pedestal mounted Raymarine 435i Chartplotter

[Mike Smith]

Well, I've searched the forums and Projects to no avail, so I'll ask -  Has anyone installed a pedestal-mounted Raymarine 435i Chartplotter?  If so, any advice or caution about the installation, and, how do you like the chartplotter?

Mike

[Joe Kern]

I bought the Jenny Jewel with a 435i installed.  It has served me well from South Ga to Central Florida and for a 2 week trip to, from and around the Bahamas. 

[Mike Smith]

Thanks, Joe -

Yep, that's what I want.  I will be replacing a three instrument pod with only the ST4000 autopilot head mounted on it; my other instrument displays (Speed, Wind, and Depth) are mounted on another pod above it, like yours.  The autopilot display will go above where your mic is mounted.  I am assuming the internal GPS antenna in the 435 is suffficient for accurate plotting.  Do you happen to know the model number of the Navpod?  Thanks for your help!

Mike

[Wayne]

Hi.
I hate to provide really negative input, but here I go.  I wasn't sure of my model number, so didn't respond to your initial post.  But after seeing the picture included with the previous post, I see it is exactly like mine.  I don't know if different models used the same case, but . . .

I absolutely hate mine.  I came new with the boat, and I really wish I would have had the time to research it before agreeing to it.  I also have a Garmin 276C, a high-end handheld, which does more and is soooo much more user friendly.  Part of my problem might be that I'm used to Garmin, but I really think my negative opinion goes beyond that.

Specifics:  The screen is really cluttery when near land/shore facilities.  I think Raymarine tries to show too much stuff.  And I really don't care for the color scheme Raymarine uses for the mapping--colors are just too intense.  The zoom in doesn't go very close.  When approaching what Raymarine considers an overzoom condition the maping no longer shows up--just a blank screen with the boat position cursor shown.  In some areas of SF Bay I can't go to a scale smaller than 1nm--really ridiculous for such a well-mapped area. Moving through the control tabs is really old fashioned and clunky.  Numerical information display functions are clumsy and sometimes downright funky (for instance, on the map page SOG and course information are so tiny that they are really tough to read).  The feature I hate most is that when powered on it does not automatically go to the map screen and show my position.  I have to manually tell the box to use the 'find ship' function to place the boat icon onto the screen every single time.  To me, the 'you are here' idea strikes to the very heart of the usefullness of a GPS.  If all you are going to get is a map, with no graphic indication of current position, it is better to use a paper chart.  And let me not forget to mention how unhelpful the documentation is . . .

I have Raymarine speed, depth, windpoint, and autopilot (all of which I think are excellent products).  I do not have my GPS interfaced with my other instruments (Seatalk), and the ability to interface is the only reason I would even remotely consider a Raymarine GPS.  Maybe higher end Raymarine GPS products are better, but I plan someday to tear mine out and replace it, most likely with a Garmin.

Sorry to be so negative; I'm usually not this strongly opinionated.  But as you see, I absolutely hate mine . . .

[Joe Kern]

Everyone has a different opinion on these kinds of things so I am don't want to sound like I am disagreeing with Wayne or defending Raymarine.  Just a  few comments:

- When I power on it always comes to the map screen and shows the boat location (technically the last location the boat was when the GPS was on) but for me that is always the same.  Could be a preference setting or something but I never have to hit Find Ship" unless I have moved the cursor to plot routes etc.

- My chartplotter is connected to my tri-data, wind and autohelm instruments.  They all talk and it is especially nice to set a route in the GPS and have the ability to hit autohelm and turn on tracking and have the boat track per the GPS with warning alarms prior to each change in track position. 

I have not really had a problem with the chart data or detail.  I did notice that entering Hopetown Harbor in the Bahamas I was motoring over land, but I think that is a Mapchart/GPS overlay issue and not necessailry the chartplotter.

