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Radar purchase problem
Ok, here's the situation. I've just about decided to buy a radar for my boat. I cannot afford new, so I'm buying on eBay. Although there are hundreds of units available, few are within my price range. But there are a few. All systems are 100% complete... cables, Radome, display, power supply, etc.
The first unit is an older system made by JRC with a raster scan display (Cathode ray tube). It's a 4kw unit. It has a 24 mile range. From the pics in the ad it's working fine. The second unit is a newer unit made by Furuno with a LCD display. It is only a 2kw unit and has a range of 16 miles. Again, from the pics it appears to be in good condition. Now here's my problem. Is the extra power and 8 miles of range worth going with the older JRC unit or should I go with the newer Furuno unit? Again, both units are 100% complete and both units are working properly according to their ads. 
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1987 V20 w/1987 150HP Yamaha on a Shoreland'r Trailer 1978 16.5 Airslot w/1996 120HP Force on a Four Winns trailer 1996 V21 w/1993 200HP Mercury on a Shoreline Trailer All towed by a 5.7L Hemi Durango. If God didn't have a purpose for us we wouldn't be here, so Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly. (Leave the rest to God)  Silence, in the face of evil, is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak, not to act is to act. God will not hold us guiltless. 
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#2
09-29-2011, 04:23 PM
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Couple of thoughts even though I've got no really useful input or experience.
The distance ability given and relation to the height of the unit, how far will it be possible to read given the curvature of the earth. How readily available are CRT's this day and age? Oh and have you priced or seen reviews on lower cost units maybe like Garmin or such? If there is a huge price difference, I'd go with the used Furuno.
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 '75 Cuddy with '00 Johnson Ocean Pro 150 horse Benny Last edited by tsubaki; 09-29-2011 at 04:30 PM.
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#4
09-30-2011, 11:02 AM
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Quote:
Replacement CRT's are supposed to be readily available from JRC, but are not cheap. The price is the factor. Even the lowest priced new radar is still over $1000, but on eBay I'm looking at roughly half that price for an entire system. I'd love to buy a brand new unit...hell, who wouldn't? But I just cannot afford it right now, so this is the best alternative solution for me. (I still need to get a radar arch for the unit, and they are not cheap either... I may have to fabricate one out of SS or Alum tubing) <sigh>
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1987 V20 w/1987 150HP Yamaha on a Shoreland'r Trailer 1978 16.5 Airslot w/1996 120HP Force on a Four Winns trailer 1996 V21 w/1993 200HP Mercury on a Shoreline Trailer All towed by a 5.7L Hemi Durango. If God didn't have a purpose for us we wouldn't be here, so Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly. (Leave the rest to God) Silence, in the face of evil, is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak, not to act is to act. God will not hold us guiltless.
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#5
09-30-2011, 12:19 PM
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WFIW, I had a JRC raster scan 10 years ago on a sailboat and I loved that thing. Perfect low tech solution to a high tech problem. The system was bullet proof and used readily available OTS components rather than the proprietary stuff found in the big name stuff. I remain a fan. IIRC I had the 24nm radar and I'm pretty sure that I could see into the future with that thing.
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