Radar Garmin gmr 18

D

duff

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Dec 1, 2009
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C Dory Year
2008
C Dory Model
25 Cruiser
Hull Identification Number
Dyer 29
Does anyone have the Garmin GMR 18 radar there are a few blogs on some but it been a few years ago. if so how do you like it .I will be putting it with the Garmin 5208 chart plotter. Any dealers you recommend that are Knowledgeable and you like dealing with thanks
 
I have one it works great, I did the install myself so I can't respond to the dealer question.
 
thanks I will do the install myself as well
 
Duff – I have a GMR 18 on my stretched 16 foot C-Dory. I have had it since 07 with a 3205 chart plotter. I am very happy with the set up and installed it myself. Only thing I was unhappy with was the cabling from the radar. I was told not to shorten the cable so I had to find an area to coil up an extra ten plus feet of cable.

I also installed a GMR HD 18 on the Marinaut with a 6208 chart plotter. This one had cat 5 cable from the radar so I was able to shorten the cable. Again I am happy with this set up.

The 5208 is a really great chart plotter but if you can afford the difference in cost, you should look at the 6208 in place of the 5208.

Dave dlt.gif
www.tolandmarine.com
 
I also have the HD version with the same head unit. Works great for us. Did the install myself. Added a separate power switch for it to prevent an accidental overdose of gamma radiation. :amgry

Radar View.
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Satellite View.
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Duff, I'm sure Matt Unique (A TC255 owner and a Brat) can get Garmin stuff. I've bought lots of electronics from him and he'll give you a good price!

Charlie
 
Duff,
I have dealt with BOE Marine in Maryland www.boemarine.com they know their stuff. I have a Garmin 4208 multi function GPS with the sonar, fuel management, and the 18 HD radar. I agree if you can afford the 5000 or 6000 series of the Garmin line then by all means spring for it. When cruising I usually have the radar overlaying the GPS chart. All my Garmin stuff works like a champ and they provide updates all the time which I just copy to an SD chip and then plug them into my unit to install the updates. For routing and actual navagating I use Coastal Explorer software ($400) with a Toshiba 15.5 inch laptop.($500) If you add a USB GPS puck ($40/100) you have a completely standalone nav unit with a nice big screen for a $1000. My USB GPS puck is on a piece of velcro sitting up near my port front window. The Coastal Explorer software which comes with a complete set of charts which get updated each time you turn it on if you have internet access on start up. You do not need internet access to navagate or plan with the software.You can use planning mode at the office/home and save your trips/ routes as window files in you document files. When you are ready to cruise you click on the file, switch the software to cruise mode with a click and away you go. Active Captain is part of the the software package so you can find fuel achorages, marina's reveiws and pictures of the places etc. by using the Coastal Explorer package. I use the hand held remote from a inexpensive S1000 Raymarine auto pilot to put the boat on course. I just steer the boat to the next waypoint after reaching a waypoint with the hand held wireless remote. It is as easy as playing a computer game. The ease of setting up a trip is pointing and clicking with your computer. I use a mouse but others like using a track ball while on the water as you hand stays in contact if things get bouncy. Coastal Explorer is sold by Rosepoint Navagation and had the best customer service I have seen lately. You can install the software on up to three computers. I have no stock in the Coastal Explorer but it makes navagating so easy. Most folks carry a laptop along for down loading pictures , internet etc why not have as a redundant GPS?
D.D.
 
Just a note on the cable shortening Dave mentioned. I removed about 8ft from our cable and it was tedious to apply another connector but really took only about 15 minutes and a 20 dollar tool to do it right.
 
Both the GMR 18 and the GMR 18 HD use an ethernet cable to talk to the network. Garmin says in their manual not to shorten them, but they sell a field installable connector to do just that. They even gave me one in the box with my unit. It will not hurt to shorten the cable just void the warranty of the cable. I haven't shortened mine but now that the warranty is gone I will probably get rid of the slack.
 
Thanks for all the info the seaway 25 came with a new 5208 with sonar already installed and it set up to take radar and weather as plug and play so if the gmr 18 works well i think i will go with that after buying the new boat driving to the east coast and picking it up getting it ready to cruise it's hit the savings pretty good so I'LL go pretty basic for now on the radar, but i still want it to work well again thanks for all the help
 
Ordered a new Radar form Matt Unique yesterday. he was very helpful and professional Thanks for the information and recommendation form everyone it Made for an easy purchase
 
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