Experience of Raymarine Axiom after upgrading from C series?

[KREW2]

I updated everything, Radar from Pathfinder to Quantum wireless, and c80 to an Element 9, did't fancy touch screen. First Element 9 was faulty and kept blowing fuses. Raymarine changed it with with no quibbles. Next Raymarine AIS was faulty again changed by supplier with no problems, then that too showed up to be faulty. Engineer got fed up so fitted an E-mtrak, doesn't bode well for the construction quality.
Water ingress should not be a problem as it is all in a wheel house, and so far I am happy with it

 

[geem]

Axiom+ 12
Working well but just over a year old. Initially a bit of a faff trying to understand how to update software and charts, but got there in the end. I update either via phone connected to Axiom, via cellular network, or by taking SD card home. Rarely use marina wifi as it is to slow, unstable.
I keep the plotter under the cockpit hood, hence it is very sheltered, unlike a pedestal mounted unit. I also disconnect and store in a saloon locker when not onboard, very fast and easy to do.
I have Raymarine ST60 instruments and ACU400 autohelm, easily networked.

So far, I am happy with it. Easy install, fairy intuitive to use, but it does have some awkward, unintuitive functions. I use Lighthouse charts and have been unable to fathom out how to install Reeds Almanac, which comes with the premium subscription. Also have downloaded satellite images but cant workout how to use them on the plotter.

Tidal height and flow is reasonable to use, graphs and arrows are okay, MOB function can use a drift mode based on tide and wind, but don't know how good that is in real life.

Raymarine email help desk have been useful and solved all issues but not exactly the fastest service in the world.

I have read on here about issues with software, charts and screens, but I have not experienced any issues after software or chart updates.

So far, I would buy Raymarine again, but, I am beginning to think that plotter software, running on a PC or laptop, would be a better and lower cost solution, especially as a cruising yachtsman where integration is not needed for optimisation.

My back up plotter, lowest cost iPad and Memory Maps, is a fraction of the cost of the Axiom+. I don't use laylines, taking angles, wind overlays or even waypoints (to a significant degree). I have a Monitor self steering windvane and My ACU400 autohelm works fine as a stand alone unit. It would be fair to say that most of the integrated features I just don't use, nor feel a need to use them.

I will be buying AIS this year, so that may be good integration but as I still have to keep a watch for non AIS stuff, again, not sure if it is a need or want. Radar will come later.

All the best.

I have an Axiom + 12" integrated to everything. AIS, digital radar, old ST60 stuff, new ACU 400 and two control heads plus a couple of additional I60s.
Very happy with it all.. I integrated my old AIS 0183 transponder with an Actisense. Very happy with the set up. We have the Axiom under the sprayhood as well but I will add the remote buttons at the steering binnacle this winter so I can zoom in and out at the wheel

 

[Pete7]

You can fit the Raymarine Seatalk to STNG converter to integrate the ST60's, which will put the wind, depth etc on the network. This would also apply regardless of the make of plotter etc. This will leave you with one spare STNG port but no NMEA 2000 ports.

This was our choice when fitting a new Element 9 to the existing EVO 100 wheel pilot and ST60s. The only bit I missed was the need to use a converter cable from SeatalkNG to the Element which like the Axiom takes NM2000. The ST60 Seatalk to SeatalkNG widget is in the cabin ceiling. Note, read the instructions for this carefully, it requires the Seatalk red power cable to be cut and isolated because the converter is now going to supply the power to the ST60s. Also try to put the power supply to the network in the middle of the cables. I bought a cabling kit plus a converter kit which gave me most of the bits I needed and then e bay for a couple of extras to keep the cost down.

Works well and updates to all the EVO100 components plus Element, are now done quarterly via wifi.

Pete

 

[Ostara24]

Thanks for the info, i will go down this route, it makes sense that the new system backbone is the “master” in all things, including power supply, I would of missed that too.

I was musing how much things have progressed since my old system was installed and how things will look in another 15 years…. I would imagine by that time our onboard systems will be more or less wireless, making things easier to fit. At the moment it feels a little like a battle of languages and developing on “the fly”, oh well that is how evolution (sic) works!

 

[stuartroberts]

Thanks, I took note from previous advise you made on this. The plan is to buy an Emtrak model.

