[Scott]

The 582 is a great machine ...if not one of the best in my opinion... BUT Now with the black box machines taking over this newer version of Navnet, the VX2 series, is suppose to be awesome. Was in a store a couple months ago right after the Miami show and two guys were taking to a sale rep about another plotter. We listened into what he was saying. I grant you it was a nice machine they were looking at but these guys, not unlike myself, had a narrow focus on just one manufacturer. We asked some questions and I said to the rep what he thought about the Navnets ..... He kinda grinned at me, asked the other two guys if they had any other questions. They left and then we started talking Furuno. He said the machine was great...He had just seen the newest stuff down in Florida, talked with the Furuno guys and was blown away.

There are so many ways to configure one its not funny, So as far a model number I cant say. Recently Powerboat reports did a comparison of the Garmin 3010, Simrad 44, Ray 120 and the Navnet 18-1900 series. If I recall they liked the Furuno best.. given the best viewability and proven track record ...But gave the edge to the Ray since the screen was bigger, 12" vs 10.4", and I think faster. However that was the test results on an older version of Navnet. The VX2 apparently smokes it now.

The other thing I liked and made me want the Navnet more is that my current Radar array, a Furuno, can be used with the new Navnet systems. I was also informed that while other models boast color radar, Furuno is the only one to be able to differentiate target density via the color of the blip on the screen. The others have color ...but its more a dog and pony show.

These machines are networkable …unlike some of the others out there so several can be tied together if you so wish. Plus with the Black Box fish finder you’ve got the equivalent of a 582 machine !!! the BBF1 is a 600/1000w sounder, 50/200 … then they offer a BBF3 which is 1-3 kw and user selected frequencies. You can even get a weather fax Black box for it.
I believe we were told the redraw and refresh rate is much faster. The machine also has a direct entry alpha numeric key pad. The only thing I’m not sure about , in real world use , was the track ball. I would rather see the “four direction push pad” …similar to what I have on a straight Furuno GP-32.

Sorry for the long post …. But it just looks like a great unit with unlimited expansion potential. I’ve experienced and long trusted their equipment and see no reason to stop now …stuff looks better than ever. Now if it was so damn expensive !!