My electronics...any good?

R

Rick D

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Hello all.

When we purchased our boat this past month, it came with the radar and plotter. I would like to know, that assuming both are 100% functional, is there any reason I would want to replace them for our first year boating?

Radar: Raytheon SL-70
Nav: Magellan Nav 6500 GPS/Plotter

Decent equipment? Junk? OK for the first year?

Thanks,
--Rick
 
Depends on how you use your boat.
I had a Magellan 6500 and it was OK, slow on the re-draw but it worked for what i used it for.
 
i woudn't change anything yet. try the equipment, see if it fits YOUR needs then upgrade if needed after a few weeks or a couple of months.

you may not need the very latest loaded with all sorts of bell n whistles...
 
A radar unit ( any functioning radar unit ) is better than no radar...

An older GPS/plotter is still a plotter with GPS positioning.

Frankly, unless you are trying to have the "best bling", keep them, get used to them, and only consider updating them if you find the functions/feature set wanting. A 10yr old GPS likely has WAAS or equivalent so it's accuracy is likely quite good ( it won't deteriorate over time ), A radar if functioning is so much better than no radar, you might as well keep it. At least for now. New units have advantages, but the older units have worked so far, and they are paid for...

-----

Note on older GPS and older plotter:

The GPS "head" may contain a button battery used to retain "home location" in memory. If this battery goes dead it may be impossible ( or nearly so ) to replace ( though I am sure tha some can be replaced ). If it fails, it will lose "home" everytime the power is shut off, and will cause a long ( 15+ min ) initial start sequence. Or it might simply fail.

Plotter:

You should check the dates of the charts, and update them. This -might- be difficult. But try.

---

But back to your question...

I would keep them, at least until I have proven that they need to be upgraded.
 
don’t change anything until you become familiar enough with the present stuff to understand the improvements you would really value. Old electronics may well be very good for your needs.
 
Have to agree with Bruce... also, older units will have fewer bells and whistles and may be easier to learn.
 
+1 with all of the above.

Use what you have and get used to it and see how it performs and if it suites your needs. Newer, with more bells and whistles is not always better. to me the most important factors with marine electronics are accuracy and dependability.

If it works for you, works well, is accurate and dependable, leave it alone. IMHO.

Bob

PS: It'll break and need replacing soon enough. :)
 
When all of that equipment was installed new it worked great, not sure how much has changed in boating/navigating since then to render it useless. If you like the gear and it does it's job then keep it. If you want new fancy toys then go out and buy it.

I have and older Garmin 2010 chart plotter and old style Furuno CRT radar, both work great and do the job. No need for newer gear for me.
 
+1 all above.

Plus, the Ray Pathfinder wasn't a bad unit, just limited. I don't know the Magellan, so I won't comment on it.
 
I will add my agreement with the above. It is very dependent on how and where you are going to use it. Believe me, your boat will find many other things for you to spend the money on. Sign yourself up for Power Squadron navigation and radar classes. That will allow you to use your radar better (I have used an SL 70 on a charter boat and it seemed pretty good) and make you less dependent on your chart plotter (never have used a Magellan).

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport
 
I agree with everyone here, keep what you have for now. You need some more time to figure out if they do the job for you AND to know what you don't like about them.

There isn't one "best" plotter, so you need to determine what features and layout works best for you.

I've also said before that there are some serious differences in the different charts, so that should influence your decision.

As you use your unit you'll figure out what you like and don't like, then you can start looking at other units to compare.
 
The boat I bought two years ago (my current boat) came with a Raymarine SL-70 radar unit. I like it; it works; it's nothing fancy, but it does the job. And it's NMEA 0183 compliant so I was able to interface it with a newer Garmin GPS plotter I acquired.

I agree with the consensus view: keep it; use it; decide if it meets your needs.
 
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