Raymarine C90W Chartplotter/Radar Available

M

mcc272

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I bought a chartplotter/radar from Defender and had it professionally installed. The boat has not even launched yet (won't launch til the Spring due to work commitments) but I have played with it enough to know that I really made a huge mistake in getting it. The unit is a Raymarine C90W with the RD424D (24", 4kw dome) Smart Heading Sensor (for MARPA) and the entire set up was $4487 including the cable and the mount. I come from a long history of Furuno radars and simply can't make the transition to Raymarine for a whole host of reasons. One thing that is clear to me, that I did not realize, is that the C90W is really meant to be used as a multifunction device. In my view, the screen aspect ratio makes it an inadequate single function device which is how I use them. This is a large part of my issues with it as a radar. At any rate, this is a brand new set up which I now have for sale for $3,500. I will have it professionally uninstalled and will box it up in its original cartons with everything. I will also split the shipping cost 50/50. While this equipment was introduced in early 2009, I am going to install a Furuno NavNet vx2 system which, while older technology, is a better choice for me. Oh, what expensive mistakes we sometimes make but this will be a good deal for someone who wants Raymarine equipment!!!

Jim
 
Got asked by PM what the issue is. There are a variety of issues for me but the biggest is the screen shape. The useable area of a C90W measured with a tape is 7 3/4" x 4 3/8" compared to 8.4" x 6.12" for a Furuno 1834. What this means is that the height of the screen on the Raymarine is 56.5% of the width. On the Furuno the height is 72.9%. What it means is that the Furuno, used for a single function, is more like portrait while the RC90W is more like landscape. I find the more portrait like format far preferable for viewing things ahead of the boat. I am old fashioned enough that I rarely use an electronics box for multifunction purposes. Raymarine has done a great job with the C90W but it is really optimized for multifunction use and the Furuno is less optimized that way and better serves my needs. I have explored all the settings and chased every menu down to its end and I just can't get the C90W set up in a way I like, hence my decision to go back to Furuno.

Jim
 
Does Furuno have a higher screen resolution?
This improves the screen image quality.

on edit
I just bought a 545s Garmin Chartplotter/FF which is all we need in SW FL for the time being. It has 5" screen and 640 x 480 (VGA) resolution and was a selling point to me when I looked at other models.

Good luck selling your system.
 
C90W: 800 x 480 pixels (wide VGA) It"s the same resolution just a different aspect ratio.. On the wide screen displays when you are just in radar mode- if you off-set the center to 1/3 mode it makes it a little more useable..I run E120 displays and this seems to make it better. The problem is that you can see more radar picture on the sides than what is in front of you..So the range maybe set at 3 miles but you can see 5 miles out on the sides.. That being said the raymarine has a nice picture. Hook up and AIS-B unit and its a great package.
 
Dixoncider is correct. It is the aspect ratio that I find most objectionable although there are other features where I strongly prefer the Furuno units. The aspect ratio is optimized for multi-function use and I tend to use my electronic devices largely for single purpose. It is a combination of factors that made be decide that I really want to go back to Furuno and why I have this package for sale in spite of it being brand new and the boat never having been splashed with it aboard. It just does not work for me in spite of lots of people being extremely positive about the C90W.

Jim
 
Hey Jim...and others. I have used the E80 "regular" screen on my 25' boat and like it very much as a DISPLAY unit particuarly when things are on overlay. Now, having used the E120 on a couple of friends boats.... I like that larger display area as to run two screens...side by side.

My E-80 does not truly allow for this...and, I chose the E80 over the E120 due to the height of the unit once installed...and, I wanted to be able to see over the top of it when standing... and yes, I am short.

But... this E90W may do the trick... for what I enjoy seeing when on the E120 boats....and C-Pearl is one of them. Set two screens up side by side, one on about 3/4 mile and the other on either 3 miles or 6 miles. It simply helps me keep a good perspective on what is coming around the corners on the rivers, and, which river bend I am truly operating in, as many look alike....and, with the AIS... picking up the barges and seeing them a ways out is nice.

Just a thought Jim...and, a screen set up you may want to try if you have not unloaded the unit. Change is not always easy...and some of it we do not like....but, give this a shot. It will not be as valuable sitting on the hard...but, once moving on the water... it may help. You have boated enough to realise how many times on any single display unit....the zoom in...zoom out ...zoom back in happens. I think this may give you enough side by side area...maybe...or...maybe not.
Byrdman
 
Byrdman":2bk91bir said:
Hey Jim...and others. I have used the E80 "regular" screen on my 25' boat and like it very much as a DISPLAY unit particuarly when things are on overlay. Now, having used the E120 on a couple of friends boats.... I like that larger display area as to run two screens...side by side.

