Raymarine SL vs RL

[xstucker]

I have just bought a boat with a Raymarine SL70 which is a Radar display. I have the possibility to change this for an RL70RC which is a chart plotter as well as Radar. Does anyone have any quick info. on the difference between SL and RL, or do I have to compare the Manuals on the Raymarine site? Thanks, Simon

 

[Talbot]

personally dont like the concept of a single display for everything - it introduces a single point of failure thus ramping up the risk category significantly.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Apologies in advance if I am wrong, but I thought the SLs are single display, whilst the RLs are repeatable.

 

[Redmond]

I have an RL - wonderful bit of kit and is linkable using the HSB2 leads. However now obsolete as Raymarine have stoped developing it and changed cartography. I am going to stick to notebooks and navigation packages in future then you dont have all your eggs in one basket - an expensive lesson

 

[kcrane]

My understanding is S(tandalone)L is not networkable, but R(epeatable)L is networkable.

From a recent conversation with a dealer:

A RL70CRC is a plotter (if CMAP inserted) and radar (if connected) with a colour screen, which can be networked to an RL70C, which can show radar (if connected) and has a colour screen, but has no plotter cartridge slot. However if RL70CRC with CMAP cartridge is connected to RL70C, then RL70C will operate as a plotter as well.

So solution is clear, buy both together with a multiplex and connect it all to a PC running plotting, tides and weather software. For backup get a battery operated Raymarine handheld plotter. Buy Maptech charts for the PC, CMAP for the RL70 and Navionics for the handheld. Now link in a Yeoman and buy a full set of Admiralty paper charts in case of an nuclear accident triggered EMP. There, you are pretty much covered, though you won't be able to afford a boat as well.

For every complex problem there is an obvious, simple and completely wrong, answer.

 

[pvb]

OK, sensible answer...

You seem to be getting some strange answers here, Simon. The RL70RC radar/plotter is basically identical to the SL70 radar except (a) it has a built-in chartplotter, and (b) it's possible to link it to other compatible displays. You're probably not too bothered about (b), so let's consider (a). In my limited experience, a chartplotter is a great piece of kit to have. If it's combined with a radar, it doesn't worry me that I might be putting all my eggs in one basket - I reckon a failure is more likely to affect the mechanical bits (ie radome) rather than the electronic display.

The RL70RC is a mono display though, and colour is such a big enhancement on a plotter. However, if you can get the RL70RC at a very low price, it could still be worthwhile. Always remember though that you can get a colour-screen RL70CRC for about £750 now. And the colour one also has the ability to overlay the radar image on the chart, in my view an excellent feature (although you'll need a decent electronic compass to make it work properly).

The SL/RL range is out of production, but there are many thousands of them in use, and Raymarine certainly won't wash their hands of them. The chart cartridges are readily available too (ordinary C-Map); the fact that Raymarine have switched to Navionics charts for current products is irrelevant.

 

[kengill]

I Have an RL70 networked to a Raychart 520. The RL70RC Combines both of them plus its in colour. If its cheap to get the upgrade then do it 'cos IMHO its worth it.

You can link any Raymarine instrument to it and repeat the info on the RL70RC - you can't on the SL This means you can use the split dislpay system to constantly display things like COG SOG waypoint bearing TTG etc.

If I could afford the upgrade I would. The important bit is upgrading the C-MAP NT cartridges. I Upgraded this year and one new wide area cartridge gave me more charts than the three I had before for a cheaper price.

The units have been ultra reliable and as you can get the colour unit it doesn't suffer from the same condenation problem as the mono unit does.

I would recommend based on personal experience that if you can afford the upgrade then go for it.

Fair winds

Ken

 

[pvb]

It\'s not a colour screen...

There seems to be a lot of confusion about Raymarine product codes, even amongst owners. The RL70RC is not a colour screen; the colour version is the RL70CRC. The "RC" suffix means "RayChart", the "CRC" suffix is for "Colour RayChart".

 

[Oldhand]

IMHO the change is only worthwhile if the RL70RC is a "Plus" model. This has MARPA so if you give it high speed comass input, you will greatly enhance your radar capabilities. The "Plus" also has HSB2 as opposed to the original HSB bus connectivity. This will allow you to add a second (or more) RL Plus display in the cockpit, should you so wish. The chart plotter capability of the RL70RC is not great with the lowish resolution monochrome display, a colour RL70CRC is much better. Radar display is also better on the colour version, especially target "trails".

In conclusion it all depends on why you are cosidering the change in the first place. If the RL you are looking at has MARPA and you are prepared to spend money on high speed heading input, then its probably worth it. If you are keen to have chart-plotting and don't mind a rather "chunky" monochrome display, it would be worth it if you can get it cheap. If you are thinking of eventually adding a second display (which would probably have to be purchased "used"), then its probably worth it. If none of those, forget it.