best bang for buck, raymarine vs garmin

[Greg2]

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

I can’t recall what he said unfortunately, I should have paid more attention!

 

[PaulRainbow]

I

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

Raymarine has a setting that tells you to get lost when something goes wrong and you need support.

This setting is missing from Garmin products

 

[Greg2]

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.

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)
Raymarine Chart Plotter | eBay

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.

All I was saying is that given that sea use will be infrequent perhaps an older Raymarine might be an option (my link was to search results so there were several examples that were intended solely as an illustration). I am no expert but presumably a Raymarine plotter of the same vintage might interface with the auto-pilot? I have used old Raymarine kit quite successfully.

Just another perspective


EDIT
Sorry, I am being a bit slow tonight but I have a touch of man-flu so not firing on all cylinders!

You can actually interface old Raymarine auto-pilots with their new kit using a converter. We have three ST6002 heads linked to a very early course computer on our boat and when I installed new Raymarine Axioms I was able to interface the AP with them using, if memory serves, a SeaTalk to SeaTalkng converter kit.

EDIT again!
Cross posted with your last post
.

 

[PaulRainbow]

All I was saying is that given that sea use will be infrequent perhaps an older Raymarine might be an option (my link was to search results so there were several examples that were intended solely as an illustration). I am no expert but presumably a Raymarine plotter of the same vintage might interface with the auto-pilot? I have used old Raymarine kit quite successfully.

Yes, the OPs autopilot would interface with something like an old C80/C120

But, it will also integrate with a modern plotter, in as much as when you select a route to follow (etc) then engage the autopilot it will all work. A fully integrated solution (older plotter) allows the AP to be engaged from the plotter screen, but once engaged, functionality is the same. It doesn't matter what make of modern plotter, it will work the same, even if it is a Raymarine.

Just another perspective
.

 

[jfm]

You can actually interface old Raymarine auto-pilots with their new kit using a converter. We have three ST6002 heads linked to a very early course computer on our boat and when I installed new Raymarine Axioms I was able to interface the AP with them using, if memory serves, a SeaTalk to SeaTalkng converter kit.

.

That's very long winded though. With even the very latest of latest Garmin 9000 series screens, there is a direct NMEA0183 output that will interface to a 20 year old autopilot. No converter needed. Raymarine like selling you lots of bits and special cables etc.

 

[PaulRainbow]

There is an important distinction here with regards to "integration" with autopilots, i think i mentioned it before.

You can connect plotters and autopilots of different makes and ages and when a route etc is selected the AP can be engaged and it will follow the route etc.

If you connect a plotter and AP of a similar age and manufacturer you can skip a step. For instance, when i select a route, or tap th screen on my Garmin plotter and tap "Goto", i get a popup asking if i want to engage the AP. Similar functionality with Garmin, Simrad etc.

Post #45 is of particular relevance when trying to interface older Raymarine APs with modern Raymarine plotters. £130 for the converter, plus some cables soon comes to £200. Older Raymarine to modern Garmin = a spend of £0

 

[Greg2]

That's very long winded though. With even the very latest of latest Garmin 9000 series screens, there is a direct NMEA0183 output that will interface to a 20 year old autopilot. No converter needed. Raymarine like selling you lots of bits and special cables etc.

I don’t disagree and I share your dislike of their approach to networking with their own kit so that they can relieve people of more money. I just prefer their kit / software and being an iPhone user for similar reasons I guess I have just got used to paying more than I need to!

 

[PaulRainbow]

I don’t disagree and I share your dislike of their approach to networking with their own kit so that they can relieve people of more money. I just prefer their kit / software and being an iPhone user for similar reasons I guess I have just got used to paying more than I need to!

Oh dear, Raymarine and an iPhone, seek help immediately

 

[jfm]

I don’t disagree and I share your dislike of their approach to networking with their own kit so that they can relieve people of more money. I just prefer their kit / software and being an iPhone user for similar reasons I guess I have just got used to paying more than I need to!

Fair enough! If you prefer it then of course you should buy it/use it. This is all amazingly good equipment and we are somewhat splitting hairs here as we debate whether one is better than another

 

[[199490]]

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

Just had a look on Marine Superstore and they have the same items as the Garmin website but even cheaper. Seems to do everything I’d want.

 

[jakew009]

If the question is best bang for your buck, I reckon Timezero software (basically same as what runs on a Furuno chart plotter), a mini PC and a 1000 nit waterproof touch screen from China has to be a contender

I have bought a 17.3" screen, a 15.6" screen, two mini PCs and a Timezero Navigator license for about £1500. It should integrate with the Furuno NXT radar I bought secondhand from the USA as well. Timezero Navigator lets you install the software on two different pcs and you just network it all together via ethernet.



The margin in the larger chart plotters must be extraordinary compared to the smaller ones for Raymarine, Garmin etc. Definitely priced based on what people are prepared to pay.

 

[jfm]

Yup, Timezero is great. I run it on a laptop alongside Garmin. But it only does nav and weather, and if you want to run other boat systems from touch screens that imho a Garmin installation as your main bit of hardware is the best/easiest solution. Each to their own though.