New Raymarine C-Series Brief

Raymarine is going to officially launch their new C-Series in the USA at the upcoming Miami Boat Show. I thought I would give everybody a brief intro to it, so maybe you can include it in your show tour if it appeals to you.

The bullet points for this new system over the previous Raymarine C-Series are:

• Video - You can plug in a camera or DVD Player
• Internal GPS Antenna
• Wide Screen Format - ideal for split screen modes
• Pre-loaded with Navionics Charts
• 3D Charting Capability
• Satellite Imagery
• Dual Range Radar Mode
• Limited Networking to share network devices like the DSM Sounder Module
• ..and an all new Rotary/Cursor knob

These are all significant improvements which puts the C Series more on par with the E-Series, and then some. In fact, the only major feature missing from the E-Series is networking with multiple units. I'm sure we'll see a major E-Series revision soon. The new Rotary knob is a neat improvement which will really help navigating around the menus. The prior C-Series had a knob that doubled as a button, and a separate scrolling pad. The new C-Series combines these. So when inputting waypoint data, or scrolling around the chart for info, you can do it all without removing your fingers from the new scroll pad button knob thingamajig.

The Limited Networking is a perfect upgrade for all single station boats, and smaller dual station boats. The C-Series networking is limited to 2 displays. Whatever you can do on one screen will be doable on the other. This includes radar, fishfinder, charting, and of course all nmea data such as heading, wind data, waypoints, etc.
The new wide screen format is really neat. It will basically make each screen segment wider while in split screen modes. The wider each screen section gets, the more usable it is.
The internal GPS is a great add on. Now we don't need to run a GPS antenna at boat shows . The same principle applies to boats. These new GPS sensors are so sensitive that there are not many center console or walkaround boats that really need an external antenna. While this may be a tough argument to make as everybody is accustomed to external antennas, I say give it a try and only add the external antenna if you find its needed (unless of course you have a boat that absolutely needs an external gps).
All the other C-Series Basics are in place to:

• Sirius Weather and Audio
• NMEA2000 Engine Data
• Navionics Platinum Chart Capability
• Seatalk
• NMEA0183
• Digital FF Capable
• All new Digital Radar Capable
• AIS

So if you make it to the show, check it out.
If anybody wants the pdf brochure just email me and request it. jim@boemarine.com