I sail in the Ocean off of Cape Canaveral and in the Bahamas.  I might feel differentlty if I had to spend time worrying about big winds, cold water and running into large Golden color bridges 

[Joe Kern]

Mike, my boat came with an external GPS antenna mounted on the starboard rail.  Not sure how the internal antenna would do.

If I was starting from scratch I might consider biting the bullet on radar and one of the new c or e series mulit-displays that could display the radar, chartplotter infor and talk to all the other Raymarine instruments.  Big $$ but something I have been thinking about.

[Jack Hutteball]

Mike, I am not sure how the internal antenna will work, but if it does not, I have the external antenna for my Garmin 2005C mounted on top of the pedestal guard.  I works great, is out of the way, concealed wiring, and very easy to install.  A simple hole in the pedestal guard and running the wire between the antenna and the plotter.

Jack

[Mike Smith]

gtrbone -

I think the "i" in 435i means it has an internal antenna...  I have been reading a lot of 'boards regarding the 425i and some comments indicate to me that the user just needs to read the manual! 

Jack -

That's a great location - you can warm your hands with it on a cold day!

Thanks,
Mike

[Joe Kern]

Makes sense to me.  I must have the "non-i" model. 

My external antenna on the stern rail is just outside of the edge of the bimini.  Not sure if the bimini would impact the signal if it was on the pedestal.  Not sure about your set-up but it is hard enough to see over/through/around my pedestal with the two Navpods.  Putting an antenna up there for me would just make it worse.

Again, I have been happy with mine.

Good luck.

[Mike Smith]

Thanks for all the info, Joe!  I have heard that the best place for your external (remote) GPS antenna is as low as you can get it on your boat.  I don't think the Bimini would make much difference - I've had my Garmin hand-held mounted on the left pedestal guard for years with no problems.   I, too, have my forward view partially blocked by the upper Navpod when seated  - however, I have heard that you can safely cut off up to three inches from the bottom of the angled pedestal guard and still have everything "fit".  My chartplotter is on hold right now, until I get some more information from Raymarine (i.e.,  does a chip come with the new unit, or is it bought separately, have raster graphics improved over the last few years, automated notice to mariners update service, etc.)

Fair Winds,
Mike

[rirvine]

As I have said before, if you are planning on spending big dollars of a proprietary chart plotter, you owe it to yourself to look into using a PC (or MAC) and one of the software packages that are available – you can get the equivalent feature set for less than $1000.00 - PC + software + interface to instruments via NMEA 183.  This has been enabled by NOAA putting their vector charts into the public domain.

Just my 2 cents.

Ray

[Mike Smith]

You're right, Ray!  I have a couple of spare laptops and I'm looking into this option.  I'm still concerned about mounting it on my pedestal guard, though...  Any suggestions - or perhaps a picture?

Mike

[BillG]

I wouldn't recommend mounting a laptop on the pedestal, but they do make a wireless, waterproof, touchscreen monitor that can be used at the pedestal while the laptop remains safe and dry below.  They are a bit expensive tho. Another option is to wall mount a 17 or 19 inch flat screen monitor, with a bracket that allows it to pivot so you can see it from the cockpit. This montor can be used  with a laptop, but additionally  as a TV screen if you attach a TV Tuner/ converter which can be picked up for about $80.00.

[Jim Price]

Just as a point of info, I have a smaller Garmin 176C with internal antenna mounted on pedestal and I cannot tell any degradation with it being under the bimini when it is up.  Picks up several different satellites so I guess the different signal angles received make it all work when covered.

[rirvine]

There is a lot of information around using a MAC on:

http://www.macsailing.net

I use a G4 Powerbook installed at the NAV station interface to RM instruments and AIS via NMEA 183. I use a bank of RM ST60 displays mounted over the hatch to see what is going on.

You can find some photos of the monitor installed at the helm at:

http://www.macsailing.net/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=284&highlight=monitor&sid=2783995a3b94468759f6dbfaba0639ea

There are wireless connected monitor avaible as well but the price goes up.