replace radar/navigation

J

johnd

New member
I took my recently aquired C-Dory 22 cruiser, Notayot, to E.Q. Harbor for a few things, and Stan the Electronic Man from there sent me this email:

"I’m the bearer of bad tidings today. The radar is not functional & the issue is defective circuitry in the C-80 display. In navigation mode the C-80 is unstable, the cursor makes random jumps on the screen. The VHF appears to operate normally although it is the same vintage & probably no longer service either." STAN

I have no understanding or experience with these systems. Being as this is a system from 2005/2006 do i completley change systmes, maybe even brands, this is Raymarine, I am not impressed that they decide when to no longer service a unit rather than let the customers decide, however, that said,
I do not understand the old sytem or the differences in the new ones.

I did not find any information on my search of this site for current information on newer systems.

I would appreciate recomndations on what to install now. I will be boating inthe San Jauns fishing, crabbing, etc.

thanks, johnd
 
There have been a number of changes and upgrades in Radar, chart plotters and depth sounders.

All major companies make excellent units. Also I doubt that any service 13 year old plotters--there may be some private technicians who do so.

I have felt that Garmin are the easiest to use. 10 years ago, I would not have bought RayMarine, but since being purchased by FLIR, the service and product has dramatically improved. My "new" boat had 3 year old Raymarine core products (Autopilot, MFD GPS and sonar), so I added several new RayMarine components and am happy with the products. (RayMarine uses Navionics charts currently, which I like better than Garmin Blue charts) Navico (Simrad, B & G, & Lowrance) is also a good product.

Furuno has always made very good products--they drifted away from the recreational market for a few years, but are now back. May be a little more expensive

A lot depends on what you do with the boat. Have at least a GPS with 5 to 10 hz update--many have the Russian and Chinese as well as US satellite receivers and are very accurate. Sonar now includes down scan, side scan and even forward scan. Radars have the excellent discrimination radars with comes with broad band and digital technology--uses less power.

Spend some time at a store which has all of the units to look at side by side. Also read Panbo.com about the latest electronics. lots of homework. No real advantage unless you have an auto pilot to staying with RayMarine. New radios have built in AIS receivers which is a great safety feature--also they are DSC compliant for distress.
 
Johnd, Sorry you got that bad news, but I would trust Stan and EQ. They are straight shooters, and are not just trying to sell you "stuff". My Raymarine electronics are slightly newer than yours but are still over 10 years old. As long as they are still working, (for now at least), I am staying with them. If I was looking to change, I would look seriously back at Raymarine, although I am vary partial to Garmin and have a Garmin on board thatvI run simultaneously.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
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