navman or raymarine chartplotter

OceanEco · 17 July 2006, 06:31

I am in the market for a new chartplotter. I have been through 4 standard horizon cp 170 and cp 175. I will never buy a standard chartplotter again. The supplier has replaced it four times and will not supply another. moisture problems and the is now not getting a fix.

i have read all the previous threads regarding these plotters, but still need more input.

Navman 5605 or Raymarine c70

i already have c maps so there is a little savings there and i like the fuel flow meters from navman.

thoughts??

Charlie C · 17 July 2006, 18:26

Hi,

I have a one year old Navman 5500. It keeps getting lost! When this happens it sulks and does nothing until it is turned off and back on again.

Last weekend we went round the IOW (Great day) and it now has gone US. Probably due to water ingress.

When it works I find it slow to redraw and a pritty poor unit so I vote for the Raymarine unit.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Charlie C

codprawn · 17 July 2006, 18:41

Raymarine Raymarine Raymarine!!!

Try to get the C80 if you can afford it - same unit but screen is a bit bigger. I am very happy with mine.

I looked at the Navman - they are a lot cheaper but I was put off with the problems people have said they get. Apparently condensation is one of the main probs. I have a Navman 3100 fuel computer - it's great but guess what - it's the only instrument that fogs up all the time!!!

I have linked the Raymarine DSM300 fishfinder into the C80 and it is the best fishfinder I have ever seen - really accurate and easy to use. I went for a trasom mount transducer though - if you can use through hull.

eupa · 17 July 2006, 19:25

Neither... Go Garmin. If you've got the cash , 2100 series. Back up is good as well.

Jonathan

codprawn · 17 July 2006, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

Neither... Go Garmin. If you've got the cash , 2100 series. Back up is good as well.

Jonathan

Raymarine backup is also excellent - very helpful when I needed advice after having bought grey imports unknowingly from those sharks at Cactus.

I have been playing around with the Garmin units as well - great bits of kit but prefer the Raymarine - only real way to tell is to use them both.

Richard B · 17 July 2006, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

only real way to tell is to use them both.

True. The question should really be "Raymarine or Garmin?"

Hugh Jardon · 18 July 2006, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

True. The question should really be "Raymarine or Garmin?"

i would defo agree with that

OceanEco · 18 July 2006, 04:55

Thanks for all the input looks like I will go for the raymarine.

jwalker · 18 July 2006, 09:14

I have Raymarine and Garmin side by side. They are both good but different. The Raymarine certainly has the edge on image quality but if I've not used the Raymarine for a while, I end up bu**ering about in the menu structure. The Garmin is, somehow, always straightforward.

If you have the opportunity, try them both.

DJL · 18 July 2006, 10:39

I would like to echo jw's comments. Raymarine make nice kit, but I find I can't just use it; the menus etc are too messy with features hidden in weird places. Garmin kit on the other hand is intuitive to use and my personal preference. The Garmin 3000 series is excellent.

Roy Smith · 18 July 2006, 11:12

I have had both and we have E80 now
I like the Garmin but the raymarine while not as easy to use
just seams more solid if i had my choice again i would buy
the big Garmin a lot less cash and for what we do it would not be a bad choice.

eupa · 18 July 2006, 13:14

unknowingly from those sharks at Cactus

Codders, who are these people??-- do you mean the supermarket in Luxembourg? - where they sell cheap petrol, fags, and booze??

Jonathan

Richard B · 18 July 2006, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I needed advice after having bought grey imports unknowingly from those sharks at Cactus.

Are your Raymarine items CE marked? If I remember correctly, its a Ray 54E you have, but isn't the 54E a Europe only model?

sticky · 20 July 2006, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Raymarine Raymarine Raymarine!!!

Try to get the C80 if you can afford it - same unit but screen is a bit bigger. I am very happy with mine.

I looked at the Navman - they are a lot cheaper but I was put off with the problems people have said they get. Apparently condensation is one of the main probs. I have a Navman 3100 fuel computer - it's great but guess what - it's the only instrument that fogs up all the time!!!

I have linked the Raymarine DSM300 fishfinder into the C80 and it is the best fishfinder I have ever seen - really accurate and easy to use. I went for a trasom mount transducer though - if you can use through hull.

Do you have the P66 transom transducer if so does it read at speed (20Knots+) ?
Have you had any bad readings relative to speed/sea conditions ?

codprawn · 20 July 2006, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by sticky

Do you have the P66 transom transducer if so does it read at speed (20Knots+) ?
Have you had any bad readings relative to speed/sea conditions ?

Does it hell. Transom mount transducers are crap on the move. Wish I had gone for a through hull. Having said that at rest a transom mount is more accurate and has greater range. Yes I do have the P66.

codprawn · 20 July 2006, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

Are your Raymarine items CE marked? If I remember correctly, its a Ray 54E you have, but isn't the 54E a Europe only model?

It is a 54E but it is set up for foreign markets. No UK private channels or anything else. Dealer or Raymarine only can add the channels - Cactus didn't bother!!! In fairness to Raymarine they have organised a localish dealer to sort it out FOC but I have to get the radio out and to them to do it.

codprawn · 20 July 2006, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

unknowingly from those sharks at Cactus

Codders, who are these people??-- do you mean the supermarket in Luxembourg? - where they sell cheap petrol, fags, and booze??

Jonathan

Cactus electronics and their sidekicks MES - 2 of the biggest advertisers in the boating mags in the UK. Raymarine etc aren't happy with them but they do shift a lot of kit - box shifters and nothing more!!!

Jon Brooks · 20 July 2006, 11:45

Garmin ever time.

Great kit, great service.
No matter what anyone says have found their back up to be second to none.

Have tried most of everything else and theirs is by far the easiest to use.
Like Nokia phone if you can fly one you can fly them all.

I would never consider anything else ever.

Have their in the car, on the boat and on the bike.

Best regards

sticky · 20 July 2006, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Does it hell. Transom mount transducers are crap on the move. Wish I had gone for a through hull. Having said that at rest a transom mount is more accurate and has greater range. Yes I do have the P66.

I am considering Ray Marine A65 for the compactness and combined ability, I require 10-20knot read ability would I get it with the A65/through hull transponder?
From your quote of greater accuracy at rest with a transom mount is this something I would loose on thro/hull given the dual frequency benefits(If that makes sense)?(Wreck/Fish Requirements)
What other Products would fit these requirements + the non propriety issue(Garman/blue charts)

Jon Brooks · 20 July 2006, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Cactus electronics and their sidekicks MES - 2 of the biggest advertisers in the boating mags in the UK. Raymarine etc aren't happy with them but they do shift a lot of kit - box shifters and nothing more!!!

To be fair it is the other way round, Mes is by far the bigger of the two out fits.

They have their main office in Bristol but also have an office in Poole.
They also own Ocean Install, as the name suggests they mainly carry out electronics installs all over the UK and EU.

Why pray are Raymarine not happy with them and can you back that up?
I ask because thats not the way I hear it!
Have you seen Raydirect?

Regards