Raymarine chartplotters and mapping software

timjet

timjet

Member
Jan 14, 2010
236
Tampa, FL
Boat Info
'98 355 ACMY
Engines
Cummins 6BT 330 M3's
[SUB]I'm considering the purchase of a[/SUB] Raymarine E 90W chart plotter with a 9" screen to replace my current Garmin 740 with a 7" screen. Both are touch screen and I really like the speed and refresh rate of the Garmin unit. In talking to the Raymarine tech, I found the Raymarine E90W is being replaced with the E95 series and when I asked him the difference he said the refresh and screen loading is quicker with the newer units among some other improved features. So I'm a little concerned about this as I've been spoiled with the Garmin unit. Can anyone advise me on their opinion of the Raymarine E90W especially the refresh and screen scrolling rate?

Another question I have is how to upload routes I've created on my PC computer to the new E90W unit. The tech said I use Voyage Planner software. Is this a free software program? How do I get the charts into my computer to be used by the Voyage Planner software and do I have to purchase the charts?
Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Are you sure you want a touch screen? Many skippers are avoiding touch screens for use on boats.. They work well when you're sitting at home on your laptop but not so well when you're on a boat that's bouncing on a choppy sea.

I'm going to replace my mfd and as big as my boat is and as little as it bounces I'm going to steer clear of a touch screen. But that's just my opinion and we all know what they're like.
 
The New E Series is hybrid touch and hard controls. I like mine but Raymarine support is terrible. I had to do all my own homework for integrating my various components.

Also a rebate they were offering was never received.
 
I have the Raymarine C97. I had Garmin 740s before (and the Ray C80 for a short while)

If you come from Garmin you will be disappointed in the C90w. The user interface on the old C90w series is just as terrible as the new new Raymarine C/E series. If you want to stay with the 7" - Garmin is coming out with the 741 models - that has 60% faster refresh than the 740. They are available in April.

But in about a week the Miami boat show opens up - and I think (hope) you will see a lot of new Garmins being announced there.

The only alternative to Garmin (IMHO) right now - is Simrad NSS8/NSS12 which is hybrid touch with buttons. The refresh on the NSS series is MUCH faster than the even the new C/E series from Raymarine. They also have the best WiFi interface if needed (GoFree WiFi $199) - and the absolute best dome radar for Navigation (Simrad 4G)

Garmin is lacking in the Radar department (GMR18/24HD) - they are not very good. Raymarine Digital Domes are better than Garmin but the User Interface on the Raymarine is not very good (when you are used to the friendliness of the Garmin)

My Raymarine C97 is being ditched in about a week for a combo install of Simrad NSS8 and Lowrance HDS Touch with full "structure scan/downscan" for my scuba diving. Plus the 4G radar.

And remember a 4:3 format 8" screen gives you the just about the SAME square inches display size as a 16:9 (widesceen) 9"

So hold your horses and wait for a week to see what becomes available. But STAY AWAY from ANY (old generation) Raymarine (IMHO) as they will not be supported for very long and are officially "End of Life"
 
I'm in the process of upgrading my E120s for the new e125 hybrid touch. I really like the redraw speed improvement, but haven't had experience in use yet. I'm also installing the new a67 in a new dingy - trading in the old Caribe for a new Walker Bay Generations.

paul
 
kaz911 said:
I have the Raymarine C97. I had Garmin 740s before (and the Ray C80 for a short while)

If you come from Garmin you will be disappointed in the C90w. The user interface on the old C90w series is just as terrible as the new new Raymarine C/E series. If you want to stay with the 7" - Garmin is coming out with the 741 models - that has 60% faster refresh than the 740. They are available in April.

But in about a week the Miami boat show opens up - and I think (hope) you will see a lot of new Garmins being announced there.

My Raymarine C97 is being ditched in about a week for a combo install of Simrad NSS8 and Lowrance HDS Touch with full "structure scan/downscan" for my scuba diving. Plus the 4G radar.

And remember a 4:3 format 8" screen gives you the just about the SAME square inches display size as a 16:9 (widesceen) 9"

So hold your horses and wait for a week to see what becomes available. But STAY AWAY from ANY (old generation) Raymarine (IMHO) as they will not be supported for very long and are officially "End of Life"
Click to expand...

