Newbie refit questions Garmin vs RayMarine and others

I have been very happy with my dual Axiom setup - I must say that it would be nice to have a single power up/down for all devices. Since one display is designated as the master I would think it would be great if it had the option to signal all to shutdown.

The Individual displays can be also be used when not running the boat since they have apps for things like NetFlix, Spotify, etc. So it would be nice to be able to keep one on.

They are basically networked computers so all this is possible and Raymarine has been actively extending features.

-Kevin
 
First the crowd sourced data that previously I used heavily for the last few years I feel like has fallen off in value considerably. After the Garmin acquisition of AC, seems like fewer people are posting. When fewer people post a crowd sourced product starts to lose impact.

Fallen off in value considerably... if not destroyed! I don't really understand why Garmin acquired AC, just to let it atrophy. I'm assuming Jeff & Karen made out very well with the sale, but if I were them it would still make me ill to see the state of their work now.
 
Amir

This is going to stir the pot so to speak but here is my opinion and it’s just that an opinion.

I run boats with Garmin, Raymarine, and Furuno. I don’t personally run anything with simrad so I’ll leave that out.

Garmin: they are newer to the marine world and have made the interfaces almost too simple as they borrow the technology from land based GPS systems. They are well liked by most but I don’t put much influence on that because ‘most’ folks don’t know much about their own electronics and just want to push the button so to speak.

If you want simplicity choose Garmin. My one big call out here is I have yet to see a Garmin radar that comes close to furuno but their interface and touchscreen is very easy.

Raymarine: they have been in this business for eons and definitely know what they are doing. They too have issues and to me it’s like this. They have proprietary accessories and the customer service is definitely the worst of all brands. I want a company who is responsive and helpful when I spend 15-20k and frankly they are not. So not as much the product but the service. They also are last to the Doppler radar game.

Furuno: simply put: if all of the commercial folks use this and they can spend whatever they want then there must be a reason and there is. It is the most sensitive equipment available. The radar is impressive to say the least. I can see through rain where Garmins newest units just show a big red blob. Historically they were difficult to use but with the tzt touch 2 it’s just like the rest. So that’s why I leaned Furuno. They have 2 customer service centers. One on the east coast and one on the west coast and they answer the phone in 3 rings... with a REAL person. The vector charts are included for the USA and updates are free as well.

Simrad: I am not comfortable discussing with my limited use but the fish boats love simrad so I lean toward it being good as well.

My advice is the same as was mentioned above. Use your boat first. Let me teach you radar as you will need it here in Galveston bay when the fog arrives and freighters are everywhere. You will also find plenty of other things that need repair or replacement. You may also be surprised how well the original equipment actually works.

Josh
 
Does it work in conjunction of the newly updated Navionics app? Or is that still separate from the ActiveCaptain app?
It looks like the Navionics and Active Captain apps are still separate. Navionics seems more like a stand-alone navigation tool that now includes Active Captain data, and can send routes and updated maps to certain (non-Garmin) plotters.

ActiveCaptain is more of a companion to current Garmin plotters. Has charts and AC data, simplify updates as noted above, and you can control the systems from the app when on board. But it's really limited to Garmin devices.

I suspect that Garmin is trying to keep the two a bit separate so that their hardware competitors don't jump ship and ditch Navionics support.
 
Second, what is called the Active Captain app today is really a Garmin electronics control platform. Yes I can see the AC database. I can push the AC database down to the plotters and see traditional AC markers on the chart plotter (Marinas, Anchorages, etc).

The reason I use the Active Captain app is a whole set of features that are related to the Garmin electronics. My iPad connects to the Garmin network on the boat. Chart plotter sw updates are done via the iPad app. I can mirror either Chart plotter and have full control of the chart plotter on my iPad. Etc.

Totally agree. Garmin should have called it something like "BlueChart, Powered by ActiveCaptain". Calling it ActiveCaptain implies it is platform agnostic, which it is not. It really is only useful if you have Garmin hardware.
 
I don't actually disagree with your conclusions Josh, but I'll debate the "mfr experience" side.

Garmin has been in the marine business for a long time, and they've been the same company the whole time. Raytheon was long/well established by the time the first Garmin was installed on a boat, but I'd argue that was a different company. By the time the marine division was bought by a thermal imaging company they were spiraling the drain. In my mind, the company history hit the reset button. That's not necessarily bad however - they've since introduced several innovations that kick Garmin's butt!
 
Some people say that plotting features of the legacy app "Blue Chart Mobile" were superior.

I've been using my "legacy" Blue Chart Mobile app a lot lately. I'm in the camp of believing the trip plotting functions are better than the AC app. For one you can set your boat's fuel capacities, mph, and burn rate. When plotting a course the app will change the colors the route to indicate estimated fuel remaining. I find this extremely helpful to determine how far I can go, when I will need to refuel, and frankly estimate some trip cost. If the AC app can do this I can't find it.
 
I must say that it would be nice to have a single power up/down for all devices. Since one display is designated as the master I would think it would be great if it had the option to signal all to shutdown.
******
.......So it would be nice to be able to keep one on.-Kevin

The Garmin system IS nice about power up/down. Everything powers up when I turn on the breaker. But it can be set not to as well. When pressing the power button on one screen it asks you if you want to shut down the whole system (all units), or just put that one screen in sleep mode.

Hopefully Raymarine will add a similar function in a future update. As you said, they are basically networked computers, and lots can be updated over time.
 
