best bang for buck, raymarine vs garmin

[st599]

Now that NMEA have deprecated 2k in favour of OneNet, it will be interesting to see where that goes.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Their products are all ‘standard N2K’ but some just use their own slimline connectors. You can easily chop their connector off and stick a devicenet micro connector on.

They are not standard N2K if they use STNG cables. If you chop the STNG connectors off you can't use them on STNG devices.

Off the top of my head

- all their current chart plotters (Axiom / Element) use devicenet connectors
- their AIS 700 and 4000 unit uses devicenet (but not the old AIS 350 which is SeatalkNG)
- their flagship Ray90/91 VHF is devicenet (but their Ray53/63 is SeatalkNG)

And their Autopilots use a euroblock style terminal just to mix it up a bit. It’s a mess.

EVO autopilots are STNG

i40, i50, i60, i70 etc etc are all STNG.

Having just plotters, some AIS and some VHF using devicenet does not equate to "Raymarine have mostly abandoned it on their new products". Nothing much has changed for several years (since the introduction of the Axiom range).

 

[jfm]

This insane complexity is just self harming by Raymarine. They lost me as a loyal customer because of it.

Given that Raymarine are already on the back foot, they really should stop these things that just get in the way of people buying their stuff. When I say back foot, an example is that their 22 inch MFD is 1920 x 1080 pixels, while Garmin's 22 inch MFD is 3840 x 2160, so when you add their horrible proprietary connectors into the mix it's hard to see why anyone rational would buy Raymarine.

In the last few months my brother and i have bought between us 21 large MFDs for our own boats, all Garmin. Some years ago we would have gravitated naturally to Raymarine, but not now, and mostly because of Raymarine's annoying proprietary connectors.

 

[TonyR123]

21!!!! I thought 3 was enough!

 

[jfm]

21!!!! I thought 3 was enough!

Not sure you can ever have too many! These are 9022 (22 inch). Before any "parallax" drawing merchants get their pens out, I can confirm that you can see over them and they don't block the view out at all

 

[PaulRainbow]

This insane complexity is just self harming by Raymarine. They lost me as a loyal customer because of it.

Given that Raymarine are already on the back foot, they really should stop these things that just get in the way of people buying their stuff. When I say back foot, an example is that their 22 inch MFD is 1920 x 1080 pixels, while Garmin's 22 inch MFD is 3840 x 2160, so when you add their horrible proprietary connectors into the mix it's hard to see why anyone rational would buy Raymarine.

In the last few months my brother and i have bought between us 21 large MFDs for our own boats, all Garmin. Some years ago we would have gravitated naturally to Raymarine, but not now, and mostly because of Raymarine's annoying proprietary connectors.

Completely agree.

There is also the issue of support, where Garmin are a World apart from Raymarine.

A couple of years ago i had a customers i60 that was about 3 years old and misted up inside every time the boat was left for a while. Raymarine said nothing they could do about it, it's out of warranty, also commenting that they were not hermetically sealed, should have bought an i70. At the same time i bought a used Garmin GHC20 form someone on Ebay, had a tiny scuff on the screen (hardly noticeable, but i'm fussy). Called Garmin to see what was available and they supplied a "refurbed" unit for £120

Recently had to contact them about a £2500 plotter problem, out of warranty at 3 years old, but they are supplying a refurb unit for £413, including post both ways and a new 12 month warranty.

 

[Alicatt]

Garmin were very helpful when the Benelux charts developed a problem on my 95 UHD after an online update, they sent out a memory card that had the updated chart on it, and as my 95UHD was about 6 months older than the newest version of the UK charts they sent an additional card with the latest UK Ireland and Netherlands chart on it, this was all free of charge, a big thanks to Garmin.

I have been using Garmin products since about 1998.

 

[47GC]

Not sure you can ever have too many! These are 9022 (22 inch). Before any "parallax" drawing merchants get their pens out, I can confirm that you can see over them and they don't block the view out at all

What screen or screen is tied into the infotainment system? Titanic anyone?

