Instrument redundancy

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My ST50 instruments packed up - well depth and wind broke, the log is still working OK. A Raymarine dealer/service I spoke to told me Raymarine no longer support ST50's or do spare parts, and that with 8 years use I've done well out of them /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

So being a mug, I've just coughed up £900 for a completely new set of ST60 instruments - log, depth and wind. Now one of you will tell me there's an ST50 service centre - please don't!!!

Being a stingy sod I can't see what the benefit of this 'upgrade' is. All I want is to know the depth and speed (as far as wind is concerned, I look at the sails so the Wind instrument just fills a hole on the instrument board). Why can't instrument manufacturers continue to support old models for repair/spare parts at least a few years after they go off the production line?

Now I'm off to buy a replacement Raymarine Autohelm ST2000 because that has also expired (and I got so fed up with repairing it I binned it). And feeling an even bigger mug than ever!

End of mini-rant. Sympathy gratefully received. Advice telling me I shouldn't have bought the ST60 not gratefully received.
 
Manufacturers need to sell new instruments. Stopping fixing older ones is one of the ways they do it. My own reaction would have been to have gone for a different make and told them so.
Raymarine use their own proprietary software to link instruments, so if you have their instruments, and want to replace only a few of them you are stuck with Raymarine, unlike the makes that use NMEA sentences to talk to each other, where you can mix makes.
 
Understood. I'd be tempted to upgrade instruments at some point for the sake of reliability and keeping the yacht looking smart in any case. But don't like being pushed into it,...

Their abandoning so soon supporting such a maintream product seems a bit unnecessary. It's not like say Windows on computers where there is a massive advance in the product and lots of earlier versions. I can't (yet, from hte specification) see the benefit of the new range, except in minor details. Admittedly it hasn't arrived yet though! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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Raymarine use their own proprietary software to link instruments, so if you have their instruments, and want to replace only a few of them you are stuck with Raymarine, unlike the makes that use NMEA sentences to talk to each other, where you can mix makes.

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You can't say that - you'll upset the Raymarine lobby.

See here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?C...1&fpart=all
 
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Raymarine use their own proprietary software to link instruments, so if you have their instruments, and want to replace only a few of them you are stuck with Raymarine, unlike the makes that use NMEA sentences to talk to each other, where you can mix makes.

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think you will find that via a Seatalk/NMEA interface, that you can indeed use NMEA equipment with the Raymarine equipment. Especially in the case of the ST 60+ which are NMEA in/out compliant.
 
My 20 year old B&G still works fine, I was even able to purchase a new wind speed and direction sensor last year with no problem as the original one broke after 110mph winds last winter. I'm just hoping it will last another 20 under my ownership!
 
So I should probably have gone B&G. Serves me right for buying first and asking on the forum afterwards!
 
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So I should probably have gone B&G. Serves me right for buying first and asking on the forum afterwards!

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I'll say this quietly just for you .... literally anything instead of Raymarine !! IMHO.

Now for everyone ... IMHO ... Raymarine - overpriced, overstated by many and as to an interface to connect up other stuff if not Seatalk ... why ? no-one else does ... except that outfit that sells rebadged Raymarine stuff ...

I think 8 yrs is cr*p .... if I got only 8 yrs out of my instruments - I certainly wouldn't buy from them again. Even Nasa will service / supply for stuff older than that ....

Anyway - bet you could have found replacement whole stuff ST50 somewhere on the web / ebay or whatever lot cheaper than repair or buying the ST60 stuff ...

Sorry - I know you did say not to upset you ...
 
I just so happen to need the log transducer for an st50, PM me if you want a donation to your st60's in return for your log transducer.

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I'm panicking - it's our 8th year of Raytheon thingies. Maybe if I sail with them switched off they'll last longer.
 
We need some legislation to stop the appalling damage done to the environment by this throw-away culture.

Mandatory ten year guarantees with the promise of support after that. I'm genuinely horrified at this - especially with regard to 'white goods' in the home.

No, really, I am...

(I'm also very impressed with B&G).
 
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Maybe if I sail with them switched off they'll last longer.

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They may last longer, but the boat may not!

I spent last season using a lead line. In unfamiliar waters. Singlehanded. With no (working) autopilot to keep the boat going the right direction while I "swung". They'd probably approve on the Classic Boat forum. That's when the autopilot got binned while in a flounce (both me and it).
 
did something similar when the Navico sounder self-destructed spectacularly (round & roundie) while cruising in the Waddensee. concentrates the mind.
 
Simon

If it's any consolation I think the ST50 range was rubbish but the ST60 range is a great choice. Nothing comes close except B&G IMO

Contrary to Nigels usual bollx where he gets out pictures of his home made telephone connections and palsticine joints, some of us just want reliable equipment or none at all

Bravo, good choice

tom
 
Regardless of rants pro and anti Raymarine I think you will find they all do it. Possible exception B&G but they are twice the price in the first place. I originally fitted Cetrek when they were a good alternative to Raymarine and they went out of business a year later so it could be worse. Then I fitted a solid state wind instrument from Vetus that seemed an excellent idea as it had no moving parts until it stopped working 2 years later and guess what? Vetus could not sell me a new transducer as the "new" model was not compatable with the one I had. So I bought an ST60. At least I know when the old Cetrek bits go down I can buy more ST60s....... Or do I? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
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Simon

If it's any consolation I think the ST50 range was rubbish but the ST60 range is a great choice. Nothing comes close except B&G IMO

Contrary to Nigels usual bollx where he gets out pictures of his home made telephone connections and palsticine joints, some of us just want reliable equipment or none at all

Bravo, good choice

tom

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Oh Sorry you feel so offended ... shall I touch my forelock now and get on bended knee before you ...

Bollx /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
They just didn't get the sealing right so there were lots of units 'killed in action' and I wouldn't trust them. If they are working they're fine
 
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