Garmin vs Raymarine

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by maine50

CaptTom- what devices did you use to get Nmea 0183 to Nmea2000 or vice versa. I have several Raymarine I70s displays with speed/wind / depth but would like to get Navigational/Ais from Nmea 0183 chartplotter to them.

Everything talks either NMEA 0183 or 2000. Some talk both. my Vesper XB8000 puts a bunch of what it receives (on either network) out over WiFi, too. This is getting more and more common with newer MFDs.

I've made some upgrades since I first posted this, but it should give you the general idea:

[the dude abides]

there is a total lack of Garmin support in Asia. I went through the web site to find a dealer in Malaysia. The first 2 times I rung they lifted and put down the phone straight away. 3rd time I got through to someone who did not know what a chart plotter is. They took my contact details and never got in touch with me. I then went to Asia support on the Garmin site, no reply for days, so then I wrote to the head office, who sent me the link to Asia support. No dialogue, just send a link. I told them I tried them send that there is no support. They got back to me and told me that they had contacted Asia support and that they will get to me. Asia support just sends me the link to the dealer that hangs up on people. I told them I tried there - they send a link to someone else in Thailand, who have been helpful - even though the link they sent me was outdated and did not work and I had to track them down myself. Also tried some suggestions here but not getting much help. I even asked Garmin a technical answer but again no reply - simply about chart plotter being able to talk to each other. if someone knows an American supplier who will ship to Malaysia I would be most interested, although this is taking so long I would like to get it over. I can see I am going to have to leave Garmin. I don't seem to have a choice in the matter because they give you none, their support is non existent and they don't seem to care.

[barold]

My $0.02. I can only speak from my experience (in North America) and the comments regarding getting support where ever you are cruising should be a big determinant, but my brand new boat (3 years ago) with complete Raymarine electronics has constantly had issues (small but annoying and time consuming) with the various components. To the point on our last cruise I sailed it like a dinghy without the electronics to save my self the aggravation of trying to troubleshoot the various issues.

[reflectionsv37]

I'm also in Langkawi and I have had many things shipped into Langkawi duty free. Defender Marine carries Garmin and they will special order from any of their suppliers and ship to Malaysia. I've used them multiple in many different countries. They provide a number of different shipping options that you can choose from. You won't be disappointed in their service.

That said, if you haven't found out yet, you will soon discover that anything ordered from Australia is going to be far more expensive than ordering from the US. I've seen items priced double the cost of US prices.

You might also check out websites in the EU. The shipping costs are considerably cheaper than sending from the US. There are lots of companies in Europe that deal in Raymarine if you decide to go that way. I don't know about Garmin but I suspect you'll find lots of companies selling their equipment there.

I have been able to order "discontinued" replacement parts for Raymarine gear from the UK that are no longer sold in the US. Europe has stronger rules for replacement parts so equipment can't be quickly made obsolete like they regularly do in the US.

[Orion Jim]

I had Raymarine for eons with no real complaints but replaced all my instruments last fall. I chose a Garmin MFD, Doppler radar, and masthead wind speed/direction. I always liked the Raymarine Tridata so I replaced that with a new unit. I also replaced my depth transducer and the speed transducer. All the cables were also replaced. I think the mistake some owners make is to have some old components serving new components.
I’m very happy with my decision so far.

[Captmatt]

I have a new Raymarine A120 chart plotter and Quantum Digital Radar on my boat and like them both. I had to replace a circa 2004 plotter so wanted to stick with Raymarine for all the other instruments. I must say that after hearing the horror stories about Raymarine I have had great customer support when needed. Either problems have been resolved on the phone or when warranty items sent in problems solved and they paid the postage. Since FLIR bought Raymarine I think it has gotten better.

[dominig]

I have Garmin and Raymarine system on my boat (one atthe helm one inside).
I would certainly not buy anymore Garmin.
The support is "nice" but hopeless at correcting problem. Asking me 3 times, if I am happy of the support, while ignoring my questions, does not help.

The Garmin tracer has few serious issues that remain open for more than 18months :


- tracer crashes if a GPS sat quality message is received over NMEA 183
- backlight control cannot be done while chart is displayed when system has been on for a few. It requires to go back to setup menu
- short keys cannot be programmed for what every menu (e.g. not possible to create a short for Tides or AIS menu)
- tracer reboot once in a while (most often when checking tide level just before entering a critical path).
- AIS collision detection, is so stupid that it's makes it useless in most situation.
Note: the best software on AIS collision remains for me OpenCPN by far.



