new also need help already!

[Sacrebleu]

Hi All
I am very new to all this....
I have found this sight today when looking for advice on Raymarine chartplotters/radar so wondered if any one can help me....
we have just bought a yacht and it is a 2003 it has a Raymarine RC530 never been updated on it... wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to do updates to it i.e new C map cards? or is it too old.......?
we are planning to go the AIS route eventually but we need to bring the yacht back form Dublin to England in may and thought this may be a cheaper way of dealing with the issue for now...... especially the way technology is changing at the moment...... and the amount of money we have had to spend getting the yacht fit to sail! all too much to learn!!!!

[James S]

I know nothing about Ray stuff...but welcome to the forum Sacreblue....

[Pete7]

If you want new charts for your route it looks like 3 charts which is going to be just short of £500, which isn't justified.

If Suffolk is your home then might be worth buying this one, especially if it covers the Thames area with those sand banks.

I buy my charts from the Solent Marine Superstore, who make them up on the spot to ensure they are completely up to date.

Electronic Charts - Electronics | Marine Super Store

For the delivery trip, I would prefer up to date paper charts as I guess any on board will also be of a similar vintage. Would be much cheaper too.

I also doubt that the RC530 will accept AIS, but do check with Raymarine. If so keep the RC530 as a spare stand alone chart plotter when you upgrade.

Final thought, have a read of this thread about Raymarine 125 GPS ariels. You probably have the earlier 120 version so I can't say if it has a battery inside it. However, if it has its now 8 years old and due a change.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...c80-52914.html

Pete

[Sacrebleu]

Thanks Pete. Will check out raymarine.... Have bought new paper charts and ordered some that weren't in stock.
Will no doubt be back with more questions!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,