The Furuno GP7000F is a standalone chartplotter fishfinder, it comes equipped with an external GPS antenna, an integral sounder, and a dual-frequency transducer.
The display unit measures just over 10-inches wide, 6-inches wide, and 5-inches deep.
Furuno GP7000F
A large plastic mounting bracket ships with the Furuno GP7000. It is fastened with four screws and held the display unit securely.
Wiring for power and the transducer hooks to the back of the display unit with multi-pin twist-lock connectors. The GPS antenna connection attaches with a threaded connector.
Screen Size and Viewability
Screen resolution is by todays standards low at 234 x 480.
We found the 8-level brightness control range to be adequate when used in conjunction with the four selectable color palettes. In daylight conditions, the Furuno was easy to see, and we rated the screen excellent. It showed no screen darkening when the tester wore polarized sunglasses. We rated the screen good for nighttime viewability.
Operation
Most functions are manipulated through page-specific, multi-layered menus or soft keys that have a different feel than previous Furuno products weve tested.
The Furuno GP7000 software has been changed significantly to mesh more closely with C-Map specific functions. C-Map and Furuno collaborated on the plotter software to ensure that the redraw rate of this Furuno GPS would take full advantage of the C-Map NT Max features, according to Furuno Communications Manager Jeff Kauzlaric.
Our testing has shown that this collaboration resulted in the Furuno GP7000F having one of the fastest redraw rates in a standalone chartplotter fishfinder. Its lightning quick, definitely one of the fastest weve ever tested.
Waypoints
Using the route, wpt, and soft key pushbuttons makes entering and manipulating waypoints and routes a simple and straightforward proposition. Waypoint names can be up to 12 characters long and carry an additional 13-character comment.
Schooling fish show up on the Furuno GP7000F.
Fishfinder
The GP7000F internal sounder is rated to put out 600- or 1000-watts of power depending on the transducer installed. We tested at the 600-watt power level using a transom mount Airmar P66 dual-frequency transducer (50/200 kHz).
Typical of other Furuno sounders weve tested, this one has all the features one could hope for, including a pair of automatic gain settings, auto and manual depth ranging, shift, marker zoom, bottom lock, bottom discrimination, and full-color A-scope. It performed well.
Odds and Ends
Other notable features include three soft-key-selectable map orientation settings, an adjustable course predictor line, and a display-mode page with 14 selectable pages that includes 11 different split-screen formats.
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The ability to display vital data like SOG, COG, and water depth in a large digital format for viewing from a distance is limited.
Final Thoughts
The GP7000F has good overall performance and a full two-year warranty, but is not network capable. Prices on this unit have been reduced recently.