Raymarine C80 chartplotter problem - help

[pawl]

Hi all, I've got a problem with my C80 chartplotter. Now before you tell me that this is too old, obsolete, outmoded or needs replacing, I know all that. However, I like it and it is really all I need. It has worked well for some time and I would like to fix it if possible.

Just recently it has been intermittently failing to read the Navionics chart card. It starts up as normal but after a couple of hours use it reverts to the basic onboard chart. Switching it off and on again has no effect, it fails to recognize the card. However, after being left for a while (overnight) it works perfectly again for a period. The problem doesn't seem to be anything to do with the boat as it does the same thing on my dining room table.

The problem started to occur recently, after I had to take the unit apart to fix the screen connections. I managed to damage the ribbon cable to the keypad circuit board and had to replace it. Unfortunately, in the process the clamping bar on the circuit board socket disintegrated so that the connection is a little loose. I don't know if this is in anyway connected to the chart reader circuits.

Has anyone had a similar problem? Any thoughts or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Paul.

 

[Bodach na mara]

I've had enough problems with a system based on a C70 MFD to be determined to never ever in the future have any Raymarine equipment on any boat. You are lucky that you got your C80 going again after the experiencing the well-known ribbon cable fault. I was reluctant to shell out for a professional repair in case, as happened to your MFD, another fault appeared. I also lacked the nerve to tackle the DIY repair, which I thought risked damaging the case during the opening procedure and making the device unusable. In the case of my machine it first stopped displaying information from the AIS engine, then it took ages to get a position from the SatNav mushroom. I know exactly what is the problem with the mushroom, its internal button cell has expired. A simple job to replace in other Satnavs but Raymarine equipment is designed to be unrepairable so that they can charge high prices for replacement.

 

[dunedin]

I've had enough problems with a system based on a C70 MFD to be determined to never ever in the future have any Raymarine equipment on any boat. ……… Raymarine equipment is designed to be unrepairable so that they can charge high prices for replacement.

Emotive but untrue - unless you can evidence otherwise.
I have run a variety of oldish Raymarine equipment on two boats over the past 20+ years.
Most worked fine. I bought a few second hand on eBay for compatibility reasons. Needed repairs three times over the 20 odd years, on over 8 devices. All were out of official support. But all were repaired and returned very promptly by the helpful team at Raymarine UK support.

Chart card readers do tend to suffer if people take cards in and out a lot, or any leaks in the door covering it. For older devices that were networked, engineer swapped card readers between cockpit and chart table devices to repair.

PS Useful (US based?) Facebook Group - Raymarine Unufficial Service (not my typo)

 

[Bodach na mara]

Thanks for the steer to the Facebook page dunedin, I'll have a look at it. I admit to being a bit sour about Raymarine. I have not encountered the brand on any of my previous boats. On them, I have a history of make-do and mend and had never, until I encountered the C70 and its associated peripherals met anything that seemed to be designed to make repairs impossible. Apart from VHFs!

 

[Leslie frank]

Hi all, I've got a problem with my C80 chartplotter. Now before you tell me that this is too old, obsolete, outmoded or needs replacing, I know all that. However, I like it and it is really all I need. It has worked well for some time and I would like to fix it if possible.

Just recently it has been intermittently failing to read the Navionics chart card. It starts up as normal but after a couple of hours use it reverts to the basic onboard chart. Switching it off and on again has no effect, it fails to recognize the card. However, after being left for a while (overnight) it works perfectly again for a period. The problem doesn't seem to be anything to do with the boat as it does the same thing on my dining room table.

The problem started to occur recently, after I had to take the unit apart to fix the screen connections. I managed to damage the ribbon cable to the keypad circuit board and had to replace it. Unfortunately, in the process the clamping bar on the circuit board socket disintegrated so that the connection is a little loose. I don't know if this is in anyway connected to the chart reader circuits.

Has anyone had a similar problem? Any thoughts or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Paul.

There is a place in Lymington called something like Lymington marine which we have used to fix our C series stuff.
You could call them and see what they recommend.
Tel: +44 (0) 1590 718781

 

[Leslie frank]

They have a C80 for sale for £280. I have no link to Lymington marine.

 

[neilf39]

Probably doesn't help, but sounds like something stops when the unit warms up. So could be expansion due to heat causes a connection to part. After it cools down it connects again. Will probably fail completely over time.

 

[cpedw]

Probably doesn't help, but sounds like something stops when the unit warms up. So could be expansion due to heat causes a connection to part. After it cools down it connects again. Will probably fail completely over time.

There's a thing called freezer spray that can help to find if something is getting hot and causing failure. If you're happy to get inside and cool small parts at a time.

 

[jwilson]

My C70 which is very similar to the c80 long ago succumbed to similar probems. After several times dismantling and reseating display ribbon cable, which would fix it for a while, it eventually stopped reading chart cards, not just mine but another borrowed one. Time for a new plotter?

 

[xcw]

I had the same with my 10 year old Garmin GPS Map 820, wouldn't load the map on occasions. I eventually gave up and bought a new unit.

 

[pawl]

Hi, thanks for all the responses, I don't think that I'm going to get any further with this unit. So it's probably time it was replaced.

 

[ithet]

Although it might not be your problem due to you eventually being able to read a card, there is a issue where the Chartcat.xml index file on the unreadable card needs to be reinitialised. This is done by deleting the file using a PC card reader. When inserted back into the Raymarine C Classic plotter the file is automatically recreated and the card is ready OK. I have successfully done this.