GPS if needed. If you definately want a combo them this is probably not what you were wanting to hear, but if you want to use it as a sounder, with a backup GPS as I do, you will be more than happy.
Taz.

[lippa]

i run the combo aswell.
im the opposite to taz though.
im thinking of getting a 620 and using the 7000 as a gps.
after havinga lawerance combo, this 7000 is a godsend. the only thing i preefered with the lawerance was that it ran a navionics chart, 7000 uses cmap.


cheers

lippa

[frank100]

Thanks guys for the contradiction !
Really though it's the sort of feedback I am after. I really like the Lowrance appearance both plotter & sounder (and I am comfortable with using it) but am pissed off with attitude of the local agent who say that the replacement for the original is more than 18 months old & are not interested in repair.
I have'nt looked closely at the Furuno operation, but the plotter map appearance does'nt really appeal, but I guess it's what you get used to.
Thanks again.

Frank

[lippa]

the furuno is easier to use, imo compared to the lawerance.
as stated just wish it'd take the navionics map
cmap gives some awesome deatils though. u get a little camera icon on the plotter, if ya click on it, it will give a multi media photo of the area, and there is literally a thousand pics from nsw border to noosa. and beyond, even far out places like stanage bay, and the percy isles have pics.

[frank100]

Lippa,
Thanks for the post, Mate what exactly did you preffer on the navionics, versus the Cmap ? Also are you looking at the 620 for size of screen or something else ?

Thanks
Frank

[lippa]

the navionics seemed to give better details for contour lines, and land mases, the cmap is more cartoon like, if that make sense.
the 620 screen size would be actually smaller. but gives the benifit of running the devices inpendently.
i bought this boat second hand, it had the combo already in it. if i was to start again, i would run two seperate units.

cheers

lippa

[frank100]

lippa,
Thanks for that. Yep, know exactly what you mean by "cartoon like" it's probably what turns me off a bit compared to the Lowrance display, but as I said I will 'play' a bit more before I decide.

Thanks
Frank