Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Looking for comments and views on the Raymarine C series radar/plotter/AIS. Any known problems, poor features etc. In fact anything about it.
Raymarine C series
- Thread starter Sans Bateau
- Start date
WALLY
Well-Known Member
i dont think there are any known issues in particular, it pretty much does what it says on the tin (or plastic).
My personal opinion is that they are fiddly to use, and im not overly keen on the 'look' of them, but i suppose it has been around for a while now and its definatley a good quality device.
It's all personal preference, and the best way would be to actually use one to make sure you're happy with it.
My personal opinion is that they are fiddly to use, and im not overly keen on the 'look' of them, but i suppose it has been around for a while now and its definatley a good quality device.
It's all personal preference, and the best way would be to actually use one to make sure you're happy with it.
purplerobbie
Well-Known Member
Owning one of the older RL70CRC i was thinking of upgrading to the C80 and got to use one the other week.
I found it very slow to update if you zoomed in or out. The only thing it would give me is AIS so i'll keep my own.
Rob
I found it very slow to update if you zoomed in or out. The only thing it would give me is AIS so i'll keep my own.
Rob
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
I have just read your comments on PBO forum. I like Garmin, but would be nervous of investing in a system that relies on Garmin charts, its unlikely that Navonics would change the format of their charts with so many varied manufactures plotters using them, not so the case with Garmin, as already has been seen in the past.
wotayottie
Well-Known Member
Inherited a C80 with the boat. It's my first dedicated plotter and despite being by nature a bit of a geek (and an RYA instructor), I don't like it. I much prefer paper and failing that I quite like the laptop system I have previously used.
I can't compare the Raymarine system with other dedicated plotters but hints from the forum suggest they are nothing special. I suppose the case for buying Raymarine is stronger if you want to use an integrated system but otherwise I would save my money until I could try other types at the boat show.
Why don't I like it? Well one major problem is the uselessness of a small screen for passage planning and that would apply to any plotter inc the laptop ones. Specific to Raymarine, I find the menu system clunky and much less intuitive than using a laptop. There isnt the selectivity in data fields that I would like and there isnt the ability to alter font sizes either. Unlike my lappy system it doesnt test planned routes and point out hazards, and it doesnt have any routing capability to take into effect wind and tides.
I've even contemplated taking it out and flogging it to finance a better autohelm - but I've decided not to do so.
I can't compare the Raymarine system with other dedicated plotters but hints from the forum suggest they are nothing special. I suppose the case for buying Raymarine is stronger if you want to use an integrated system but otherwise I would save my money until I could try other types at the boat show.
Why don't I like it? Well one major problem is the uselessness of a small screen for passage planning and that would apply to any plotter inc the laptop ones. Specific to Raymarine, I find the menu system clunky and much less intuitive than using a laptop. There isnt the selectivity in data fields that I would like and there isnt the ability to alter font sizes either. Unlike my lappy system it doesnt test planned routes and point out hazards, and it doesnt have any routing capability to take into effect wind and tides.
I've even contemplated taking it out and flogging it to finance a better autohelm - but I've decided not to do so.
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Should just point out, I prefer the bigger picture of a chart at the table and that is what I use for passage planing. However I do like a plotter at the helm for pilotage. As I pointed out in an earlier thread I have a small plotter at the helm for this purpose, a RL72 plus radar at the chart table and a NASA micky mouse AIS, also at the chart table. What I want to do is to bring all three together at the helm, I dont want to be at the chart table when trying to asses the approach of a ship or when closing an unfamiliar coastline.
The cheapest solution is to put a chart and AIS onto a lappy, but I'm still tied to the chart table and there are some very good deals to be had with C series kit and 'old' technology raydomes.
The cheapest solution is to put a chart and AIS onto a lappy, but I'm still tied to the chart table and there are some very good deals to be had with C series kit and 'old' technology raydomes.
ParaHandy
Well-Known Member
I think you will find that the C series, whilst an excellent radar set, has an awkward to use implementation of AIS eg obtaining CPA or setting a target track up. Slightly annoying is the lack of an internal ship AIS/MMSI database so it has to re-acquire ship static data every time it's switched on. I don't think Raymarine are alone in having a skeletal AIS integration of radar & chartplotter, though. I also found loading waypoints into the chartplotter to be fiddly in comparison with a Garmin GPS. Then there's MARPA .....
fireball
Well-Known Member
We looked at the C series as a possible replacement - but ruled it out on screensize and refresh rate. The CW series may be a better contender - but then you're back into serious money..
For me, it is a pain not having the AIS at the helm - it is forward above the companionway, but the advantage is that someone other than the helm can go and do the investigation into a target whilst not interfering with the helm. Not so much of an issue if you're on AP though. I also like having the visibility of a chart away from behind the wheel as it provides the crew with interesting info.
You really need to try a C series before committing to it ... see if you like the look & feel - because it is different to your radar.
For me, it is a pain not having the AIS at the helm - it is forward above the companionway, but the advantage is that someone other than the helm can go and do the investigation into a target whilst not interfering with the helm. Not so much of an issue if you're on AP though. I also like having the visibility of a chart away from behind the wheel as it provides the crew with interesting info.
You really need to try a C series before committing to it ... see if you like the look & feel - because it is different to your radar.
carrswood
Well-Known Member
If not the C70/80 - What would you guys go for?
Blue5
Well-Known Member
I have inherited a C70 at the nav table on our new boat, the plan is to have radar installed and the plotter moved to the helm so we have plotter, radar and AIS together, does anyone have this arrangement ? and the question as to whether it is useable together on such a small screen.
As this work is going to cost around 2k and in light of some of the comments I am beginning to feel a bit hesitant.
