Has anyone replaced a Raymarine RL70 and overcome cut out shape problems?

DavidJ

DavidJ

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I have an Raymarine RL70 CRC which is coming up to 15 years old (on a Sealine S37) and needs replacing, probably with new range of Raymarine again.
The cut out shape in those days was more portrait than the current landscape so I will need some width cutting and I do have space in that direction (not vertically though).
I'm sure I'm not the first to do this. Has anyone direct experience in this project. I think it will need a combination of cutting and conversion plates.
Cheers
David
 
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Would be good to have a photo. If old hole is too small all round then just jig saw it. If the old hole is too big in either direction (which I think is what you're saying, in the vertical direction) then one option is to buy a new dash panel. It all depends. Post a picture!
 
Thanks for interest, pics coming up....I hope!
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Consider that at some point you might want to replace the old Shipmate VHF with something that has a smaller footprint - adding to the idea of a new panel instead.
 
I created an XLS with available units from Garmin and Raymarine, selected the one that had +/- the same cutout height and plan is to enlarge the hole horizontally. Problem is, the old stuff still works so not sure it's worth it... Tbh I navigate by phone these days although not linked with AP.
 
jimmy_the_builder said:
A contemporary Raymarine 12" mfd like the Axiom 12 would be big enough to cover the hole left behind by the RL70.
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Hmmm! yes
I've just downloaded the template for the Axiom 12" (helpful website Raymarine!)
I see the suncover is 8.89" high so just within the approx. 9" on my photo so will look ok. The suncover width is 12.7" so that looks good too.
I'm going out to the boat this week (in not so sunny Spain) so will take a look at what's behind my exisiting.
I see there is a Raymarine ES127 (12") about the same dimensions. Any preference if you were in my shoes?
 
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My S58 had RL70c in it and the last owner changed them for E120 Classic.

The 70C was taller so they had a perspex trim made up with black sticky plastic on the back of it to go all around the e120 - it looks fine and you dont really notice it as it looks neat and just part of the unit.

Jeremy
 
DavidJ said:
Hmmm! yes
I've just downloaded the template for the Axiom 12" (helpful website Raymarine!)
...
I see there is a Raymarine ES127 (12") about the same dimensions. Any preference if you were in my shoes?
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Axiom (this, or the so-called "Pro" version). The eS and gS series are being phased out, the latest system isn't really optimized for them, and you would soon be unable to update the MFD (even for important bugfixes, see for example the "classic" C and E series bugs with some AIS transponders). Apple-style programmed obsolescence.
 
iapetus said:
Axiom (this, or the so-called "Pro" version). The eS and gS series are being phased out, the latest system isn't really optimized for them, and you would soon be unable to update the MFD (even for important bugfixes, see for example the "classic" C and E series bugs with some AIS transponders). Apple-style programmed obsolescence.
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Ah thanks
Just looked at the price. A bit eyewatering but I have got 15 years out of my old one.
 
jrudge said:
My S58 had RL70c in it and the last owner changed them for E120 Classic.

The 70C was taller so they had a perspex trim made up with black sticky plastic on the back of it to go all around the e120 - it looks fine and you dont really notice it as it looks neat and just part of the unit.

Jeremy
Click to expand...

That's interesting because it could be a solution if I went for the Axiom 9" which is fine for me and quite a cost saving.
 
The sticky back plastic sounds heath Robinson but all it does is give the perspex a black background.

It was peeling in one corner and i had the whole thing in bits so i wrapped it.

The perspex was very fragile ( ask me how i know and why i decided to wrap it!. I would not like to be the person cutting it out in the first place.
I would imagine it would be best to get it done by a perspex man - as also the edges needs polishing.

I have used these people http://www.perspexsheet.uk for perspex ( not this trim) and they might do it.

I would get it a bit thicker than you want as it is very easy to break ....
 
jrudge said:
The sticky back plastic sounds heath Robinson but all it does is give the perspex a black background.

It was peeling in one corner and i had the whole thing in bits so i wrapped it.

