markch
New member
Does anybody have any feedback on this chartplotter as Iam thinking off fitting one.
Cheers
Cheers
Raymarine A65 chartplotter
- Thread starter markch
- Start date
ShipsWoofy
New member
I have the 435i, lower spec but possibly similar software. I have some comments that you might like to consider when looking over the A65.
1. Occasionally at anchor or mooring the position jumps 30 odd foot in any direction. It does tend to stay around the centre posn. but plays havoc with the anchor alarm. Raymarine pretty much brushed me off when I wrote to them. Trouble is, I have mixed messages from on here as to whether this is actually a fault. It never happens under way.
2. You can't turn the light off, this means I have to put the cover on at night so as not to lose night vision, I have it at the helm. Even the lowest level is too bright at sea. Again, RM ignored my suggestion to allow the software to turn the light off.
3. This is the one that annoys me the most about RM plotters. You do not and can not get course-to-steer on the plotter page. The only way to get a course to steer is to use the decca rolling road or the pure text pages. This makes no sense, my old geonav had a section at the bottom of the screen giving CTS and current error. Until RM change this ridiculous oversight I can't recommend the set at all.
4. Nice screen, but no ability to plot markers, only waypoints. Why is this a problem, well, markers are great for those of us who use uncharted channels, but the RM method of forcing me to use waypoints to mark channels, means using up a route and a real problem of finger problems. Press the wrong key and the plotter starts plotting a trip from where you are to the fairway buoy which is your WP1. This is a problem when I am trying to set up a route for the day sitting in Tenby harbour, raymarine gives me a route to Pwllheli FW, hmmm. Yes it is my error, but it is so obvious that markers are as important as waypoints shows me that the software idiot who wrote this does not go sailing.
5. Otherwise RM plotters seem well built, look good, are fairly intuitive, the screens are clean and easy to read... I just wish they would listen to us sailors who take the time to write back about problems with the firmware.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
1. Occasionally at anchor or mooring the position jumps 30 odd foot in any direction. It does tend to stay around the centre posn. but plays havoc with the anchor alarm. Raymarine pretty much brushed me off when I wrote to them. Trouble is, I have mixed messages from on here as to whether this is actually a fault. It never happens under way.
2. You can't turn the light off, this means I have to put the cover on at night so as not to lose night vision, I have it at the helm. Even the lowest level is too bright at sea. Again, RM ignored my suggestion to allow the software to turn the light off.
3. This is the one that annoys me the most about RM plotters. You do not and can not get course-to-steer on the plotter page. The only way to get a course to steer is to use the decca rolling road or the pure text pages. This makes no sense, my old geonav had a section at the bottom of the screen giving CTS and current error. Until RM change this ridiculous oversight I can't recommend the set at all.
4. Nice screen, but no ability to plot markers, only waypoints. Why is this a problem, well, markers are great for those of us who use uncharted channels, but the RM method of forcing me to use waypoints to mark channels, means using up a route and a real problem of finger problems. Press the wrong key and the plotter starts plotting a trip from where you are to the fairway buoy which is your WP1. This is a problem when I am trying to set up a route for the day sitting in Tenby harbour, raymarine gives me a route to Pwllheli FW, hmmm. Yes it is my error, but it is so obvious that markers are as important as waypoints shows me that the software idiot who wrote this does not go sailing.
5. Otherwise RM plotters seem well built, look good, are fairly intuitive, the screens are clean and easy to read... I just wish they would listen to us sailors who take the time to write back about problems with the firmware.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
pvb
Well-known member
I don't think any of DogWatch's criticisms of his RC435i apply to the A65, which operates in a very similar manner to the C-series displays. My only comment would be to suggest you buy a C70 instead of an A65 - for a few quid more you'll get the ability to add a radar scanner if you want to in the future and benefit from the excellent radar/chart overlay feature. You'll also get AIS compatibility, which the A65 doesn't have.
