Raymarine or Tack Tick?

[Slipperman]

Raymarine or Tack Tick

My thanks to Oldfatgit - the installation you mention is pretty much what I was thinking of. I also wondered about using separate transducers for speed and depth, because I have separate ones at present and if I go for the Tack Tick combined 'triducer' I will be left with a redundant hole!

Next question - can anyone recommed a good marine electronics person near Portsmouth who could install this kit for me - ie someone reliable and competent who will not destroy the interior of my boat in the process?

 

[Chris_Robb]

I have some of the original TAc Tiks from 2003. I have had no problems at all. Batteries have not given any problems.

I have 2 wind intruments, which allows you to confuse the crew by having one on true and the other on apparent. The second one on a long cruise, gets relocated to the sterncabin, so that I can see what is happening wind wise.

 

[noelex]

One of the main reasons I chose them is that they are very unlikely to suffer obscuration form condensation on the inside. Something I suffered from NASA, B&G and Autodata.

One of the advatages of the bonded display now used by B&G is that it cannot get condensation problems. The Glass face is also much less likely to scratch.

 

[oldfatgit]

Good to read that B&G have addressed the problem of condensation, I expect the other manufacturers have got a grip as well but, alas, for too late me. Seeing Tacktick instruments working whilst submerged at the boat show convinced me that they were hermetically sealed and the rattle of desiccant inside each display convinced me that they were the way ahead from the one thing that really annoyed me.

Regarding the installation of TackTick, given the wireless nature of the installations there is less to concern oneself with, I did it with no problems and even though I pride myself on my practical ability I suspect that most of us could install them with little or no problem. If you do, and it is not a weekend, simply call Tacktick for technical support, they are very willing and helpful.

The only thing you do have to learn is how to add each item to the wireless network. It is not difficult and the instructions, when followed, work. It is err.... strange, however, and I didn't believe I had been successful when I had. Anyway, that is me being and old git, the fat bit not bearing on this particular issue.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I have a full set of Raymarine stuff (ST60 instruments, ST2000 pilot and RC530 chartplotter). They are 9 years old and still work the same as they have always done - which is...

Turn on the instruments and trip distance unit setting always sets itself to statute miles.
The wind direction display calibration shifts by 10 degrees
The autopilot switches itself to standby at its discretion now and then, never known why
The chartplotter goes from auto-compass variation to manual, always 6 degrees East
The chartplotter then sends variation to the autopilot, so that's 10 degrees out as well
If the autopilot is powered off, the Seatalk bus stops working and the plotter loses its fix
The lighting level gets out of sync at its discretion - L3 on some, L0 on others

In my opinion the hardware is great, the software is appauling. These sorts of issues have been reported by other users too. I believe they are sorted on newer instruments, and I could get mine re-programmed, but that means sending them back and money. Instead, I have just learned off by heart the settings procedure.