If the AC app can do this I can't find it.

I don't think it's just you - I don't think AC can do that.

I prefer to plot all my long trips in Homeport. (which also can calculate fuel burn) I can't use my affection for Homeport as a recommendation to go Garmin though, since their long-term plans apparently don't include continuing Homeport support. :(
 
So maybe for simplicity I could say it like this.

If you want the best radar pick Furuno
If you want the easiest interface pick Garmin

If you want the best Camera/Flir pick Raymarine.

I know that’s almost stupid simple but it is fitting huh?
 
I don't think it's just you - I don't think AC can do that.

I prefer to plot all my long trips in Homeport. (which also can calculate fuel burn) I can't use my affection for Homeport as a recommendation to go Garmin though, since their long-term plans apparently don't include continuing Homeport support. :(
I've had Homeport for years too. It was very useful, but at times difficult for me to use. Getting the trip data to my devices was a bit challenging. I think one reason I liked Bluechart Mobile was because it was a lot like Homeport.
 
I just replaced all of my old Raymarine electronics with new RM units including Magnum Radar, Autopilot, two new transducers, two new Axiom screens and like how they all interface and the speed that they operation . But I have always been a Raymarine type of guy.

The one problem I have is the Magnum Radar has power issues that requires me to do a hard reset on the unit every time I start the engines. The RM tech support says I need a to install a battery isolation unit $250- $400 to keep the radar from having a voltage drop when starting the engines. The old radar and non of the other equipment has that problem. Has anyone experienced that problem before?
 
Newmar makes a solution to your problem. I have one installed just to prevent a voltage drop or spike. If you don’t have a dedicated house battery bank this is really a good idea.
 
I've had Homeport for years too. It was very useful, but at times difficult for me to use. Getting the trip data to my devices was a bit challenging. I think one reason I liked Bluechart Mobile was because it was a lot like Homeport.

I've never seen anything that plotted a course better, but you're 100% right: the whole "send to device" functions are poorly thought-out! What they really mean is "copy to a card in your computer that has once been in a device you own..."

I wish they'd update it to sync to AC. That would be ideal, but I suspect that everything is moving away from desktop platforms these days.
 
I've been using my "legacy" Blue Chart Mobile app a lot lately. I'm in the camp of believing the trip plotting functions are better than the AC app. For one you can set your boat's fuel capacities, mph, and burn rate. When plotting a course the app will change the colors the route to indicate estimated fuel remaining. I find this extremely helpful to determine how far I can go, when I will need to refuel, and frankly estimate some trip cost. If the AC app can do this I can't find it.

I still use BlueChart. Not as my primary iPad app - I just like it. I have a ton of markers with notes in there that are very useful for trip planning. I don't use it for fuel management, just personal preference. I use a combination of fuel burn, tankage, etc. For managing fuel levels I want that as simple as possible without any chance of an iPad dying, etc.
 
I had Garmin on my old boat and loved it. This boat came with Raymarine. The ST 7001, ST 60, RN 300 and Ray 240 are original but the previous owner updated to two newer MFD’s and HD color radar about 2 years before I bought the boat so it didn’t warrant a complete changeover.
But if it did, I would go with Garmin.
I’m more of a nut and bolt guy than a tech guy so I found Garmin much easier to learn.
I think Raymarine is for smarter guys than me. My eyes get crossed sometimes just trying to understand the user manuals.
On the flip side. Garmin manuals and equipment were more like “Boat Electronics For Dummies” which is more my speed.
 
I had Garmin on my old boat and loved it. This boat came with Raymarine. The ST 7001, ST 60, RN 300 and Ray 240 are original but the previous owner updated to two newer MFD’s and HD color radar about 2 years before I bought the boat so it didn’t warrant a complete changeover.
But if it did, I would go with Garmin.
I’m more of a nut and bolt guy than a tech guy so I found Garmin much easier to learn.
I think Raymarine is for smarter guys than me. My eyes get crossed sometimes just trying to understand the user manuals.
On the flip side. Garmin manuals and equipment were more like “Boat Electronics For Dummies” which is more my speed.

The Raymarine Axiom is a whole different beast. It's works much like a tablet.

-Kevin
 
Will through this out to the group participating, what are your thoughts about my statements which follow.

I have an iPhone. Simple, easy to use. A lot of friends have an Android phone - they extoll the flexibility. They can change settings and have impact on their phone that a iPhone will not achieve.

I don't want to do a bunch of technical stuff - I just want a smart phone.

No first hand experience, but I hear this over and over - Furano has superior radar. Simrad is excellent. But to get the advantages of those platform you have to spend the time learning and fine tuning your installation. Garmin is simple and easy out of the box.

To me, Garmin is the iPhone, Furano and simrad - those are the android.

I think a Furano will do more than a Garmin - but requires me to spend more time.

My statements are not to pick a winner - simply to classify the options.

Is that a valid observation?
 
This is great info. It sounds to me that Garmin is a really good recreational platform. Easy to set up, easy to use, and will give you everything you need in the handful of situations you will need it over the years. For hard core cruisers and fish guys, the others may be more functional.
 
I don’t think any of the brands would really qualify as hard to use at this point. They are all touchscreen and will be similar to your tech you currently have at home. I feel like you would want to buy what suits your personality but also your needs and in a port city like Galveston I think your radar may be the most important electronic on the boat.
 

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