As this work is going to cost around 2k and in light of some of the comments I am beginning to feel a bit hesitant.
fireball
Well-Known Member
you can get the radar for ~£800 + a bracket to mount it say ~£200 then cable - say another £200 .... so £800 to move and fit it?
You can buy a new C70/radar package for £1250 ...
minnitt
Well-Known Member
have got Raymarine C120 + radar. My C120 can either be used on coachroof under sprayhood (where it can easily be seen by helm) or at nav desk inside boat. Not difficult to unplug and move it between the 2 alternative stations.
If you go for one I would recommend as large a screen as you can fit cos of legibility problems.
I have no difficulty in operating the C120. Very intuitive. Only once had to refer to manual and that was to do with the radar.
Only grumble is to do with the Navionics chartware. I get this updated each year but it is not as accurate as I would like. Often find myself by a buoy when the electronic chart thinks I am still some way off it or it thinks I have got to a waypoint but in fact I am still 100 metres or so off it. West Pole Bcn at entrance to Chichester harbour is a good example of this. I suspect poor cartography rather than the GPS.
I guess this only supports the oft-given advice that one should not rely on one thing to the exclusion of every other potential input!
Michael Minnitt
If you go for one I would recommend as large a screen as you can fit cos of legibility problems.
I have no difficulty in operating the C120. Very intuitive. Only once had to refer to manual and that was to do with the radar.
Only grumble is to do with the Navionics chartware. I get this updated each year but it is not as accurate as I would like. Often find myself by a buoy when the electronic chart thinks I am still some way off it or it thinks I have got to a waypoint but in fact I am still 100 metres or so off it. West Pole Bcn at entrance to Chichester harbour is a good example of this. I suspect poor cartography rather than the GPS.
I guess this only supports the oft-given advice that one should not rely on one thing to the exclusion of every other potential input!
Michael Minnitt
AIDY
Well-Known Member
no problems with mine.... great bit of kit... nice to have the chart / radar overlay and display of the animated tides.
fireball
Well-Known Member
Erm - you know West Pole has moved south don't you ....
minnitt
Well-Known Member
Yes Of course - my boat is moored in Chichester harbour so I get the Harbour News and pass the Beacon each time I go out. But I suspect Navionics are not using the right coordinates.
fireball
Well-Known Member
Depends if they've applied the corrections ...
fmoran
Well-Known Member
Points to consider:
Its a bit pointless having the AIS display down below on a C80 or laptop - difficult to monitor. You really need it up in the cockpit where all can see as your sailing.
My preference is at the companionway rather than the wheel as only the helmsman can see there when actually steering - when on autohelm no one can see !
AIS uses virtually no power in addition to whats already used on the chartplotter. PC's swallow it - just don't know how you will keep both powered. To have graphics ( C80 ) and a PC running in parallel you will need to be motor sailing all the time.
Make sure your AIS receiver and display software can also show AIS enabled buoys - Raymarine don't at present.
That said a C/E120 at the companionway with AIS is super - we have used for last 2 years around the UK and Ireland in both poor and good visibility ( tells you about ships closing in on you ) to great avail. Would not be without it now.
Its a bit pointless having the AIS display down below on a C80 or laptop - difficult to monitor. You really need it up in the cockpit where all can see as your sailing.
My preference is at the companionway rather than the wheel as only the helmsman can see there when actually steering - when on autohelm no one can see !
AIS uses virtually no power in addition to whats already used on the chartplotter. PC's swallow it - just don't know how you will keep both powered. To have graphics ( C80 ) and a PC running in parallel you will need to be motor sailing all the time.
Make sure your AIS receiver and display software can also show AIS enabled buoys - Raymarine don't at present.
That said a C/E120 at the companionway with AIS is super - we have used for last 2 years around the UK and Ireland in both poor and good visibility ( tells you about ships closing in on you ) to great avail. Would not be without it now.
Allan
Well-Known Member
My boat Chausey, a Westerly 33, had a C120 with radar fitted at the helm when I bought her. I find it fantastic. As others have said, I passage plan on paper charts and just use the plotter for when sailing. Putting the curser on to a point and getting the bearing and distance gives an instant result. Initially I found the amount of options daunting but the day I found the large text option changed everything, no need to keep putting glasses on to read text! Things like, moving the databar to the side when heading north or south and using the find curser option button plan the approach into the destination are of great use.
Allan
Allan
wotayottie
Well-Known Member
I think you can make a much stronger case for using the Raymarine plotter simply for pilotage and at the helm. But I wouldnt like to use many of its more complicated to access facilities whilst standing behind the wheel in a seaway. And how would you get on cross referencing with books like the almanac.
Ideally, you need both - a decent chart table with all the books for planning. And a plotter at the wheel for pilotage. Unfortunately, the C series doiesnt fully allow for networking (or so I am told) so you cant have a C series at the chart table sending your planned course up to the C series at the wheel. You can do that with the E.
As for the C series IAS, I was underwhelmed when I saw it on a pals boat. Bit clunky. Prefer a handheld compass.
Wouldnt it be more fun / fullfilling to stick to paper charts and spend your spare dosh on some fancy hi tech sails? These electronic gadgets are too seductive to my mind.
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Wotayottie, I bought the high tec (ish) sails two years ago!!
I value all the feed back I'm getting, I think it may be helping others too. Unless I spend loadsa dosh, I'm not going to get what I want.
I'd be interested to hear any views on what is the best small (<8ins) plotter that supports AIS
I value all the feed back I'm getting, I think it may be helping others too. Unless I spend loadsa dosh, I'm not going to get what I want.
I'd be interested to hear any views on what is the best small (<8ins) plotter that supports AIS