I’m pleased with my emtrack, shows on my axiom and on iPad via WiFi

 

[mrming]

Just upgraded to Axiom+ 9 from e7. I use Garmin on a race boat I sail on. Both systems are good, I would say the Lighthouse 4 software is slightly more polished than the Garmin OS, with a more logical UI. Definitely better support from Garmin. You can’t go wrong with either brand imo, but there’s a certain amount of lock in for me as I already have the Raymarine evo-100 pilot which is very good.

 

[geem]

Just upgraded to Axiom+ 9 from e7. I use Garmin on a race boat I sail on. Both systems are good, I would say the Lighthouse 4 software is slightly more polished than the Garmin OS, with a more logical UI. Definitely better support from Garmin. You can’t go wrong with either brand imo, but there’s a certain amount of lock in for me as I already have the Raymarine evo-100 pilot which is very good.

Interesting. We have a friend who is a pilot who uses Garmin electronics in small planes. he says the Garmin aviation kit is great. He installed Garmin on his 52ft boat and very unhappy with it. Two autopilot failures recently and a host of other issues.
Another pal who is skipper on a 72ft American trawler power boat with lots of Garmin kit. Twin helm stations with multiple large screens. He is pretty scathing of the system, particularly the integration, but it is a complex and large system with long runs

 

[PaulRainbow]

Our boat is fitted with two Garmin plotters on the flybridge, which pair with 2 tablets at the lower helm. Two GMi20s, GHC 20, GHC50, VHF, AIS, open array radar, trim tab interface and a Reactor 40 autopilot that uses the original Hypro pump. That's all integrated together, along with an after market camera, a Actisense EMU1 (puts all engine and tank data on the N2K network) and a Victron Cerbo GX (puts data from the Victron inverter/charger, solar, battery monitor etc on the N2K network).

Everything integrates perfectly and works flawlessly. I wouldn't want to try and count how many Garmin systems i have installed, or part systems (plotters etc) that have integrated with other equipment, such as Raymarine ST60s or other makes with N2K or even 0183 and it's been very, very rare that i've had issues getting it all to work together, Failure are also very rare and have been promptly sorted by Garmin.

Raymarine have got better over the past few years, but they let themselves down on the support side and their continued use of expensive proprietary cables and connectors does them no favours.

I personally prefer the Garmin UI but others prefer Raymarine. I guess that's a bit like iPhone versus Android.

 

[Birdseye]

My c90wide is ripe for an upgrade, looking at the Axiom Plus 9, has anyone gone down this route? And if so any comments?

I did here that some touchscreens were locking up which is not good?

The c90w is a great workhorse, I am a little wary of modern day “improvements” being not all they are meant to be, just more flash and apps!

Thanks in advance.

Why is it "ripe for an upgrade"? If it isnt broken, dont fix it. Swapping electronics is a sure way of getting pain either in use or in the wallet

 

[mrming]

I personally prefer the Garmin UI but others prefer Raymarine. I guess that's a bit like iPhone versus Android.

It's great having you on the forum as a professional marine electronics engineer. Less useful to the boat world, but for what it's worth I'm a UI designer and software developer.

 

[geem]

Our boat is fitted with two Garmin plotters on the flybridge, which pair with 2 tablets at the lower helm. Two GMi20s, GHC 20, GHC50, VHF, AIS, open array radar, trim tab interface and a Reactor 40 autopilot that uses the original Hypro pump. That's all integrated together, along with an after market camera, a Actisense EMU1 (puts all engine and tank data on the N2K network) and a Victron Cerbo GX (puts data from the Victron inverter/charger, solar, battery monitor etc on the N2K network).

Everything integrates perfectly and works flawlessly. I wouldn't want to try and count how many Garmin systems i have installed, or part systems (plotters etc) that have integrated with other equipment, such as Raymarine ST60s or other makes with N2K or even 0183 and it's been very, very rare that i've had issues getting it all to work together, Failure are also very rare and have been promptly sorted by Garmin.

Raymarine have got better over the past few years, but they let themselves down on the support side and their continued use of expensive proprietary cables and connectors does them no favours.

I personally prefer the Garmin UI but others prefer Raymarine. I guess that's a bit like iPhone versus Android.

