Raymarine A70d

[Escape with LG]

Guy's and Gal's

Just wondering if anyone has any feed back on the above mentioned unit! As i am considering getting one for my cc.

Thanks in advance

Luke

[Escape with LG]

So no one has any feedback on this unit or any of the raymarine A series units at all??????????

[rocklobster]

I have an A-50 Raymarine and not found it to be very user friendly . The quality of the unit is very good . The displays such as speed , distance to go , etc are no where as good as the old garmin 798 c that i also still use as well . I am not to sure what i would choose if i had to make another selection but i probablet would look harder at the Garmin .

[tenzing]

Have had the a65 for 3 years now.
Very user friendly and whole heartedly recommend it.
The sounder is great straight out of the box. If you are a sounder gumby like me youll find it has one of the best results in auto mode of any sounder.
It would be nice to "search" the waypoints list instead of scrolling through, and I would like scope to store more waypoints without having to use a user card to offload them.
Overall a great and reliable unit. I have even given thought to getting a second one and running one in each mode eg when trolling I use it in split screen and I would like to have a full screen for each view as the old eyes just aren't up to it.
Cheers
Brendan

[fishing111]

Have to agree with Rocklobster, i have a a50d and i can read my handheld Garmin a 100 times easier, with the distance to go and speed etc as the text is just to small, even at the highest level. The sounder is quite good, but overall i would not purchase another another Raymarine product, and especially a combo unit. They don't even give you a manual, all you get is a CD.

[Escape with LG]

Was mainly looking at it for its sounder. It will be sitting along my 798si bird... Just sick of having to split the screen........

As for no manual i reckon i can live with that...... What year are we in now 2011 manuals are a thing of the past!!!!

So how is the quality of the sounder part of the unit?????

Cheers guys

[Getout]

I have 2 x A65s. One is flush-mounted on the dash and is used in charplotter full-screen mode. The other is bracket mounted on the dash and used in fishfinder full-screen mode.
I went this way, because I don't get out fishing very often, but when I do, I go wide and don't want a major planning and preparation go to waste because of an electronics failure. I did start off with a single combo A65 unit, but soon realized that the split screen displays are just not big enough. Also, the best viewing position for the chartplotter for the driver does not correspond with the best position for the viewing position for the fishfinder when we are standing down at the rear of the cockpit dangling liveys on the drift.

I find the A65S incredibly easy to use. The menus are intuitive. The displays are easy to see and the fishfinder doesn't tell lies. I must also add, that both of my units cop a fair bit of moisture in the ruff stuff and during the hosedown afterwards, but have never shown a hint of screen moisture. I haven't had any breakdown issues either, other than the need to do a system reset on two occasions, because the sounder was having a spak attack (appearing to be in simulator mode)
Criticisms:
In chartplotter mode, the direction-of-travel vector is too feint, (even with the system upgrade)
It would be handy to be able to use a unique waypoint icon for each outing. In other words, you would be able to work out whether the way-point you just saved, was one from today or last year.
I reckon that chartplotters need portrait screens, but fishfinders need landscape screen layouts.
The distance travelled/ trip distance data function is too cumbersome to use.
The original Raymarine bracket was ordinary. The A70 one looks OK.
Other Plusses:
I think mine has unlimited waypoint storage.
It reads bottom easily and reliably at cruising speed
I love my Raymarine gear.

[Escape with LG]

Cheers for the feed back guys pretty sold on one now... Just have to check out the tinnie and tackle so savings!!

[LittleSkipper]

Gidday Guys

Lately I have been tossing & turning trying to decide on a decent unit for my Cuddy,The main ones I was looking at were Humminbird & Lowrance but have read too many horror storys on these.
I have also considered Garmin & GME, but never considered Raymarine. I do see there units have a lengthy 3 year warranty! what are your thoughts on the GPS/Sounder functions on these units?

Regards

Wayne.

[robothefisho]

Had an A70D for approx a year now. Sounder is definitely up to the job and shows fish and bottom very clearly. I would say they are a bit hard to figure out how to use them but once you work it out no problems. I don't like the chart function as much as an old furuno i had. But it works. It seems to be a quality product to the touch and hasnt had any problems. With recent price drops on the unit, I'd probably still buy one. I think there down to 1600 or so now?

[LittleSkipper]

Thanks Robothefish

The A70D is now selling for $1099.

[robothefisho]

Bloody hell, i really dont think you could go wrong for that money.

[Dignity]

I am considering using the unit for the chartplotter only although the current special includes the transducer which I will keep for just in case my sounder dies, what is the refresh rate like as I can't seem to get any decent specs on this unit. I used to own a fishfinder many years ago and found them to be reliable but never had one of their chartplotters.

[Sheik]

Mate I had an A50D and found the sounder good maybe if i'd done more work on it I'd have said it was very good. The chartplotter i found very clunky and hard to use. eg, you couldnt get the speed up on the screen, just basic annoying stuff like that. I have a garmin and it is fantastic as far as guiding you to differrent places. Prob wouldnt buy another for the price i paid (1300) but i see them now around the 8-900 mark.

[Dignity]

Thanks Sheik,
I was worried about it as A70D series is least 2 years old which in electronics business is a damn long time. I currently own a GME chartplotter which is less than a year old and will be throwing it in the bin when I get a new one becausse of this very reason, takes forever to show any directional change, my Garmin hand held which is 3 years old is about 500% better at direction change, probably OK for some one sailing or just mooching around but bloody useless when trying to position oneself against wind and current.