Raymarine or Tack Tick?

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Slipperman

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I have a set of Navman instruments (Log, Wind, Depth) which need replacing. My initial thought was to go for Raymarine, since I have generally heard good things about them and I believe they do a 3 instrument 'package'. However, I have heard that Raymarine might be taken over - should I worry about this? Then at the Southampton Boat Show I was quite impressed by Tack Tick - more expensive but the idea of getting rid of quite a lot of wiring appeals. The big question is - do they work? And for how long? Will they last, for instance, 10 years? Will any instrument last that long?
 
I used to crew regularly on a friend's yacht for racing which was fitted with tack tick. They worked evey time I was on board without any apparent problems. I find it a little disconcerting that the depth instrument goes blank when the depth is over 30m (most of the time up here), but it always comes back on when it gets shallower. The wind instrument direction indicator, in my opinion, isn't as clear as the Raymarine. I'm afraid that I can't comment on longevity.

With regard to the Raymarine take-over - On my own boat I have Autohelm instruments, and A/H were, I believe, taken over by Raymarine some time ago. Take-overs therefore maybe aren't a big deal.
 
Instruments

I think Tactick has been bought by Suunto a while back, so that that doesn't mean much.

In general I think both manufacturers produce nice stuff. Although the wireless aspect sounds tempting, I'm reluctant about this stuff as there must be some kind of battery inside and I personally haven't seen a (rechargeable) battery lasting more then 5 years without diminishing capacity.
My own boat carries Autohelm equipment, and this has worked for over 17 years now, only speed transducer had to be replaced.
Also I don't like a wind instrument with an LCD instead of an physical needle pointer. But that's personal.

Arno
 
Was there a problrm with the internal battery a few years ago with TickTack? From memory the internal rechargeable battery couldn't be replaced so if it failed you had to buy a new unit? Maybe that's been changed now?
 
aluijten said:
I think Tactick has been bought by Suunto a while back, so that that doesn't mean much.

In general I think both manufacturers produce nice stuff. Although the wireless aspect sounds tempting, I'm reluctant about this stuff as there must be some kind of battery inside and I personally haven't seen a (rechargeable) battery lasting more then 5 years without diminishing capacity.
My own boat carries Autohelm equipment, and this has worked for over 17 years now, only speed transducer had to be replaced.
Also I don't like a wind instrument with an LCD instead of an physical needle pointer. But that's personal.

Arno
Click to expand...

Certainly a TackTick display contains a battery but my impression with a 3 display setup after 3 seasons of use is that the batteries retain their charge very well e.g during the winter and are very quickly recharged by a small amount of sunshine so I think [hope?] that they will last a long time. It's certainly nice to reduce the wiring in the mast.
 
Fitted Tack Tick to my new boat over a year ago so far very very pleased with them. Had Raymarine on previous boat and they were no where near as flexible in the data they can display.

If you buy them get the kit that includes a NMEA interface module then the displays can show NMEA data from GPS etc. I particularily like the way the wind can change to a course to steer display when sailing to a waypoint. Also Bi data repeats arrival alarm, lat long etc

Very configuarble with more screens than you can shake a stick at, although you can hide the ones you never use. Also found them to be very helpful and knowlegeable at the shows.
 
I would say instruments ought to last between 10-20 years, except maybe for the transducers.

Raymarine do have an excellent reputation for service - my experience of them supporting a 20yr old AutoHelm confirms that. Tick tack has not been around for long enough to get as good a reputation - but you very rarely hear anything bad about them.

The take-over issue may be important - depending on who does it. I am unfortunate enough to have Navico Corus instruments. These are excellent but soon after I bought them they were taken over by Simrad (IIRC) and the line was discontinued. That included ceasing to service them or provide spares which means that I am now faced with the likelihood of having to purchase an entire new instrument system just because one part has failed and cannot be replaced.
 
I aonly have the Tack Tick wind instrument, not had a single problem with it.
As has just been said, battery life holds well and little sunlight required.

If they have been taken over by SUUNTO not a bad thing either.

As a diver I have always used SUUNTO kit, my primary dive computer is SUUNTO, and they HAVE to work.

Slight aside, my back up system, is a divers watch, a set of plastic dive log tables and a pencil on a string. No different to the GPS and paper charts discussions that often appear on the forum
 
Slipperman said:
The big question is - do they work? And for how long? Will they last, for instance, 10 years? Will any instrument last that long?
Click to expand...

