Sea Ray Navigator

[lawbee]

I'm a new "larger" boat owner having recently purchased a 2004 390 DA and am new to this site. My only prior experience is with my 23' center console bay boat. I have much to learn. I am also a frequent reader of the posts here , although I have never posted, and am anxious to learn more about my purchase. I would be interesed to learn of anyone's experience with a 04 390 generally (twin 370hp 8.1s V-drives). I am expecting to use the boat strictly for cruising/day trips in the ICW in norteast Fla. (although a Bahamas trip this summer is gaining momentum with my friends). Additionally, I have read recent posts regarding the Sea Ray Navigator and the many opinions regarding the failings of the equipment. I have the system on my boat along with a Raymarine RL80C chartplotter/radar. As my boat is an 04, (with 04 charts) I would like to update the charts and, in an effort to do so, recently purchased the Maptech Chart Navigator DVD set (not "pro"). The DVD's include, of course, the entire US coast although I only really need the maps for Norfolk to Jacsonville, and the Eastern Coast of Fla./Bahamas. I'm concerned after reading the many posts herein, that the loading of these charts on my 04 Navigator, may not work. Is it possible to "update" the charts by simply attaching the hard drive and loading the DVD's? I realize that "software" updates and support are apparently not available for the PC, but I assumed that the charts were "updateable", true? Thanks.

Mike
2004 390 DA 370hp twin 8.1s Mercruiser v-drives.

 

[rwvw415]

Congratulations on your new boat. I have the same boat, an '04 390 with 8.1's and the same Navigator and radar.

When we first bought the boat, the Navigator did not work. I sent it to the factory and they rebuilt the hard drive and upgraded the software for about $500 . That was a lot cheaper than replacing the system with a new Raymarine C120. Since then I have not had one problem with the system. I bought a map chip for the radar/plotter and feel that I have the best of both worlds for a low investment.

My 390 has a bow thruster that allows me to put the boat any place that I want it to go without issue or stress. For us it is a perfect boat Feel free to IM me if you have any questions on the systems.

 

[wetpaint]

i have the navigator and raymarine 120 and love the combination.....i have had no issues with it (knock on wood)......Being in the northeast and dealing with the normal fog banks we have up here, having two units has made a great difference in navigating......you will love it......very, very simple to use...

 

[jrirvine1]

This great news! All this time I thought Skip had the only Navigator on the east coast that works. Now we have several – way to go Sea Ray!!!

Since you have the Raymarine “C” series the replacement cost of the Navigator will not be catastrophic. It is possible to install a C120 in the same space and use the “Sea Talk” feature to link the units. This is exactly what our leader Jim will be doing to ours sometime over the winter, when he catches up on lost sleep from the new arrival.

 

[rwvw415]

If I replaced the Navigator with the C120 would it connect to my existing Raymarine radar and RayStar GPS?

 

[jrirvine1]

If I replaced the Navigator with the C120 would it connect to my existing Raymarine radar and RayStar GPS?

Yes it will, however, you will not be able to switch screens with the radar function only, all other functions can switch. You just need to decide which screen you prefer to have the radar display.

 

[Four Suns]

This great news! All this time I thought Skip had the only Navigator on the east coast that works. Now we have several – way to go Sea Ray!!!

Is that sarcasm? I think that is sarcasm. You can't use sarcasm here anymore.

 

[fc3]

Is that sarcasm? I think that is sarcasm. You can't use sarcasm here anymore.

What! Now what the heck do I do?

 

[jrirvine1]

Is that sarcasm? I think that is sarcasm. You can't use sarcasm here anymore.

It is my understanding that the no sarcasm rule is issued on an individual basis. Not unlike speeding tickets, as we all do it but few get cited.

Rumor has it that one of the members is on a very, very short leash around here due to excessive sarcasm and also something to do with a “bathroom incident”, but I lack all of the details.

The good news is, if a member is totally out of control the powers that be give them their own forum!