AIDY
Active member
agree but would opt for the C80 with the bigger screen, the C70 is too small to use
pvb
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
agree but would opt for the C80 with the bigger screen, the C70 is too small to use
[/ QUOTE ]Yes, size is important (I use a C120), but I was only suggesting the C70 as it has the same 6.5" screen as the A65 and is therefore directly comparable and relatively close in price.
agree but would opt for the C80 with the bigger screen, the C70 is too small to use
[/ QUOTE ]Yes, size is important (I use a C120), but I was only suggesting the C70 as it has the same 6.5" screen as the A65 and is therefore directly comparable and relatively close in price.
AIDY
Active member
okay I will let you off !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
ShipsWoofy
New member
Not disagreeing with you, hence I suggested he looked out for, as in, if they are the same then this is what I dislike..
Are you saying that you can turn the light off completely on the 65, or get course to steer on the same screen as a chart (without making the chart too small to be useful on a split screen), can you plot markers in preference to waypoints?
The light function is particularly poor, a bigger screen at the helm with a light that will not turn off is exactly the same problem or worse I think. I do wish RM would add a night mode, different shades of red all over. All possible as it is totally software driven, you can change the blues on the shallows so you can change the whole lot.
I will be amazed if what I have written does not apply across the RM range, I can't see how they would justify new software for each and every instrument, that would be financial suicide.
Presumably you own an A65, I was not getting at owners of A65 nor owners of RM, that would be me too. I am just disappointed that RM seem to missing some IMO vital function on their instruments.
Are you saying that you can turn the light off completely on the 65, or get course to steer on the same screen as a chart (without making the chart too small to be useful on a split screen), can you plot markers in preference to waypoints?
The light function is particularly poor, a bigger screen at the helm with a light that will not turn off is exactly the same problem or worse I think. I do wish RM would add a night mode, different shades of red all over. All possible as it is totally software driven, you can change the blues on the shallows so you can change the whole lot.
I will be amazed if what I have written does not apply across the RM range, I can't see how they would justify new software for each and every instrument, that would be financial suicide.
Presumably you own an A65, I was not getting at owners of A65 nor owners of RM, that would be me too. I am just disappointed that RM seem to missing some IMO vital function on their instruments.
pvb
Well-known member
Yes, understand you were warning him of possible problems, and indeed your criticisms of the 435 are valid, although it has to be said it's an older generation unit and newer products tend to address earlier concerns.
I don't own an A65, I have a C120 mounted under the sprayhood, and I'm very happy with it, which is why I suggested a C-series might be a better buy, especially with its flexibility to add radar later.
The A65 doesn't seem to have a "night mode" for the display, but you can adjust the backlight in 5% increments right down to only 5%, which I'd imagine is pretty dim. A nice feature is that it automatically returns to 100% illumination when you next turn it on (unlike the C-series, which retains its setting so that when you turn it on the morning after a night sail you can't see anything!). But the C-series does have a proper "night mode" which works well.
The A65 offers 6 different symbols for waypoints, as opposed to the 4 symbols offered by the 435. As far as course to steer is concerned, the A65 has a split-screen facility which allows you to view the chart plus a 3D rolling road.
I think Raymarine are getting better in terms of functionality and user-friendliness (although sadly reliability may be suffering as a result of product sourcing).
I don't own an A65, I have a C120 mounted under the sprayhood, and I'm very happy with it, which is why I suggested a C-series might be a better buy, especially with its flexibility to add radar later.
The A65 doesn't seem to have a "night mode" for the display, but you can adjust the backlight in 5% increments right down to only 5%, which I'd imagine is pretty dim. A nice feature is that it automatically returns to 100% illumination when you next turn it on (unlike the C-series, which retains its setting so that when you turn it on the morning after a night sail you can't see anything!). But the C-series does have a proper "night mode" which works well.
The A65 offers 6 different symbols for waypoints, as opposed to the 4 symbols offered by the 435. As far as course to steer is concerned, the A65 has a split-screen facility which allows you to view the chart plus a 3D rolling road.
I think Raymarine are getting better in terms of functionality and user-friendliness (although sadly reliability may be suffering as a result of product sourcing).
markch
New member
Thanks for all your feedback
