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Decisions, Decisions

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/15/2004 : 23:37:28

The LCD display on my Signet 267 speed/knot log started fading last summer and by the end of the season it was pretty much unreadable. I sent it in to Signet Marine for an estimate on repairs and they just came back with a quote of $277.00 to fix it.

Along with the repair quote, they offered that it really wouldn't be prudent to repair this unit because some other parts are no longer available and if in the future they failed, I would be looking at a new unit. Additionally, with a trade in, a brand new Signet display unit would only cost me $335.00, or $388.00 with a new transducer.

So that's pretty much a no brainer, buy a new one for just a couple of bucks more, but I do have one more option and this is where I'm experiencing a bit of indecision.

My other option is to buy a Standard Horizon SL45 with transducer for $290.00, about $100.00 cheaper than the Signet unit. This unit would require installing a completely different paddlewheel transducer and thru hull, whereas the Signet unit would simply be plug and play with my existing setup. Also, the SL45 has more bells and whistles (water temp, NMEA,...etc) than the Signet and would match my existing SR DS45 depth sounder.

So it all boils down to...do I spend the extra $100.00 for the plug and play Signet unit or save $100.00 with the matching Standard Horizon gauge with more options, although it would require removing the old transducer thru hull and installing a new one?

I've kind of made up my mind, but I was wondering what others would do...Whadda ya think?

Don Lucier

North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2004 : 00:05:04

When is the next time you plan on a bottom job? If it is soon I would opt for the SL45. I have had the SR's on my previous boat since 1988 and have had only one problem with the paddle wheel. Horizon replace it no charge after 10 months. I really liked the readout on the SR's and would have got them for my new boat, but I was offered the NAVMAN for $220 each including transducers so after some mega research were I found that NAVMAN builds the Standard Horizon instruments I got the NAVMAN. I have not completed the install yet, but will in the near future and let all know how thay work. They have the hugh letters like the SR's and all the same bells and whistles.

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2004 : 01:14:10

I would not purchase again from a company who wont stand behind their product. Out of waranty or not. Your running the risk of the same failure again. Go with someone else. Heck you can get a nice GPS for that price and it will do one hell of a lot more.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2004 : 02:54:55

Don,

For what it's worth, I'm using a cheap LCD fishfinder for depth. It's a "Seaview 800", which also come with speed & water temp. transducers. I carry a handheld Garmin GPS for when I want to see SOG, COG, lat-lon, waypoints, or other GPS type info. I added a 12V power cable and tether to the GPS, which allows it to function as nearly bulkhead mounted nestled beside the fishfinder, but I still have the advantages of a portable GPS.

(I also have a 12V powered AA charger to back up the 12V GPS cord as well as keeping other AA toys fed.)

After using a graphic display fishfinder, I wouldn't go back to a pure digital depth finder no matter how nice the display looked.

If you can do your own fiberglass work, switching thru-hull transducer mounts doesn't sound like a big deal to me. I moved a plumbing thru-hull in about one afternoon, not counting cure time.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2004 : 06:11:21

Don,

IMHO, the second option is also a no brainer. I'd Standard-Horizon SL45. That is if my only options were between SH and Signet. Leon's solution sounds very good to me, and the hand held GPS could easily be mounted to the bulkhead using the velcro "thingys" that ez-pass sends to attach their toll reader unit to the window of cars.

For what its worth . . ..

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2004 : 09:54:05

Check out the Raytheon (Raymarine) units too. Also, you might just hang on for a little while, one manufacturer has come out with a 'no moving parts' speed sensor (it uses ultrasonics).
The name of the mfg escapes me this morning... it was on "Scuttlebutt". (http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/)

Hopefully, others won't be too far behind.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2004 : 10:02:19

Don L - I had the same problem a couple of years ago with both my knotmeter and depth finder displays (LED readouts). Apparently constant exposure to sunlight (I'd lost the covers in a storm about a year previously) fades the display.
I bought 2 new displays from the company (Navico) and just had to push them into place. (Navico wanted $75 each to replace them at the factory!). Now I have a sunbrella cover over both instruments...

Derek

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2004 : 14:16:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">"When is the next time you plan on a bottom job? If it is soon I would opt for the SL45."<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Jerry,

A full bottom job, with epoxy barrier coat, was done in the spring 2002 so aside from my yearly VC17m maintenance coat, I don't plan on doing it again.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I would not purchase again from a company who won't stand behind their product. Out of waranty or not. Your running the risk of the same failure again...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Signet did say that my unit was probably 18-20 years old which would place it way out of warranty so I thought it was good of them to even offer me a trade-in allowance.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">For what it's worth, I'm using a cheap LCD fishfinder for depth. It's a "Seaview 800", which also come with speed & water temp. transducers.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah, I could use something different, such as a fishfinder for speed, but I have this nice round 4" hole already cut into the bulkhead ready for something to go in it, preferably a 4" round display.

Anyway, I've pretty much decided on the Standard Horizon SL45 even though it requires more work. The reasons, in order of weight, are...

1. The SR SL45 is $100.00 cheaper than the Signet

2. It will match my SR DS45 display

3. The SR display will fit perfectly into the vacated 4" round hole

4. And lastly, the SL45 has more bells and whistles

(although I don't think I'll be buying the $650.00 windspeed/direction instrument anytime soon

)

Anyway, thanks for the input...

Edited by - on

deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2004 : 16:29:36

When it comes time to mount the transducer, you might want to check back an earlier thread on transducers in which I detailed how I made an existing 1 3/4" hole into a perfect 2 1/4" hole using only hole saws (i.e. very quick)and a block of wood. Mounting a slightly larger transducer is really no hassle at all. Allow fifteen minutes max.

Edited by - on

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