My E-80 does not truly allow for this...and, I chose the E80 over the E120 due to the height of the unit once installed...and, I wanted to be able to see over the top of it when standing... and yes, I am short.

...
Click to expand...

Maybe I am not understanding this statement? I run our E-80 with side-by-side screens frequently...

Fog3.jpg
 
Byrdman":1dmf9ykz said:
Set two screens up side by side, one on about 3/4 mile and the other on either 3 miles or 6 miles. It simply helps me keep a good perspective on what is coming around the corners on the rivers, and, which river bend I am truly operating in, as many look alike....and, with the AIS... picking up the barges and seeing them a ways out is nice.
Click to expand...

When I try to do this (I have 2 E-80s) if I change the magnification of a chart in one of the displays it changes in the other as well. How do you set them up independently?

Warren
 
Jim is target on... but what I should have said in retrospect....was.... that the width/size of the two charts side by side on my C-80 are not large enough or as comfortable for me to look at .....as they are when I do the same thing on a C-120. Size matters...and this newer wide 90 may have given me a better option...but, when I bought mine...it was either the 80 or the 120....and the 120 had to much air draft for my eyeballs limited vertical clearance.

Great shot Jim....now, switch the left screen to chart w/radar overlay, set at 3/4 mile....and the right side to 3 miles on the chart. That is the overlay I like during the day....IF... I had a wider screen...which the 90W may offer. If/when the need is greater for radar than chart, like on final approach to the marina with crowded fairways...that may have changed ...or ARE CHANGING as I enter... I hit the full radar and zoom'er in to about 1/8 mile...as what is out in the bigger waters is of no longer at that moment an issue. And, yes, I still turn down the sound system at this time so I can see better too. :mrgreen:

Thanks for the photo Jim.. my words just did not say what my mind was picturing I guess... :idea :photo :idea :smilep :thup Yes, I did know and have used the split screen... I just like the wider view of the twin charts on the 120.

Byrdman
 
there is a setting in menus that controls it. I dont have the unit with me right now but I think it is a LOCAL vs SYSTEM setting for each window.

I run three screens on my c80. your eyes adjust to it. I run map with overlay at 1 to 2 miles, map with overlay at 5 miles for the big picture and depth/fishfinder for the third window.

I have always ran the fishfinder no matter what. would not leave the dock with out it for cruising. How many of you run it or just a depth number or no depth at all?
 
starcrafttom":q9ygpdwe said:
there is a setting in menus that controls it. I dont have the unit with me right now but I think it is a LOCAL vs SYSTEM setting for each window.

I run three screens on my c80. your eyes adjust to it. I run map with overlay at 1 to 2 miles, map with overlay at 5 miles for the big picture and depth/fishfinder for the third window.

I have always ran the fishfinder no matter what. would not leave the dock with out it for cruising. How many of you run it or just a depth number or no depth at all?
Click to expand...

I swap the screens around, depending on the situation. I always have a depth number up when cruising, but switch to a bottom contour screen when we're ready to anchor. I prefer to have my data bar along the side. Depending on the weather, I'll split the screen as pictured above: one side chart with radar overlay, the other side just radar... it makes it easier for me to pick out a fixed marker vs a slow moving boat. There will always be the discussions of the integrated systems vs individual screens, but I sure appreciate the flexibility to put what I want on the screen with the information that is most important for the situation.

Tom, that brown stuff on the charts... that's ground. The depth sounder is less effective when you're sitting on... :wink:

I have another small chartplotter next to the E-80. I run that one with north up and use it to pull up tide charts, daily mileage, etc. I can see where a wide-screen version (without additional height) would be advantageous.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
I normally have one screen set to 1 mile and another to 6 miles (I think that's it). Both have radar overlay. I like this and always run with radar on so I'm familiar with it when I need to be.

Sometimes in the fog I'll have one side with chart+overlay and the other with just the radar. This can help identify small targets.

I don't have a fishfinder, just a simple depth sounder that displays numbers on a separate, small screen.

Getting my C80 set up so I could zoom independently on different parts of the screen was a PITA. I really don't know how I got it to work, I just messed with the LOCAL and SYSTEM settings enough that it finally did.
 
We have a C90W installed and I'm very satisfied with it so far. We don't have a "smart heading sensor" yet, but am thinking about using a KVH Azimuth-1000 for this. MARPA does work well & seems to be accurate. We also have a Westmarine AIS-1000 installed, but haven't run into anyone using AIS to see how it interacts with the radar display.
I agree with dixoncider about using the1/3 offset, but I keep mine centered to watch for overtaking targets. Some of the tour boat outfilts like to scream up & down Gastineau Channel at 35 knots during the summer.

I've attached an image of our C90W if anybody's interested. The C90W fits nicely on a 25' Cruiser. I really like the "Active" button for switching/zooming windows.

IMG_0318.jpg
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