Raymarine C70 or new C90 Widescreen

letitride

I am looking at both the Raymarine C70 and new C90 Widescreen units.

Plan to run, Radar, GPS/Plotter, Sonar and maybe auto pilot + DSC VHF radio.

Seems the C70 is good enough.

The C90 has support for Digital Radar, 3D GPS Nav Maps and for future expandability and less complex installation to name a few features.

My concern is the C90 is a huge power hog typical (C90) 32watts/12volts=2.66amp vs. (C70) 9watts/12volts=0.75amp, to me this seems like it could be an issue, any suggestions?

Capital Sea · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject:

My recommendation would be that you look at the C120 if you want to be able to read all three screens. As for the energy, you will be using the screen when you are running so this should never be an issue. Even my 9.9 puts out more juice than the c 120, vhf and stereo combined, so that is not much of an issue. Cost is an issue, but you will go crazy shifting from screen to screen and when you need the radar you will have your hands full anyway. As for visibility, only the 2' X 2" X 3" , top right corner of the C 120 blocks any view over the bow.

bjidzik · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject:

We're still in the market for a 22/25 Cruiser, but I've looked at various Raymarine packages for when we do move up.

Personally, I'd opt to install the C90W display with internal GPS. No need to run an external GPS antenna.

The C70 displays I've seen slow down considerably when using radar, sounder, AIS, & plotter at the same time.

hardee · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject: Digital radar takes less power

I would go with the largest screen you can get in, and the C-120 is a nice fit, however it is, (if I remember right) not compatible with new Digital Radar, and I would go with whatever it would work with. I don't think you could go wrong that way. The power savings of the Digital radar over the older type, will more than run the C-120. The wide screen looks like it might be a good way to go but I would suggest making the Wink

investment Wink

in the new technology, the largest screen you can afford, and the easiest hookup system, (and this is a real significant area, coming from someone that was just been involved in an electronics system upgrade,) it would have been nice to be easier.

If the C-90 Wide Screen is the largest wide screen, it would be easier to see over, and it may work with a side by side display of radar and plotter, or overlay the radar onto the plotter and put the other half of the screen into the fishfinder/sonar mode.

Harvey
SleepyC

20dauntless · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject:

I think the Raymarine digital radar uses roughly the same amount of power as their older radar units. The new Broadband radar by Navico uses significantly less power and apparently has much better short range target definition than even the newest HD radars from Furuno and Raymarine. The advantage to HD radar over the older technology is better target definition and the ability to run multiple ranges at the same time.

If I were buying new electronics today I'd either get the Raymarine C90W or Furuno NavNet 3D with the 8 inch screen. I'd probably lean towards Furuno since I've heard favorable reviews (after the initial kinks were worked out) and think that Furuno generally builds a slightly better product. However, I have the Raymarine C80 and it works fine. It's certainly not cutting edge, but it does what I need it to do. I only have radar and GPS, and I find the screen size adequate for running chart and radar side by side. I think the C70 would be too small to do this comfortably.

Since you'll only be running these electronics when underway, I wouldn't worry about power consumption. Your outboard will put out more than enough amps to charge the battery and power the electronics.

The integrated GPS antenna of the C90W is nice and saves you a couple hundred bucks. I didn't want to drill any more holes in the cabin top so I put the Raymarine GPS antenna on the shelf above the helm and it works fine. No problem with the signal.

starcrafttom · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:58 pm Post subject:

What they all said-- I would go for the newer radar. I just read a report on it in the current Passage Maker. They were able to pick up not only a day marker at less then a hundred feet but at the same time a crap pot and the boats own out riggers all as separate markers. This is a really great jump forward in technology and if I was you I would spend the money to be in on it. Now I cant afford to spend money to replace a unit I already have with the newest bright shinny toys but should anything happen to my unit I know which way I'm going.

20dauntless · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject:

Be very careful when looking at the new radar units. They are not all created equally. Broadband radar, which is the focus of the Passagemaker piece I think, is very different from the Raymarine and Furuno HD offerings. I don't know when Broadband radar from Navico will be available, but it will be marketed under the Simrad, Northstar, and Lowrance brand names initially.

Don and Brenda · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject:

I was looking at these at a boat show a few weeks ago, the C90W is a sweet unit, of course the wide screen comes in a larger size also, I have seen the C90W on line for about 1700-2200, of course if you move up to a 12 inch screen it jumps about $800-1000 more.

Capital Sea · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 3:00 pm Post subject:

Yup, that C90W is a nice upgrade even from a year ago.

thataway · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject:

Yes it is a nice unit. but look at the individual screen size if you have chart plotter, depth sounder/FF, and radar all displayed side by side. Each screen will only be about 2.6" wide With two screens, each screen will be about 4" wide. My personaly feeling is that you would be much better served by 3 separate 6 to 7" plotters and would have many times the amount of screen realestate. No matter how good the resolution--with a small screen on a fast moving boat it is hard to see details.

Our preference is two chart plotters, and one Fishfinder, plus the Radar up high. Two chart plotters allows one at long range, and the other at near detail. The equivilant screen realestate with this is close to a 15" screen, yet easily visable over the top of these. I don't know the exact total cost with the C 90 and Radar, but I'll bet you can get as good or better units with much more screen size for less money. A quick scan shows that the C 90 runs about $2400, a 18" radome costs about $1500 and the fish finder box is another $650--or a bit over $4500! Plus tax and installation--round it off at $5500....

Navigational screens are work horses--and you need size.

Doryman · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

In addition to what Bob said, consider that the optimum viewing distance of a screen is a function of its diagonal measurement. I originally put an E120 in my Tom Cat but fortunately the installer was able to swap it out for an E80 very shortly after -- the E120 was just too "in my face" within the limited helm space of the Tom Cat -- and the 22 would be worse.

Now I have 2 E80s and I love the setup. It's a variation on what Bob suggested, except that I have all-Raymarine.

Warren

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

Just for clarification, the passage-maker article is about BROADBAND RADAR , not DIGITAL radar.

The BBR unit ARE made by navioc and sold under their Simrad, Northstar, and Lowrance brand names .

Raymarine is not Broad band .

Just wanted to keep that straight.

Heres a nice video link

Already on sale radar

letitride · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject:

Thank you all for the wealth of knowledge, this is a great site!!

I can see how 2 monitors would be better than 1, seems I need to check out some other C-Dory's electronic set-up to confirm the optimum configuration for what I specifically plan to do.

My understanding is the C120 is about as large as you want to place directly above the steering wheel helm and this might be too large and bother your eyes, can you place 2 C80 or E80 in the same place anyone have a picture of this set-up they can post?

Jazzmanic · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject:

I'm with Dr. Bob. I've discovered that I like to have at least two GPS with at least one being a combination sonar unit, plus a separate Radar. I just replaced the still very good Garmin 182C (chartplotter only) and installed a Lowrance LCX-27c to take advantage of the bigger (7") screen and better fishfinder but didn't want to remove the Garmin 188C which has always been 100% reliable and is a very good chartplotter. Along with the Furuno Radar mounted above, my vision is not obstructed and I have all the toys I need to play with plus redunancy. I just need to tweak the Lowrance mapping a little bit and I'll be happy as a clam.

As usual, YMMV.