If you want well made long-lasting instruments consider B&G. The quality of the displays using for example glass faces and bonded LCD screens is noticeably superior. The offerings from Raymarine and Tactic appear "toy like" in comparison.
They are more expensive, but worth considering if you are looking for a long lasting product
 
Tackticks

Hi,

I can recommend Tacktick as well. I use them now for over three years and they are normally reliable. Normally means that they work all the time apart from one spot in our harbour area where they drop out. I think there must be a sender who uses the same frequency as my tackticks.
Otherwise they work well and the deph sounder show depths over 30m. The max I got was 97m but it is hard to find a deeper spot in the Irish sea ;)

If you get the NMEA interface with them they can virtually display everything you want and you can configure your preferred data. Very nice.

Regards
jow
 
Raymarine or Tack Tick

Thanks for replies so far. Starting to think I might give Tack Tick a go. Presumably the internal batteries relate to the soar panels on the top of each instrument?/ I guess I better ask the dealer about whether they can be replaced, how often this is required and at what cost.

I should also have mentioned that I have a Navman Chartplotter fitted in the cockpit, and a Navman VHF, both of which I am very happy with. Presumably I can interface these with the Tack Tick instruments?
 
Garmin

I'm not sure if they're available or not yet, but I saw that Garmin have just released a range of instruments that look like quite strong performers (though not on par with B&G).

As they're poised to takeover Raymarine, they might be worth considering (OR avoiding - they're Garmin's first attempt!) if you can wait long enough for the units to get some exposure and reviews.
 
I've used both raymarine and tactick pretty extensively. Never had any major problems with either. Probably rate tactick slightly higher, easier to get the information you want out of them and seem better at holding accuracy in the log.

Agree with not liking the LCD wind thing though. But I've always thought that to be a particulary pointless display, the one on the top of the mast is way better.
 
The one thing that will concern me when the time comes to replace my instrumentation will be the Raymarine range. I currently have Autohelm/Raytheon which later became Raymarine in an MBO.

The Raymarine range seems to be heading in the direction of very high tech connected systems, big screen chart plotters, CCTV etc, I just wonder if the 'basic' St60's or is it ST70's now?? will survive. The other issue is, Raymarine have shifted production to IRRC Hungary. However I have heard they are looking to make even further manufacturing savings by shifting production to somewhere like Kazakhstan, I heard this from one of their recently dumped suppliers, so could be sour grapes. Only a few years ago they still made spares in their Porstmouth factory for some of their early ST50's, with no manufacturing in the UK now I doubt that level of spares manufacture will continue for the current ranges.

On the subject of Tac Tick, they have a small office in Emsworth, the company was started by ex Raymarine guys, and when they were developing their new budget wind meter, they had people going around the local marinas asking which screen layout we preferred! Now that is real end user market research, and I value that interest they take in the customer.

So which will I buy? That will be a tough one.
 
hi, i installed a tick tack wind instument. exceptionally easy and convenient without the need to chase wiring, great performance and battery life 24/7 when required as long as some sunlight available during the day. downside both the monitor and anemometer failed just out of warranty (2 years). the distributor replaced both at well below cost. I have read elswhere of the same experience replaced for free in that case. My replacement 2 years on is fine and they have upgraded from the model I first purchased. full marks for installation and performance trusting long term reliability is no longer an issue
 
I have just fitted the full works of Tacktick for a cruising yacht. Early days yet regarding longevity, however, I went ahead on the basis of the reassurances given at last year's the boat show. 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.

Cheapest source I could find was Mailspeed Marine. Purchased in instalments over a 7 month period in order to ease financial pain as follows:

Tacktick Remote Starter System
T103 Speed & Depth System with Triducer
T101 Wind System
T110 Digital Display 1 Line
T111 Digital Display 2 Lines
T909 Compass Transducer

Coupled to a Garmin GPS gives me the following default display in the cockpit:

One T111 showing COG and BTW
One T111 showing SOG and hull speed
One T110 showing depth in big numbers
One T112 showing wind data

I use the T113 Remote at the chart table for making the log up to date etc as well as monitoring depth when I am veering and hauling the anchor and management is on the helm, saves all that shouting the depth at each other.

Thing is with this arrangement I can play all sorts of tunes on the displays showing all sorts of useful stuff, really is very flexible. Problems encountered were:

First wind instrument repeatedly failed to transmit data, exchanged with Tacktick in Emsworth no problem.
When heeled right over on stb tack Triducer occasionally fails to read depth, this is more because of my long keel rather than a design fault. Tacktick suggest going to 2 transducers, one speed/temperature and one for depth; the latter being more powerful with a more concentrated acoustic "beam".
Triducer barrel has a flap valve to reduce water flow when changing from plug to triducer. This has never worked and so get rather a lot of water when changing over. Very carefully painted log paddle wheel with antifouling so I could leave installed. However, it sticks a little and is, I am sure, under-reading. Showing signs of improving with use.

So far I am a very happy customer. I have kept receipts though and registered items and serial numbers on the Tacktick website to ease grantee claims should they be necessary.
 
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