calling all radar experts

[capel679]

my broker has just quoted me for some nav equipment. still a novice and a few coarses to do. would you advise his advice. it reads

raymarine sl70 crc 7" radar/chartplotter
gps includes 2kw 18" radome hsb
extension cable. £3062. plus gordons cut.

any opinions guys ???

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[duncan]

off the top of my head I would have thought you could get a new C series unit for that?
Surely the 2Kw radome isn't over the £1k mark?

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[fireball]

that does seem a little OTT - been looking too ... a 2kw 18" raydome is ~£750 and C80 (radar & chartplotter) is similar. Not sure about the cable, but you'd need to add a mounting braket to that ...

is your broker fitting it for that price?

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[PhilF]

i've been quoted £1450 for an SL 72 fitted, that 1099 for the unit inc vat, is £350 toppy for fitting?

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[Anonymous]

If you have the chance, do compare the Raymarine kit with Furuno before buying.

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[duncan]

OK C80 at 1299; 2kW dome at 725; raystar 120 (GPS) 220 and you have a 256 colour 8.4" screen against the RL70's 16 colour (both 640x480). Add a DSM250 at around 400 and you have the lot on the one display - radar/GPSplotter/sounder..........
these are MES prices inc Gordon's bit but don't include fitting of course
(the RL70CRC comes in at 1550 inc)

none of this is a recomendation outside the percieved scope of the original question

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[PaulS]

Does it come with anything in addition to the radome and the display?
The C70 is only a multifunctio display so you would need the GPS and sounder in addition if it doesn't come with at this price.
Best price I could find on this side of the pond was about $2000 for theC70 + the 2KW radome. Of course that isn't installed.

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[ShipsWoofy]

£130 for the mast fitting

but your price seems awfully high, they are not difficult to fit DIY if you are that way inclined.

have a look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>

 

[pvb]

You\'re being conned...

I'm no expert, but I'd be tempted to tell Gordon where to put his prices! The RL70CRC (there isn't an SL70CRC any more) is old technology, and is on offer for about £900. The scanner is about £725, and about £215 for a GPS. Total well under £2000. Gordon's cut is larger than you think!

If you weren't put off by the idea of spending £3K , I'd look for a Raymarine C120 display, 2kW radome and GPS for around £2600. This will give you an excellent 12" colour radar/chartplotter, with a high definition 600x800 pixel screen.


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[capel679]

ta for taking the trouble.
na, the total price for the depth sounder vhf etc is 6.7 k.
were going else were. to dear.
james.


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[fireball]

np! We were offered a 2kw raydome with greyscale RL70 summint and highspeed compass for 2k fitted ... was tempted, but then checked the price of new stuff - fitting is not that difficult ...
Half tempted by a C80 with 2k raydome - but can only have 1 station then (C80 can't share the data with another screen) so might wait and go for the RL colour series - but that doubles the cost of the display - and thats before adding in a second display ... so perhaps we might just go with a C80 and see ...

IMO 2k is a lot of money for a unit that won't get used 90% of the time we're out, but probably worth it if we intend to do extended sailing and channel hops ...

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[duncan]

Re: getting used

ah but if you mounted it in the cockpit and included the GPS and echo sounder you could use it all the time you were on the move.

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[fireball]

Re: getting used

GPS/Chartplotter - yes - it would be included in the screen ...
Depth Gauge is in the cockpit anyway - along with Wind instruments

There was advice received in an earlier post to do exactly that and just use the CMap software (?) to do your planning on ... then someone else said that it is sometimes better to have the radar down below where you can plot it and concentrate on it more ... which is why I was thinking about a system that could be expanded to 2 displays (always nice to see whats going on when I'm making the drinks!) but the C series is not capable of that - can't find the E series on their website atm ...

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[BlueSkyNick]

Re: You\'re being conned...

Agree with all your comments - unless two displays are required. The C-series is single display only, whereas the E-series due out next year provides all the same functions and capability. It has the added benefit that two displays can be networked together in the same way as the current RL series, but using C-series hardware, ie landscape instead of portrait, etc.

I went through all the pros and cons of this earlier in the year, and opted for a cheap and cheerful SL72 package just to get basic radar functions ASAP. The same scanner and cable can be used so will simply (?!) need to buy the displays, and either sell the existing one, or keep it as an emergency spare.

I see from PBO that the E-series will be available at LIBS, which is sooner than I was led to believe back in May.



<hr width=100% size=1>Tide and time wait for no man.

 

[pvb]

E series info...

The Raymarine website isn't very up-to-date. There's some info on the new E series in <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.adpr.co.uk/clients/Raymarine/rm195(METS).htm>this press release</A>.

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[duncan]

Re: agree completely

although if I were going this route I would move to a full blown sounder as well rather than the simple digital depth display - worth it for clarity about the ground prior to anchoring alone, but usefull hugging the shore etc

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[fireball]

Re: E series info...

Excellent link - thanks - I'll be waiting for an E Series then ... probably faint at the price (anyone want to buy a kidney? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif) and go for a single station C series and regret it .....

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[pvb]

It\'s like computers...

It's like computers, isn't it? As soon as you actually buy something, there's a better/cheaper/faster one out the next week!

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[Koeketiene]

Re: It\'s like computers...

Exactly!

The question you need to ask yourself is: how often am I actually going to need it, and what for?
Or like mobiles: do you need all this video & picture crap? My model is now 3 years old, and I can still make calls with it.
I bought a Furuno 1622 radar from the States for an amazing £460 (inc shipping, ...). Does what I want it to do, and used it twice last year (once because of fog & once to facilitate a night entry into an unknown port).

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[duncan]

Re: mobiles

only 3 years........know what you mean feels like a lifetime!

I have had 3 mobiles effectively since they came out, the first was 'a brick'; second an Ericasson i888 (which I still have with all it's bits and bobs as a spare) and now the ubquitous Nokia 6210.

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif