hynespa
Well-Known Member
- Jun 7, 2010
- 317
- Boat Info
- 2005 420 Sundancer
- Engines
- T-VD-8.1 S HO MerCruiser (T-420 hp)
I know from reading this forum there are many opinions about Raymarine electronics vs Garmin / Furuno / etc.
I inherited the (recently upgraded) Raymarine electronics from the previous owner in May when I purchased my 420 Sundancer. My issue was with the MFD and autopilot not talking to each other. The PO gave me the contact information of the local installer who upgraded the MFD and Radar the previous year. That installed came out on the boat, and let me know that the MFD and Autopilot were incapable of talking to each other via Seatalk, and that I would have to upgrade the Autopilot if I wanted them to be integrated.
I then decided to register and join the Raymarine forum. I was actually highly impressed after reading the thoroughness of how Raymarine (particularly Chuck from Raymarine) responded in detail to each and every forum post. I decided to photograph and trace myself (but not disturb) how all the Seatalk and NMEA wiring had been hooked up by the installer (including the installer trying to make their own SeaTalk cables by splicing tables together with electrical tape).
I posted a very detailed query, with supporting photographs to Raymarine and Chuck responded the next day with very detailed instructions of where the installer went wrong with the installation, and how the cabling would have to be fixed. Having lost faith in the installer, I proceeded to redo the SeaTalk and NMEA cabling myself of the course of a couple weekend days. I was thrilled that Chuck's guidance worked - and my Autopilot was now talking to my MFD via SeaTalk!! This gives me the ability to control the autopilot from the MFD which is what I really wanted to do. I was also glad I didn't have to shell out $$$$ for an autopilot upgrade.
Attached are two network diagrams I made as a result of Raymarine's detailed response. The first shows the SeaTalk1 / SeaTalkng wiring between components (including the model number of each Raymarine cable / junction) and the second diagram is the NMEA0183 rewiring (using a Blue Sea Systems style wiring block).
I encourage anybody with Raymarine networking issues to register and post to the Raymarine forum. I am not passing judgement one way or another on the quality / capabilities of their electronics - however I would give an A+ to their customer support on their forum.
It would be interesting to hear from other Club Searayers whether Garmin and Furuno have customer forums where company tech support responds to customer postings and questions with highly detailed (and accurate) responses.
I inherited the (recently upgraded) Raymarine electronics from the previous owner in May when I purchased my 420 Sundancer. My issue was with the MFD and autopilot not talking to each other. The PO gave me the contact information of the local installer who upgraded the MFD and Radar the previous year. That installed came out on the boat, and let me know that the MFD and Autopilot were incapable of talking to each other via Seatalk, and that I would have to upgrade the Autopilot if I wanted them to be integrated.
I then decided to register and join the Raymarine forum. I was actually highly impressed after reading the thoroughness of how Raymarine (particularly Chuck from Raymarine) responded in detail to each and every forum post. I decided to photograph and trace myself (but not disturb) how all the Seatalk and NMEA wiring had been hooked up by the installer (including the installer trying to make their own SeaTalk cables by splicing tables together with electrical tape).
I posted a very detailed query, with supporting photographs to Raymarine and Chuck responded the next day with very detailed instructions of where the installer went wrong with the installation, and how the cabling would have to be fixed. Having lost faith in the installer, I proceeded to redo the SeaTalk and NMEA cabling myself of the course of a couple weekend days. I was thrilled that Chuck's guidance worked - and my Autopilot was now talking to my MFD via SeaTalk!! This gives me the ability to control the autopilot from the MFD which is what I really wanted to do. I was also glad I didn't have to shell out $$$$ for an autopilot upgrade.
Attached are two network diagrams I made as a result of Raymarine's detailed response. The first shows the SeaTalk1 / SeaTalkng wiring between components (including the model number of each Raymarine cable / junction) and the second diagram is the NMEA0183 rewiring (using a Blue Sea Systems style wiring block).
I encourage anybody with Raymarine networking issues to register and post to the Raymarine forum. I am not passing judgement one way or another on the quality / capabilities of their electronics - however I would give an A+ to their customer support on their forum.
It would be interesting to hear from other Club Searayers whether Garmin and Furuno have customer forums where company tech support responds to customer postings and questions with highly detailed (and accurate) responses.