Dream Electronics Setup

Godfry Paul · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 16

I think Raymarine is definitely going to win my vote. It's just a matter of getting the C-80 or the E-80 and if I don't tell my wife there's an option other than the E-80 for our boat, I'm probably all set.

Godfry Paul · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 16

If I go with the complete Raymarine integrated setup, what about the best autopilot setup from Raymarine. Is anyone using the new S100 wireless remote control?

And what's more common, 2kw radar domes or 4kw radar domes? Is the 2kw enough for most situations?

Sneaks · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:24 am Post subject: Re: Complete Raymarine Setup

Sawdust · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject:

Tough answer! In CA and most other human habitat areas 2 KW will do the job. Here in the NW, when the fronts come through in waves and rain by the bucket -- I've been in total whiteout with 2 KW. 4 KW would be better, and even that might be a stretch. I've been doing radar, marine and airborne, professionally and amateur (ish) since 1944 -- and there just isn't a simple anwer.

Money talks! If I didn't care about the green machine I'd buy the E-80 and 4 KW head. Why the E-80? With its separate video processor it is much faster. The screen is brighter, and it will take the Platinum... none of these reasons make it better operationally for a small boat. Why 4 KW? The latest C-machines (and Furuno, and... and) are many times better than just a few years back -- back when I was a dealer in these gadgets. The more power you have to punch through the crud, the better off you are. If'n one had any sense he wouldn't be in that kind of crap anyway!!!

Bottom line I think. If you can afford the E 80 and 4 KW do it, because if you don't you'll always wish you had. From an operational point of view -- the C-80 and 2KW power head will do the job in most areas, and at least 95 persent of the time here in wet country.

HTH,

Dusty

starcrafttom · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject:

west marine has all the Raymarine items on salle this week, just got the flyer in the mail. They also have the garmin radar dome on sale. The raymarine is $799 for the 2kw and the garmin is $1499 for the 2kw. Thats alot of differance in price. The screens for the garmin are the same as the e-80 but twice the c-80 and still no auto pilot. If you compare bundles of the two systems lets see what we get.

Raymarine system bundle
4kw radar dome
125gps head
dsm300 fishfinder module
smart heading sensor
electronic compass

price 2999. and a c-80 screen for 1699..for a total of $4698.00

garmin systems
3010 screen
gms 10 net work port
gsd 20 sounder
gdl 30a weather reciever ( have to get monthly subscription)

price $2549 plus a 4kwradar for $1999. and we have a total of $4548 and no ablitiy to add a auto pilot.

if you dont want a auto pilot you can leave off the smart heading sensor from the raymarine and save a little more. I dont think the raymarine is capible of weather reciever but it maybe. Dusty my know that answer.

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 6:32 pm Post subject:

Tom, I think the Raymarine autopilot will work fine with the garmin stuff, all it takes is the NEMA inputs/outputs. At least I hope so because that's what I've got and plan to hook up this spring.

Charlie

Sawdust · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject:

Hey Charlie,

Can you see the chart plotter yet?

Laughing

Duster

Godfry Paul · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 16

I think I'm going to go with the complete Raymarine setup and then get a Garmin GPS unit of some kind as a backup. I probably don't need it but if I get a portable one, I can also use it on my ATV.

Thanks for the heads up on the sale Tom!

starcrafttom · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 7:40 pm Post subject:

Charlie, if thats true then that my be a way to go. did you see the article i posted about the comparisons of the two systems? It was on a different post. Hows the eyes?

Byrdman · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:45 am Post subject:

Dusty, Tom, Charlie...and others who have had their focus on the new Raymarine electronics.... These post were a few months old...but...

and correct me if I am wrong, but does not the E-80 and E-120 accept the weather feed with the subscription? Does this not kind of give you your "on board" doplar weather radar?

Has anyone intalled and/or used any of the wireless auto pilot system from Raymarine yet??

We have an owner in Alabama who has just purchased a brand new 2006 CD25....and my Raymarine info goes back to the 2003 vintage...and there for sure have been some neat changes...

starcrafttom · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:00 am Post subject:

the weather fed will give you doppler but it will not show you the bayliner coming at you in the rain or fog at 20 kts blind.....

drjohn71a · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:11 am Post subject:

Byrdman.... I had been looking at that Garmin model mainly due to the weather overlay to help us avoid storms here in KS, OK, AR, MO. I heard that the newest E80/120's would be compatible with that subscription service sometime this summer.

I am thinking of going with the listed Raymarine option on the C-Ranger 25 option list, but wonder what autopilot matches that.... Can one autopilot work well for both trolling and cruising? John