The perspex was very fragile ( ask me how i know and why i decided to wrap it!. I would not like to be the person cutting it out in the first place.
I would imagine it would be best to get it done by a perspex man - as also the edges needs polishing.

I have used these people http://www.perspexsheet.uk for perspex ( not this trim) and they might do it.

I would get it a bit thicker than you want as it is very easy to break ....
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Bit beyond my pontoon side DIY in Spain I'm afraid. One of the problems of having a boat so far away.
I'm rather hoping that someone has found a Raymarine or equivalent conversion plate that will cover the gaps if I use the Axiom 9"
ps Thanks for the link. I notice they do Perspex in Blue Gloss 744 which looks very close to my colour. hmmmm!
 
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If you know the size of the unit cutout ( it will be a template in the box i assume) then that is the middle bit.

You then just form a rectangle big enough to cover the outer bit ( in my case i guess 15mm bigger than the unit) and it is done.

The difficult bit is the centre cut out - but you have a template for that ....

you can find the size of the current hole ( give or take) by looking at an RL70c installation manual .

Job done ...

I have the same issue as i am in Mallorca. I take all sorts of daft photos and measurements.

Finally someone on here will have an S37 and can always measure it for you !
 
jrudge said:
If you know the size of the unit cutout ( it will be a template in the box i assume) then that is the middle bit.

You then just form a rectangle big enough to cover the outer bit ( in my case i guess 15mm bigger than the unit) and it is done.

The difficult bit is the centre cut out - but you have a template for that ....

you can find the size of the current hole ( give or take) by looking at an RL70c installation manual .

Job done ...

I have the same issue as i am in Mallorca. I take all sorts of daft photos and measurements.

Finally someone on here will have an S37 and can always measure it for you !
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This is looking more than feasible as I can get all the templates and dimensions from the Raymarine site. I might just try to make a conversion plate and see how I get on before investing in the plotter.
Thanks
and thanks to maby for link to Diabond
 
DavidJ said:
I have an Raymarine RL70 CRC which is coming up to 15 years old (on a Sealine S37) and needs replacing
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By "needs", do you mean that it doesn't work anymore, or that you would like to change it for something newer?
If the first, I can help. My boat originally had a main 80 unit and a secondary 70, but there was enough space around the 70 to replace it with another 80, so I did that, and now I have a spare 70 laying around.
I considered a more extensive upgrade, but the twin 80 units fit very nicely with the dashboard design, and they are still good enough anyway.
Electronics upgrades on boats are way overrated, imho.
If given the choice, I would have kept the Furuno instruments which I had on my previous boat, even if about 10 years older than the Raymarine 70/80...
 
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MapisM said:
By "needs", do you mean that it doesn't work anymore, or that you would like to change it for something newer?
If the first, I can help. My boat originally a main 80 unit and a secondary 70, but there was enough space around the 70 to replace it with another 80, so I did that, and now I have a spare 70 laying around.
I considered a more extensive upgrade, but the twin 80 units fit very nicely with the dashboard design, and they are still good enough anyway.
Electronics upgrades on boats are way overrated, imho.
If given the choice, I would have kept the Furuno instruments which I had on my previous boat, even if they were some 10 years older than the Raymarine 70/80...
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Thanks so much for your offer although my "need" is for something newer although I do loose GPS from time to time even after replacing the GPS dome so I'm driven by a reliability problem. (which may be simply dirty terminals somewhere)
You do make me question my sanity in upgrading.
I might just spend time cleaning up connections and saving £2000 plus plus (because my radar is also 15 year vintage and not digital.( but works fine)
 
DavidJ said:
You do make me question my sanity in upgrading.
I might just spend time cleaning up connections and saving £2000 plus plus (because my radar is also 15 year vintage and not digital.( but works fine)
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If I may throw in another consideration for questioning the electronics upgrades which are very popular among pleasure boaters, I could name you at least a dozen of commercial vessels which I've seen - fishing boats, patrol boats, and even ferries - whose equipment is MUCH older than 15 years.
And needless to say, those guys deal with poor conditions (night cruising, rain, fog, you name it) more regularly than most pleasure boaters... :rolleyes:
 
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