I had the opportunity to completely swap electronics manufacturer lately but was persuaded to stay with Raymarine by a very knowledgeable friend. He explained that of the major manufacturers, Raymarine had the best EV sensor based autopilot system. They all copied the NKE autopilots, that were lauded as the best, once patent expiration allowed. I am impressed with the autopilot. A noticeable improvement over the older Raymarine giro models but not super impressed with the Axiom. Feature rich but more complex than necessary. I wasn't too please either to have an N2K to ST conversion cable failure halfway across the pond either. Fortunately I had a spare onboard.

 

[mrming]

I had the opportunity to completely swap electronics manufacturer lately but was persuaded to stay with Raymarine by a very knowledgeable friend. He explained that of the major manufacturers, Raymarine had the best EV sensor based autopilot system. They all copied the NKE autopilots, that were lauded as the best, once patent expiration allowed. I am impressed with the autopilot. A noticeable improvement over the older Raymarine giro models but not super impressed with the Axiom. Feature rich but more complex than necessary. I wasn't too please either to have an N2K to ST conversion cable failure halfway across the pond either. Fortunately I had a spare onboard.

What was the mode of failure of the cable? Was it subject to any motion / vibration / damp etc? Any general idea why it failed? Asking as I’m currently in the midst of joining a N2K section to our STNG backbone using Raymarine’s adapter plugs.

 

[geem]

What was the mode of failure of the cable? Was it subject to any motion / vibration / damp etc? Any general idea why it failed? Asking as I’m currently in the midst of joining a N2K section to our STNG backbone using Raymarine’s adapter plugs.

Not subject to any stress, just failed.

 

[Laser310]

I recently chartered a boat with an Axiom 7 inch.

I hated it.

I normally use B&G Zeus

The axiom touch screen did not work at all when wet. On a rainy day, I was constantly drying it even to zoom or pan.

I found it very difficult to read, AIS targets were tiny.., and I found no way to change the size. Maybe a bigger one would have been better. I found that I couldn't just glance down to get the info I needed, rather I had to study it a bit.., and thus my attention was diverted from looking ahead for longer than I thought was good.

Also, it seemed like I couldn't just configure a column of number boxes on the side of the chart. Numbers were floating on the chart, and I believe I was limited to four.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Axiom has an option for enlarging features on the chart. I don’t know if this also enlarges AIS, but it does increase the size of buoys, rocks, lighthouses et cetera. There are only 3 options, small, medium and large, or something like that.

On the Axiom+ 12 I use maximum size; aging eyes.

I think on the larger models parameters l boxes are limited to 6.

 

[PaulRainbow]

What was the mode of failure of the cable? Was it subject to any motion / vibration / damp etc? Any general idea why it failed? Asking as I’m currently in the midst of joining a N2K section to our STNG backbone using Raymarine’s adapter plugs.

You can easily make your own STNG to N2K backbone adapter cable. Especially useful if you have spare cables to cut, or want to make a longer cable. Just cut a connector off of the end of a STNG backbone cable and one off of a N2K cable and splice them together. Not sure about all makes of N2K cables, but with Garmin ones the colours match the STNG colours, so just join up, colour for colour.

 

[Irish Rover]

I recently chartered a boat with an Axiom 7 inch.

I hated it.

I normally use B&G Zeus

The axiom touch screen did not work at all when wet. On a rainy day, I was constantly drying it even to zoom or pan.

I found it very difficult to read, AIS targets were tiny.., and I found no way to change the size. Maybe a bigger one would have been better. I found that I couldn't just glance down to get the info I needed, rather I had to study it a bit.., and thus my attention was diverted from looking ahead for longer than I thought was good.

Also, it seemed like I couldn't just configure a column of number boxes on the side of the chart. Numbers were floating on the chart, and I believe I was limited to four.

I have an A9 and an A7 on my flybridge console. Definitely agree about the screen when wet. Having the two makes it more workable as I use the A7 for the Dashboard and get a glut of information, and I use the A9 exclusively for charts with minimal overlay. I couldn't imagine trying to operate with the A7 on its own.

 

[Laysula]

My Axiom 7+ has packed up just out of warranty. It's back with Raymarine now. Not very impressed.