'97 400 DA Electronics -- Plotter missing... What to do.

[Boat Guy]

I'm trying to go some research on electronics. But as this would be my first boat, I'm not up to speed at all.

I'm looking at a boat with the following.

Raystar 108 GPS
Raychart 601xx
RaydataNav 398 GPS
Ray 202 VHF Hailer
Ray 41xx Raster Scan Radar
It has a large radar. I think 4'

As you can see from the picture there is a piece missing on the top left. I think it's the plotter I'm not sure what is supposed to be there but it was stolen.

View attachment 30740

I'm not sure if it would be best to find a used one on Ebay or somewhere and use this equipment for awhile while I research or just bite the bullet. I'm not even sure what the piece even is or if it could be replaced with something mid-range for the time being.

Thoughts?

 

[h_gerry]

It is hard to tell from the picture what is missing or where you are indicating something is missing from, but that being said here are my thoughts: the Raychart 601xx is a plotter that uses the radar (41xx) for it's screen. You can toggle between the radar image and the plotter image using the controls of the 601xx. There is a picture in picture window on the radar that allows you to see a small version of either screen (radar or plotter) simultaneously, but in my opinion I don't want to see either of those screens in a small version for any length of time. The boat I just purchased had the same units on it from which I removed the 601xx and replaced it with a Northstar 6000i chart plotter that I saved from my old boat. In my opinion, the Northstar is a better plotter than the 601xx. For one thing, the 601xx does not show water depths on the charts (at least on my unit with the chart kit I had). I also like having the color screen of the Northstar. In my application the Northstar fit in the space of the 601xx with a little cutting of the dash to accommodate the larger Northstar (I have the 6" unit). I would say, find a used chart plotter that you like, whether it be Northstar, Garmin, Raytheon, or whoever and add that to the boat.

 

[Boat Guy]

I'm indicating the mounting bracket above the radar screen... Or what I was told was only a radar screen and not a plotter. So it is a plotter too?

Did the Northstar connect up to the other Raymarine equip and radar?

 

[Boat Guy]

Here is the only screen at the helm.

I think this is just radar. Do all plotters connect up to the radar?

 

[h_gerry]

Sorry for the delayed response, I lost the thread and did not know you responded.
the screen in the picture is the radar. Not all plotters show on the radar, most have their own screen. The Northstar I have has it's own screen.

 

[Boat Guy]

Thanks

 

[ttmott]

Here are my thoughts FWIW. I have the same setup for the radar, chart plotter and GPS. They are all integrated through the old seatalk data system that Raymarine had. I do not use my chart plotter it's slow and very antiquated and I wouldn't trust the charts due to their age. With the chart plotter you also need the charts which come on (call it) SIM cards; they are getting hard to find. I do, however, use the NAV/398 GPS for XTE, SOG, and DTE and I use the integrated data the GPS overlays on the radar screen for long trips and visibility challenged situations. Until I can upgrade the entire suite I have found that my Ipad with Garmin's BlueChart Mobile app with the area charts and premium weather is a far superior solution and for the traveling we have done to date reliable without fault. As a note on the Ipad, you don't need comm. to a carrier or wifi to use the application except for weather and Actice Captain updates.

 

[RollerCoastr]

I can't see the first pic, but I had what I assume is the same compliment of 41XX, 398 and 650 etc. IMO, the XX radar can hold it's own even today. It's use-friendliness is non-existent, but the imaging capabilities of the array are impressive.

The receiver and plotter on the other hand, were never good units. Even in their day, they would occasionally claim that I was traveling across an island at 23 knots. The receiver doesn't look for all of the current satellites anymore, and even if it did, as ttmott mentioned, the map data is crude and outdated.

Even my replacement gear is getting dated now, but I put in a Garmin 5212, and it fits perfectly.

 

[ttmott]

"400 DA Electronics -- Plotter missing... What to do"
I don't think you are missing a thing except the cover over the hole.