Electronics for Voyager 248

[goodfellas]

Hello,
We just purchased a 1999 Voyager 248 with outdated electronics. We have a working 7" sonar in the upper hardtop hatch, along with an old Garman GPS that does not have chart plotting or resolution. An independent vintage Furuno Radar system in located in the lower helm dash directly below the gages.

Based on the outdated and somewhat inoperable systems, I'm inclined to upgrade to a Multi functional system GPS/Chart plotter, sonar/fish finder and Radar. I have been considering Garmin due to its apparent value, however, open to recommendations. My real purpose for posting is to inquire what size might be recommended for similar vessel. I'm inclined to go 12" due to my slowly digressing eye sight, but not sure if I can accommodate a 12" screen in either of the Grady Voyager compartments. I'd love to hear any recommendations on installation locations current Grady owners have utilized. I would also entertain further discussion on whether a 9" screen is big enough for the combination system as the price jump from 9" to 12" is signficant!

Tight lines...
GoodFellas

 

[Blaugrana]

Different boat but I went with 2 9in screens because how I wanted to use them while fishing. At one point I thought of one 12in but the side view in split mode would be super skinny.

As for whether to upgrade everything, I left my Furuno Radar alone but bought two new units that were radar capable for the future.

Look at the price but sometimes 2 9s are cheaper than one 12.

Also, having the radar in the helm and sonar in the hardtop seems to be backwards for me.

 

[Good Fellas]

Different boat but I went with 2 9in screens because how I wanted to use them while fishing. At one point I thought of one 12in but the side view in split mode would be super skinny.

As for whether to upgrade everything, I left my Furuno Radar alone but bought two new units that were radar capable for the future.

Look at the price but sometimes 2 9s are cheaper than one 12.

Also, having the radar in the helm and sonar in the hardtop seems to be backwards for me.

 

[Good Fellas]

Understand. Anyway can you tell us what the panel material has been fabricated with. Does it fit over the existing lower electronics box. Where were you able to have the panel cut? Lastly, the back of the two Simrads less than nine inches. We have about 18-19 inches across our lower panel if we cut out some of the opening. We just need a shop that can do this for us

I suppose if the panel on your 228 is the same as the 248 this may be perfect

 

[Blaugrana]

Here are some measurements I had taken in the past:
- Inside Opening: 18-1/2 x 7
- Inside Opening + Lip: 19-1/4 x 7-7/8
- My Panel Size: 20-7/16 x 9-1/4

I purchased from TAP Plastics (3/8” thick starboard) and had them do rounded edges and corners (1/2”). Price was better than BoatOutfitters after doing all of the routing. I then routed the back so it recessed into the lip where the lid sat.

My plan was a panel to cover the entire opening and those screw holes where the hinges were. I used the template to see what the width was for two of them, but from one cutout to another. From memory, I believe mine was 19-3/8 or so, which I thought was going to present some problems. However, the back of the units had a lip from the cutout to where it then jutted out, think about 1/4 or so. With the thickness from the panel (maybe 1/4 after I routed the back) and that little ledge in the back of both displays, I had a perfect fit along with some luck. Attached are some additional pics.

Pics Comments
- Yellow line is what I was referring to as to what saved me from having to cut anything on the boat
- Back pic shows how lucky I got, that was the same spacing that both units had
- With templates mounted, I measured the cutouts from the left far side to right far side and adjusted the spacing in between as much as I could.
- Panel rear photo is showing how I routed the back to match that lid so it would fit nicely on the lip

 

[Blaugrana]

One more thing, those clasps are just for show. They didn’t work out the way I hoped and had to get my wife to help hold while I drilled. Too many ledges and angles for it to hold securely enough.

 

[Greyduk]

Understand. Anyway can you tell us what the panel material has been fabricated with. Does it fit over the existing lower electronics box. Where were you able to have the panel cut? Lastly, the back of the two Simrads less than nine inches. We have about 18-19 inches across our lower panel if we cut out some of the opening. We just need a shop that can do this for us

I suppose if the panel on your 228 is the same as the 248 this may be perfect

GF, Here is a picture of the GW248 that I used to have. It had 2 Garmin 741XS chartplotters installed. As you can see, there is room on either side so I would think the 2 9inch machines would fit. You can have Boatoutfitters cut a piece to size. They are fairly reasonable. Mine was done with 1/4 inch Starboard.