Is it easy to fit a c90 chart plotter and radar?

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cliffdale

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I'm planning to upgrade the electronics system. Is it easy enough to fit the system my self or should I get a marine electronics expert to fit the system?

I would like the plotter, radar and autohelm all linked and talking to each other.

I have a rigger available to fit the radar up the mast, but the rest, I'm not sure how much of an expert you have to be to fit the system.

Cliff
 
It's all fairly plug and play. Getting it all to talk to each other properly can be a bit of a challenge and calibration of the various components is critical but is covered extensively in Raymarine's manuals which are pretty good.

Measure 3 times and cut cables once. Take your time and think it through. Lots of help available here on the forum
 
Having done a C80 or two, if you are methodical and reasonably DIY competent then there is no reason that you can't do it. The manuals are very good and clearly lay out what needs to be done.

The hardest part is mounting the radome and getting the radar cable down the mast and through to the C90.

Good luck!
 
MERRY_MARY said:
Having done a C80 or two, if you are methodical and reasonably DIY competent then there is no reason that you can't do it. The manuals are very good and clearly lay out what needs to be done.

The hardest part is mounting the radome and getting the radar cable down the mast and through to the C90.

Good luck!
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What he said - & I have always found Raymarine kit "talks" to each other very easily.

Probably the hardest part will be getting the cable run from Radar sorted - its quite big and, in my experience, the runs are always a bit tight and often circuitous.

If you are cutting a hole to mount the screen a C90 hole is quite daunting.....

Measure often, cut once, leave plenty of slack in the cables and tuck it away,

Getting a cable down a mast best done with a spare bit of rigging as a pusher

Good luck.
 
Also remember that where it passes through a deck gland of some sort, you will need to be able to disconnect easily when the mast is unstepped.

I have one of those 'foam' rubber glands that all cables pass through to a connecting block above the saloon lining (angled so no odd water can run down the cables and into the connector)
 
It would be even easier if you bought Garmin instead.

Better manuals
Proper NMEA 2000 not horrible fake Seatalk
Very helpful support staff
Regular free functionality updates over the internet
 
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cliffdale said:
I'm planning to upgrade the electronics system. Is it easy enough to fit the system my self or should I get a marine electronics expert to fit the system?

I would like the plotter, radar and autohelm all linked and talking to each other.

I have a rigger available to fit the radar up the mast, but the rest, I'm not sure how much of an expert you have to be to fit the system.

Cliff
Click to expand...

Yes, its very easy, it does just all plug in together and work.....i would.....get the kit, plug it in at home on a car battery, get the hang of it....install on boat...
 
I might be missing something here.

Reading through the Raymarine warranty terms - well some of them - I did get a tad bored, it seems that you can't get on board service unless the system is commissioned by a Raymarine service agent.

If this is the case and you fit it 100% yourself, you have to send the kit back to them for repair ? - not so easy with radar.

I'm not a Raymarine dealer (or a Garmin one) so have no vested interest in this thread.

However, I've set right a few radars that boat owners have badly installed and then couldn't understand why it wasn't working right.

Fitting a GPS or a chart plotter is one thing, but when you start moving into autopilots, radars, etc when setting up is quite important, isn't it worth a nominal fee to get the trained guy to come and set it up properly ??
 
Barry Jones said:
Fitting a GPS or a chart plotter is one thing, but when you start moving into autopilots, radars, etc when setting up is quite important, isn't it worth a nominal fee to get the trained guy to come and set it up properly ??
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I couldn't agree more.
From the perspective of the enduser it's only very hard to spot a properly trained and capable person to do so.

I dont' know how the situation is in the UK but here there are a lot of self-acclaimed experts for hire :(
 
I'm involved in the commissioning of larger radars now, but used to work for Raytheon, the forerunner of Raymarine and was involved in their R20X and R40X series.

They have factory dealer training courses and publish a list of authorised service agents. Ask them to show you their certificate or ask Raymarine.

One trick is for a company to get one guy trained who then leaves.
The company then send another of their service engineers who hasn't been on the course. Alternatively, the guy sets up on his own and keeps his manufacturers certificate.

Ask to see the certificate and ensure that he is the right name and the right company.

Checking a radar over and setting it up right is only a couple of hours work.



aluijten said:
I couldn't agree more.
From the perspective of the enduser it's only very hard to spot a properly trained and capable person to do so.

I dont' know how the situation is in the UK but here there are a lot of self-acclaimed experts for hire :(
Click to expand...
 
I fitted a C80, radar, AIS and VHF myself to an existing autohelm, log and windex. Just follow the instructions on fitting and calibration and its quite simple. The biggest problem I had was after cutting the radar cable. There is a very fine coax inside which is a real pain to connect. Try and avoid cutting it if you can.
 
Barry Jones said:
Reading through the Raymarine warranty terms - well some of them - I did get a tad bored, it seems that you can't get on board service unless the system is commissioned by a Raymarine service agent.
Click to expand...

I believe this is correct. However a friendly dealer may be convinced to check over your installation in order to "commission" the kit you buy from them.
 
I'm a certified Raymarine installer and have done dozens of Raymarine installations and they are very straightforward, just read the books a couple of times to familiarise yourself with the kit, then plan your installation carefully making sure there is enough depth behing the panel for the back of the plotter and the cables which plug in the rear. Also seeing as you are running a radar don't skimp on the supply wiring, give it its own dedicated power supply with a 6mm minimum cross section cable with its own fuse and connected direct to your main power bus or the battery switch.
Don't be tempted to steal power from the back of something else on the panel, inadequate power supplies are the source of most faults according to Raymarine.
Don't cut the radar cable either, if its a problem getting it through the deck install a separate cable gland for it.
Then as others have said spend sometime getting the calibration right, it will be worth it as you will then get the best from your system.
If it worries you pay a Raymarine engineer to check it over.
 
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