 

[[199490]]

Just jumping in on this thread as I'm interested in the Garmin Vs Raymarine comparison.
I am in the process of buying a boat where the owner had fitted a fairly high model Raymarine Axiom 16in display and Quantum radar last year and decided to take it with him to the new boat.
I was in half a mind just to do without as I'm mostly going to be doing inland waterways but I guess it would be sensible for the few times I will be doing coastal passages.
Not wishing to spend huge amounts so I was wondering how good something like this bundle which Garmin have on special offer at the moment would be and what in the Raymarine range would be the equivalent. https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/697312/pn/010-02367-52
The boat has a Raymarine Autopilot (ST6002) which is fairly old, probably fitted from new or shortly after. Am I going to have any issues interfacing it?

 

[jfm]

Just jumping in on this thread as I'm interested in the Garmin Vs Raymarine comparison.
I am in the process of buying a boat where the owner had fitted a fairly high model Raymarine Axiom 16in display and Quantum radar last year and decided to take it with him to the new boat.
I was in half a mind just to do without as I'm mostly going to be doing inland waterways but I guess it would be sensible for the few times I will be doing coastal passages.
Not wishing to spend huge amounts so I was wondering how good something like this bundle which Garmin have on special offer at the moment would be and what in the Raymarine range would be the equivalent. Garmin GPSMAP® 1223xsv | Marine GPS Chartplotter
The boat has a Raymarine Autopilot (ST6002) which is fairly old, probably fitted from new or shortly after. Am I going to have any issues interfacing it?

Depends what you want. That bundle is legacy gear - a lower pixel count screen and a non doppler radar. It's sort of 6 years old technology, but will still work well. Interfacing will be fine: the garmin screen has a nmea0183 output that will drive on older autopilot like the ST6002, and N2k connectivity that will drive a newer autopilot.

 

[Canopy Locked]

Well I have 20 fewer screens than JFM and Bro! - a Garmin GPSMap - small size for small boat - it's great, but I have to admit I struggle in this modern age, with the tech side where everyone assumes you know what you're doing! When I got it, last year, the instructions said to connect the unit to the wifi to download stuff - Huh??? where do I plug it in ??? It took ages to sort out - Garmin support were very good and patient and eventually managed to get me to understand what I needed to do but why oh why do all these tech companies start their instructions about 4 steps beyond the point from where I'm starting! I think I probably need the loan of a teenage child to deal with this sort of stuff!

 

[PaulRainbow]

Well I have 20 fewer screens than JFM and Bro! - a Garmin GPSMap - small size for small boat - it's great, but I have to admit I struggle in this modern age, with the tech side where everyone assumes you know what you're doing! When I got it, last year, the instructions said to connect the unit to the wifi to download stuff - Huh??? where do I plug it in ??? It took ages to sort out - Garmin support were very good and patient and eventually managed to get me to understand what I needed to do but why oh why do all these tech companies start their instructions about 4 steps beyond the point from where I'm starting! I think I probably need the loan of a teenage child to deal with this sort of stuff!

You don't have to plug into wifi

 

[[199490]]

Depends what you want. That bundle is legacy gear - a lower pixel count screen and a non doppler radar. It's sort of 6 years old technology, but will still work well. Interfacing will be fine: the garmin screen has a nmea0183 output that will drive on older autopilot like the ST6002, and N2k connectivity that will drive a newer autopilot.

Yes the screen resolution did concern me. I'm writing this on an 11 inch screen with 2,388 x 1,668 res and my desktop system is 5120 × 2880 so 1280 x 800 is like going back a long way!
As I mentioned, I will very rarely use its as I'm mostly going to be inland. Is there a better low budget option? I like that it has a video input as Im going to fit a "reversing" camera but its expensive to use solely as a monitor

 

[jrudge]

The low budget option is usually eBay and see what people are selling post upgrade

 

[Greg2]

Just jumping in on this thread as I'm interested in the Garmin Vs Raymarine comparison.
I am in the process of buying a boat where the owner had fitted a fairly high model Raymarine Axiom 16in display and Quantum radar last year and decided to take it with him to the new boat.
I was in half a mind just to do without as I'm mostly going to be doing inland waterways but I guess it would be sensible for the few times I will be doing coastal passages.
Not wishing to spend huge amounts so I was wondering how good something like this bundle which Garmin have on special offer at the moment would be and what in the Raymarine range would be the equivalent. Garmin GPSMAP® 1223xsv | Marine GPS Chartplotter
The boat has a Raymarine Autopilot (ST6002) which is fairly old, probably fitted from new or shortly after. Am I going to have any issues interfacing it?

