Raymarine A70 vs C70 and C90W

[corona]

I have been looking at Raymarine new lines of chartplotters for my sailboat. The A70 seems nice but does not have the options (radar/ AIS and more) offered by the C70 and the new C90W. Of course, the prices differ. Anybody experienced the new C90W, or is familiar with its operations/problems. Thanks.

[Dune]

I too am looking. I have found little information (other than manufacturer sales pitches) that is of much use. There are a lot of choices available. At present, I am leaning toward the Raymarine E80 system. It integrates gps, radar, chartplotter, and depth features nicely in one system. I would like a little feedback from anyone that might have some advice to offer. This system is rather spendy but in looking at what it offers might be a prudent investment. I do mostly coastal cruising in areas with many nautical hazards. I like the looks of the Raymarine so far. (and no...I don't own stock in Raytheon)

[Sandero]

Complexity and not ease of use would be my comment. I don't use the thing very much as I am above decks and use a handheld plotter which just shows position and course line.

Enormous amount of data. Gee Whiz! I think they are way over priced. But when my stand alone radar died I got a Ray C80 MFD and set it up as a radar, then charts and a GPS, then AIS, then added in the fluxgate heading info. It all works and there's more to pile on - depth speed wind and weather, and the kitchen sink!

Phone home ET.

[corona]

I would agree these new toys are complex. How many among us would or could use them up to their full potential for coastal cruising ? A handheld is simple and practical and easy to use when steering.

[Finlandia57]

I recently purchased a C-70 and am happy with it up to a point. It integrates my depthsounder, speed, wind instrument and autopilot and give me water temp to boot. What I don't like about it is the fact that you are stuck with Navionics charts. Before the C-70 I was using a laptop running Offshore Navigator. I could download free charts from NOAA and they have much more detail than the expensive SD cards from Navionics.

Al

[Finlandia57]

An update to an old post.
I replaced the Raymarine C120 in the pilot house and the C70 at the aft helm with a C90W in both locations. Now the two can "talk" to each other and I see the same information on both.
Still stuck with Navionics charts but much better setup.

[hooligan6a]

I don't like Raymarine plotters but the Navionics charts are the best. You can
make a circumnavigation with only 5 or 6 chips.you can't do that with Garmin
charts. it is more like 15 or 20 chips and they are much more expensive. Navionics chips give you much more bang for the buck.

[s/v 'Faith']

Just spent 2 weeks doing a delivery on a boat with a new c90w (with radar, not AIS)....

... i was not impressed. Clunky menu... (useable once used to it, but not nearly as easy or intuitive as Garmin IMHO).

Radar lacked 'tweakability'... hard to get the right presentation (can do, but lots of fiddling with harder to use menu's)...

... global base maps worthless... east coast chip helped, but not much bottom data. Specific chip coverage too limited for a cruising boat (again,IMHO)....

.. not much of a fan.

[goboatingnow]

Of all the models. I think the C90W is the best. Good integration. Easy to use menu system ( better them new Garmins) excellent radar chart plotter integration. Best integration with autopilotd instruments, radio, ais once you stay RAy I would not bother with E series too expensive and you don't get much more. The C90w can network to another C90w which is all most people want.

Good unit

Ps. Raytheon hasn't owned Raymarine in a long time.

[goboatingnow]

Sorry duplicate post