Thanks kaz911. The issue really is money. Raymarine has been bought out by FLIR and the powers to be at FLIR are putting their own design spin on the new stuff Raymarine is coming out with and they have decided to get rid of some of the current inventory of chart-plotters. For this reason they have put very very attractive pricing on the E90W. This according to the Raymarine tech I talked to today. https://www.raymarinestore.com/index.php/chartplotters-mfds/e-series/e62220-us.html
I currently have a Raytheon RL80 CRC radar chartplotter which is nearing the end of it's life, at least the radar is. I like my Garmin 740 and if it wasn't for the need to replace the radar I would stay with it. But the 740 screen IMHO is a little small for radar. All my current sensors connected to the RL 80 CRC will work with the new E90W so there is some cost savings there.
 
timjet said:
Thanks kaz911. The issue really is money. Raymarine has been bought out by FLIR and the powers to be at FLIR are putting their own design spin on the new stuff Raymarine is coming out with and they have decided to get rid of some of the current inventory of chart-plotters. For this reason they have put very very attractive pricing on the E90W. This according to the Raymarine tech I talked to today. https://www.raymarinestore.com/index.php/chartplotters-mfds/e-series/e62220-us.html
I currently have a Raytheon RL80 CRC radar chartplotter which is nearing the end of it's life, at least the radar is. I like my Garmin 740 and if it wasn't for the need to replace the radar I would stay with it. But the 740 screen IMHO is a little small for radar. All my current sensors connected to the RL 80 CRC will work with the new E90W so there is some cost savings there.
Click to expand...

Okay - so do you need both radar and chart-plotter? And I do not think that $1100 for the E90w is a great price. I think it is much to high a price for very old technology. Lets say you go with the RD418D radar and the E90w. That will set you back about $2250,- If you look at NSS8 with 3G Radar pack - that is about $3500,- And I think you might be able to pick it up with a slight discount at the boat show in Miami.

I would not hesitate for a moment to pick the NSS8 even if I had to save for another 2 months. You get current technology where software updates will be available for at least a few years to come. And you are getting a radar that is much better than the RD418D (IMHO). With the C90w you are buying "dead" technology that will not get very many updates in the future.

Do yourself a favour and go down to west marine or similar and play with some of the newer chart plotters - or go to the boat show. Try all of them and THEN make your decision.

But as I said - even the NEW C/E series - I find SLOW at redrawing - and the user interface is painfully designed by an engineer. Not by someone who understands user interface design. Much to much focus has gone into designing "new features" that incorporates FLIR products and fancy unusable features. But not enough resources have been put into making it easy to use.

Just one example... When I manually disable the built in sounder - 20 seconds later I get an alarm (DSM Disconnected)... I KNOW IT IS DISCONNECTED - I DID IT!@!!! Buttons do different things on different screens. In most screens you can use the scroll wheel to zoom in/out. But NOT when making a route? All Raymarine stuff is inconsistent and designed without any thought about usage scenarios.
 
Ok thanks again Kaz911. I'm going to take your advise and visit the Miami boat show and get a hands on with all the new stuff.

For you folks that need Raymarine tech support, I've had good luck talking to them on the phone, but I think the best way is through their forums: http://raymarine.ning.com/forum

I'll report back after I visit the Miami boat show.
 
Geez, to all you guys above who are considering putting some still fully functional electronics out to pasture, I would be more than happy to help you sleep at night and give your "old" electronics a good home.

My late 90's Raytheon RL9 and Garmin GPSMap 220 could use some new "friends"
 
My Raytheon RL80CRC radar chartplotter may become very friendly depending on what I find at the Miami boat show.
 
Guys,
My old E 120's were stolen last year. I upgraded to the E125's. My biggest complaint and there are a few is that all aides to navigation are very small. Even ur way points will be much smaller then what u are used to. So here u have this large screen and these very small fonted icons. The touch screen works well. The ipad accessories are a joke . Dont waste ur time or money. I have spoken to tech service and there are no upgrades for this issue. U can customize almost everything but the nav aid sizes. that to me is the biggest issue. So check it out before u buy !

Good luck

Rob
 
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