Whilst I don’t disagree with JFM on the interface issue I think my preference would be to stick with the same brand (Raymarine) as the autopilot. I would also agree with jrudge that looking for something of the same era as the autopilot on eBay would be a good option, particularly given the occasional use at sea. A quick search reveals this

I have done that in the past and had perfectly adequate and serviceable kit at a fraction of the cost of new.

On the Raymarine v Garmin debate it comes down to personal preference. I prefer Raymarine and can’t get on with Garmin but others will say entirely the opposite. In reality both are entirely fit for purpose.

I was on an MCA Small Ships Electronic Navigation and Radar course last week and chatting with the principal instructor I asked his preference and he was firmly in the Raymarine camp, citing various bits of functionality that swung his preference. Not sure that proves anything (not that I am trying to) but interesting to get his view.
.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Whilst I don’t disagree with JFM on the interface issue I think my preference would be to stick with the same brand (Raymarine) as the autopilot.

Won't make the slightest bit of difference in this case, the existing AP will not fully integrate with any modern Raymarine plotter, it'll be just the same as being connected to a Garmin plotter. In fact, it will connect to the Garmin plotter simply by using the NMEA 0183 port, which Raymarine no longer fit to plotters.

I would also agree with jrudge that looking for something of the same era as the autopilot on eBay would be a good option, particularly given the occasional use at sea. A quick search reveals this

That's at least 15 years old !!

Add the cost of charts and you're nearly up to the cost of a brand new Echomap (comes with charts)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...0.l1313&_nkw=raymarine+chart+plotter&_sacat=0

I have done that in the past and had perfectly adequate and serviceable kit at a fraction of the cost of new.

On the Raymarine v Garmin debate it comes down to personal preference. I prefer Raymarine and can’t get on with Garmin but others will say entirely the opposite. In reality both are entirely fit for purpose.

I was on an MCA Small Ships Electronic Navigation and Radar course last week and chatting with the principal instructor I asked his preference and he was firmly in the Raymarine camp, citing various bits of functionality that swung his preference. Not sure that proves anything (not that I am trying to) but interesting to get his view.
.

I have binned 3 year old Raymarine kit that they won't support at all. Most Garmin stuff at that sort of age can be exchanged for fixed price replacements at a fraction of the cost. For instance, just has a GPSMAP 1223 for £400, brand new, in the box.

 

[Alicatt]

I have binned 3 year old Raymarine kit that they won't support at all. Most Garmin stuff at that sort of age can be exchanged for fixed price replacements at a fraction of the cost. For instance, just has a GPSMAP 1223 for £400, brand new, in the box.

GPSMAP 1223 for £400. how?
£1400 without a transducer maybe £2k+ with a transducer.

Looking at the offerings on ebay for Garmin chartplotters a lot of them of the same vintage as mine and lower models are a good bit more than what I paid for mine, an Echomap 95SV UHD, through Marine Superstore

 

[PaulRainbow]

GPSMAP 1223 for £400. how?
£1400 without a transducer maybe £2k+ with a transducer.

Looking at the offerings on ebay for Garmin chartplotters a lot of them of the same vintage as mine and lower models are a good bit more than what I paid for mine, an Echomap 95SV UHD, through Marine Superstore

I said "Most Garmin stuff at that sort of age can be exchanged for fixed price replacements at a fraction of the cost. For instance, just has a GPSMAP 1223 for £400, brand new, in the box."

The £400 price tag was for a brand new replacement plotter, in exchange for a faulty one, out of warranty.

In my experience, no other manufacturer routinely does this.

I've been supplying Echomap 95SVs for £1000 all in, not bad when they include about £300 worth of full UK charts.

 

[petem]

We had a c.8 year old Garmin VHF with a frayed cable on the boat. Garmin replaced it FOC with the latest model (we didn't even have a receipt) and even gave us a separate AIS transceiver because the new radio didn't have an AIS receiver built into it.

You can't get better service than that.

 

[jfm]

I was on an MCA Small Ships Electronic Navigation and Radar course last week and chatting with the principal instructor I asked his preference and he was firmly in the Raymarine camp, citing various bits of functionality that swung his preference. Not sure that proves anything (not that I am trying to) but interesting to get his view.
.

I'm curious as to what functionality/(ies) Raymarine has that Garmin doesn't. I can't think of any.