Upgrading from RL70 Options

Rob Armstrong

New Member
May 31, 2019
16
Portland, Maine (Saltwater)
Boat Info
2000 Sea Ray Sundancer 290, Venture triple axle trailer, T-5.0 EFI Mercs/Bravo IIs
Engines
T-5.0 EFI Mercruiser
Hi all, have a new to me 2000 290 Sundancer. It came with an older Raytheon RL70 chartplotter/Radar and enclosed array dome. There are no chart cards in the machine but everything else appears to be functioning. I was contemplating upgrading the system but I really don't want to put a ton of money into it this season since we already did a lot of work. Does anyone have any suggestions that might work with the dome/antennas I already have or should I just do the ipad nav-x deal for now? I'd love to hear opinions/ideas.
 
If it's working why not just get a chart chip for it and if needed the iPad works great as a 2nd screen... Unless you are buying used most everything will be digital and your present equipment is all analog.
 
Yea, that makes the most economical sense I guess. So if I upgraded it would have to be EVERYTHING, antennas etc? That's what I figured.
Thanks for the advice.
 
Yea, that makes the most economical sense I guess. So if I upgraded it would have to be EVERYTHING, antennas etc? That's what I figured.
Thanks for the advice.
I have a daily e-bay search for C-Map Florida. Do the same for your area, and you can get one that's not too old for 20 bucks or less.
 
I use my RL80C as a backup plotter to my iPad, and when it’s foggy I love having the radar on it. I do update the charts every couple of years just in case
 
The RL displays are probably some of the best they made. But they are so old (I replaced mine in 2009) it makes no sense to put money into them unless you have to. Try and find an old chip as suggested, or use an iPad with Navionics to get through the season. If you go the iPad route you’ll need one that is equipped with cellular data service. You don’t need the data service, it’s just that only the data service iPads have true GPS chips. If you have a WiFi only one you can buy a plug in GPS.
 
My new to me 400DB came with the RL80C. I’ve got an up to date (last year?) CMAP card in it. Normally works well. Except that I seem to get this a lot (sorry it’s sideways):
EC7D0973-AC9E-4A31-8E18-531D63E39232.jpeg


This is frustrating but since I’m getting new canvas and carpet this season, electronics will wait until next year. I find zooming the chart out tends to make the maps reappear.
 
Yea, that makes the most economical sense I guess. So if I upgraded it would have to be EVERYTHING, antennas etc? That's what I figured.
Thanks for the advice.


BUT... you can find plotter/radar deals for about $2k at West Marine and on line dealers. Obviously, a bit more if you want a 9” or 12” display to be comparable with the RL80.
 
That “no data” message is there because you zoomed in too much. Try going back out to 2-3 miles on the screen and it should come back, unless you have the wrong card
 
That “no data” message is there because you zoomed in too much. Try going back out to 2-3 miles on the screen and it should come back, unless you have the wrong card

Thanks. But thats unacceptable. Sometimes you DO want to zoom in on areas. So this is frustrating. Grrrr....
 
There are multiple cards for the same spot. Some have more detail than others. The ones with less detail usually cover much larger areas, so it gets tricky when you pick a card. I use two cards on mine to get more detail. That said, the plotter is a backup for me and use navionics with iPad as my primary. I also use it as radar only when foggy with the iPad still as primary.
 
There are multiple cards for the same spot. Some have more detail than others. The ones with less detail usually cover much larger areas, so it gets tricky when you pick a card. I use two cards on mine to get more detail. That said, the plotter is a backup for me and use navionics with iPad as my primary. I also use it as radar only when foggy with the iPad still as primary.

I wish I could say I did otherwise. Because I preach NOT to use the iPad or iPhone as the main plotter. It’s not an If, but a when, will it do a thermal shut down from being in the sun. But I do the same. I try to use the RL80C as primary but I end up using the iPad as primary and split screen RL80c as backup. Sigh. But it’s given me confidence that I can upgrade in pieces. Add a plotter while keeping the RL80C for radar. Or replace the RL80C with an MFD/radar bundle (while keeping the iPad as backup). Decisions, decisions.

To the original poster: let us know what you decide. And post pics if you make any upgrades!
 
My new to me 400DB came with the RL80C. I’ve got an up to date (last year?) CMAP card in it. Normally works well. Except that I seem to get this a lot (sorry it’s sideways):
View attachment 72178

This is frustrating but since I’m getting new canvas and carpet this season, electronics will wait until next year. I find zooming the chart out tends to make the maps reappear.
Turn off plotter mode to get your chart back at high resolutions. These were made when memory was expensive.

When no further chart detail is available, as you press the bottom of the RANGE key, the effect depends on whether Plotter Mode is on or off as follows: RANGE RANGE Chart Boundary - indicates further detail is available inside D4279-1 Chapter 2: Getting Started & Adjusting the Display 2-23 Radar/Chart Overlay • If Plotter Mode is Off, the chart scale remains unchanged, indicating the smallest chart scale is displayed. Note: If Plotter Mode is Off and the cursor is homed to the vessel (see Using FIND SHIP on page 2-20), if the vessel moves outside an area of available cartography, the chart will automatically re-scale to the next range with cartography. • If Plotter Mode is On, the scale is decreased and the messageNO CHART DATA is displayed. The vessel, waypoints, routes and tracklines are displayed without cartography. The chart information is restored when you return to a chart scale for which the information is available.
 

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