Talk about a stalemate. The Furuno (bottom) and Raymarine (top) were neck and neck all the way to the finish.

Networked electronics are all the rage today and for good reason—versatility. You can start small and add on later, or install everything but the galley sink. These things will display radar with ranges approaching 100 miles, interface with sounders rated up to 3000 watts, use multiple memory cards to display detailed chart information for whole continents at a time, and even display video or weather fax information—all on quality screens up to 15 inches.

Along with all this versatility comes lots of choices. You’ll need to put serious thought and planning into designing a system tailored to your needs. Like building a house, some decisions you make up front can…