12/03/2026
R I P FURUNO.
For many years, i have built my business based on selling quality marine electronics, especially with product made in Japan.
The Japanese are very proud of the product they produce. Unlike China, they build gear to last-a-lifetime, so to speak. To last 20 years, with care and a regular service regime.
Over more recent years, some of these "once big" manufacturers have felt the pressure of smaller companies, lifting their game, so to compete, the bigger brands have had to think outside the box, to make product cheaper, more competitive.....without reducing profit margins.
Unfortunately one of those companies, a brand i have sold with pride for many years, has been more recently forced to make a big portion of their product range, cheaper, out of China, instead of Japan. This has come at a cost, the quality of the product has, in my view (as an ex Furuno service technician for Taylor Marine) is slowly going backwards. The failures are increasing. Parts to repair the gear are over-priced, often leaving a customer, with the uncomfortable reality that their once pride & joy Furuno, is now financially un-economical to repair, despite it being not so old, sometimes, even not so long out of warranty!
The flip side, the new gear is now so overpriced, with the distributor/dealer network making huge profits, why, because they class it as the "leading car brand" of the marine industry, if you want a Furuno, you can afford to pay for it! The only difference is, the leading Japanese car brand, will last alot longer than a new, Chinese-made, Furuno will. Such a shame!
So, after many years of supporting the product, i have now decided to bow-out from continuing to sell it.
I can't help feeling that the "quality" and the "fair price" is simply a thing of the past! There is simply better gear out there, for a fairer price!
