Switching to rayMarine instruments

[zzjfawce]

Usual apologies oif this has been covered before. Fed up with Navman instrument reliability (which has been aired on this forum before, i think). Currently, wind and log instruments not working. I have heard that Navman has been bought by somebody so my questions are:
1. Is a new owner likely to result in better reliability so perhaps repair/ replace with Navman?
2. If opinions are that Navman is a train wreck then switch to new manufacturer and I hear that Raymarine are high quality. If so, is there any way that I can still use the existing speed transducer, paddlewheel thingy (if it isn't faulty) because otherwise a different size hole needed for Raymarine transducer and fitting might be significantly less easy.

Opinions and guidance appreciated.

 

[wanderlust]

I have Raymarine. Not as reliable as you think. Autopilot has just gone wrong. Wind instrument has failed previuosly. on my third autopilot core pack. Also they dont like interfacing with other manufacturers kit as they use Seatalk. Sounds good but it in in fact a truncated version of NMEA I think. So it has less functionality than normal NMEA

 

[Ranger07]

Our boat has all the latest raymarine kit fitted, Its impressive the depth of infomation the plotter has, you practically need to do a course to learn it all but well worth it.

Not had any reliability issues so far.

 

[flaming]

Sail on boats with a wide variety of kit.

I would echo the comment about raymarine not being up there with the challenger tank when it comes to bulletproofness! One boat I sail lost the whole anemometer from the masthead wand, just dissapeared! Though to be completely fair it was replaced free of charge in time for the following week's race.

The boat I sail on the most at the moment (racing) has the wireless tactic stuff, and I've got to say I'm very impressed so far. Can't comment on the reliability yet, but the ease of use and performance seems right up there. They don't have an autopilot yet though so the boat has a raymarine for shorthanded stuff and they report very good results.

Although other people I know won't shut up about how good the B&G stuff is, haven't done enough sailing with B&G kit to pass comment, seems very expensive though!

 

[richardwatson]

I have Raymarine kit and have had a few reliability issues, mostly to do with the autopilot. I will say that to their credit I have not had any problems getting them to replace it under warranty. Seatalk/NMEA interfacing has not been an issue.