Garmin support has asked me at least 10 times, if I was happy of their support but no one as ever given me a hint of explanation, nor correction. I had to configure my Miniplex NMEA mux to remove the (valid) NMEA frames that crashed the Garmin and live with the other issues as they are.



On the other side, the Raymarine is may be less fancy, but it has never ever crashed at sea. Downward compatibility is cater for, what means that you can integrate a new addons even on a 15 years old system. A real value when the solution gets old (what with computer takes 3 months) and you want an upgrade or have to replace a defective display (in my case it was the Depth display).


Dominig

[Looking4Neptune]

I see that Amazon.com (I am in the US) carries some Garmin chartplotters (I know, you already have) and other kit. Maybe they have what you want?
For instance:

Garmin GMI™ 20 Marine Instrument Display
5.0 out of 5 stars 2
$549.99


Amazon ships internationally

[altinr]

Originally Posted by the dude abides

I am getting a few replacements after lightning struck my boat. I am in South East Asia. Seem to be a few dealers around but no Garmin. Every time I mention Garmin people tell me that they are for more of the weekend cruiser instead of the round the world cruiser and that Raymarine are superior.
Is there a real reason for this? As in, Raymarine is a superior tougher build, or is it just bollocks and I would maybe hear the same from a Garmin specialist talk about Raymarine.

I like my Garmin 1040xs chartplotter andGMR18xHD radar. They have worked flawlessly for five years. My GMR12 autopilot with A drive has been an expensive disaster. After 2 failed drive units, it still wouldn’t work until I spent another $1200 having an external rudder sensor installed ... supposed to be in the drive unit.

[dominig]

It's easy to interface older Raymarine (and new) with any NMEA 183 or NMEA 2000 equipment (at least for the standardised mesurement e.g. wind, depth, compas).
As the Raymarine legacy bus (seatalk, not seatak-ng) which is still available on old as new kit, is managed by NMEA Mux from Shipmodule ShipModul Marine Electronics
You can read from seatalk and send data to seatalk buses with the miniplex (select the model with the interfaces that you need (NMEA2000/Wifi/BT).
Miniplex can also convert messages when compatiblity challenges are to be faced (or major software bug like on my Garmin)/

[johnyred]

GARMIN plotters, due to Garmin maps, are the only ones that can calculate and follow a route to a point. And I don’t mean a straight line over islands. So for me plotter and autopilot is GARMIN.
As for the rest instruments B&G (SIMRAD) are the most elegant. Instruments aren’t specific and can display all network information. Also B&G are the most easy to connect on a net (Simnet).
Keep in mind that none of the marine instruments are truly salt water waterproof. Almost all use silicone for insulation. So positioning on the boat and protection from sea water and sun is vital.

[sailing_gal]

I used to have RM. It does have a night mode, just briefly touch the on/off button and you will bring up the menu for it. But, I just swapped out all of my RM equipment for B and G. I won't have RM on my boat anymore. They make their equipment obsolete in only a few years and quit supporting it so you have to either find used equipment or upgrade.

[Mauruuru]

I have all Raymarine on my new in 2010 boat. Nothing but problems and initially service was terrible. I do think that both design and service have improved since FLIR acquisition but if I finally pull trigger and replace it all it will not be with Raymarine

[bojo_bs]

If you want to sail around the world as I see, don't foget NKE marnie electronis. They are the best. As I see they have dealer in Hong Kong.

[CarinaPDX]

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

Of course you can. Seatalkng is nmea2000 with more solid connectors, that's all.

I think you have this mixed up. The NMEA standard does not require a specific connector but does recommend the DeviceNet standard connectors. These are stout, sealing connectors that use metal threads - Maretron is a good source of these. The RM look similar but use a plastic bayonet connection; RM connectors are quite satisfactory but certainly not more solid than DeviceNet connectors. Now the Simrad SimNet connectors and cables are another matter - cheap garbage IMHO. Something else to know: the DeviceNet cables, starting from the central power tap with its two female connectors, extend out with male-female cables. The RM and Simnet cables have the same gender on both ends with the other gender for the devices and tees. Personally I recommend installing a standard DeviceNet backbone and use adapter cables where needed (I have just one adapter cable, for the Simrad AIS).

Greg