 

[Skip]

Sea Ray Navigator is, without question, the finest, most reliable, most thoroughly integrated and user-friendly system ever fielded by the Marine Industry.

I weep with joy every time I turn it on.

Getting the MS Windows Blue Screen of Death in 4-6 footers on the Bay is actually a superb way to gain confidence at the helm.

regards,

 

[osd9]

If I replaced the Navigator with the C120 would it connect to my existing Raymarine radar and RayStar GPS?

Yes it will, however, you will not be able to switch screens with the radar function only, all other functions can switch. You just need to decide which screen you prefer to have the radar display.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by 'switch'.

The C120 is not compatible with the older RL80 in that they can not share information over the HSB2 bus. In other words, they are not networkable.

You can share the GPS postition between the two units, along with other basic information via NEMA or Seatalk like depth, SOG, etc.

You will have to decided which unit, the C or the RL, you want connected to the array...one or the other....not both.

Each will use it's own chip for chartplotting and you will not (I think) be able to share waypoints.....but there may a way around that one.

 

[WFYB]

Check the raymarine site. As I recall there are three levels of compatibility with the old pathfinder, (RL90), arrays and the C120/E120.

1. Not compatible
2. Compatible with a factory upgrade
3. Compatible

 

[jrirvine1]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by 'switch'.

The C120 is not compatible with the older RL80 in that they can not share information over the HSB2 bus. In other words, they are not networkable.

You can share the GPS postition between the two units, along with other basic information via NEMA or Seatalk like depth, SOG, etc.

You will have to decided which unit, the C or the RL, you want connected to the array...one or the other....not both.

Each will use it's own chip for chartplotting and you will not (I think) be able to share waypoints.....but there may a way around that one.

Yes, I think all of the above is correct. Using “Sea Talk” allows the units to use the same GPS antenna and transducer only and share this information. The radar will most likely have to remain with the RL80C or whatever unit it is directly wired to. By “switch” I was attempting to explain that while they share information, you can not swap screens except for chartplotting.

 

[osd9]

Jon is correct.

FYI.....All of the newer 'self parking' open arrays are compatable with the C/E series. A 2004 390DA will have the newer array if it were a factory install.

 

[Pirate]

Sea Ray Navigator is, without question, the finest, most reliable, most thoroughly integrated and user-friendly system ever fielded by the Marine Industry.

I weep with joy every time I turn it on.

Getting the MS Windows Blue Screen of Death in 4-6 footers on the Bay is actually a superb way to gain confidence at the helm.

regards,

Throwing mine overboard was one of the more cathartic events I've ever had. Joyous. :smt038

 

[WFYB]

Jon is correct.

FYI.....All of the newer 'self parking' open arrays are compatable with the C/E series. A 2004 390DA will have the newer array if it were a factory install.

Not necessarily true. I owned a 04 420da with the nav1 a pathfinder array connected to an rl80crc. Both original factory install I swapped out the navigator 1 for an e120. The array was not compatible without a factory installed upgrade. A simple check of your pathfinder array serial number on the raymarine site will confirm compatibility.

 

[osd9]

Not necessarily true. I owned a 04 420da with the nav1 a pathfinder array connected to an rl80crc. Both original factory install I swapped out the navigator 1 for an e120. The array was not compatible without a factory installed upgrade. A simple check of your pathfinder array serial number on the raymarine site will confirm compatibility.

WFYB...thanks for that info....When I looked at the swap out a few years ago, the info I posted is what I was given from a Ray tech.....:thumbsup:

 

[rwvw415]

Thank you for the information . I have the newer self parking open aray so it seems like it will work. I and going to to to Raymarine to see if they can tell me for sure. At the Searay Owners event the Raymarine rep said it would but of course I did not have my serial numbers with me at that time.

 

[jrirvine1]

Our leader Jim just removed my SR Navigator. Anybody want it before I toss it overboard?

 

[fc3]

Our leader Jim just removed my SR Navigator. Anybody want it before I toss it overboard?

Sure! Maybe it's hackable.