[C320-list] Need Advice on RayMarine C80 MFD Repair/Replacement and Intermittent Start Button

[Allan Field]

Hi Dave - When we purchased our C387 3 years ago, we had the same issues
with the chartplotter that you are describing.  The issues were found at
survey so the PO had them fixed.  The unit was sent back to Raymarine,
repaired, and was returned withing something like 2 weeks.  There also is a
guy in Durango, CO who services Raymarine equipment and has a good
reputation, based on everything I have heard about him.  I even sold him
some excess parts a few years ago.  His name is Dan Gerhardt,
C250 at mydurango.net.  I would recommend that your questions also be directed
to Dan.  As for changing out the Raymarine instruments, I believe that the
real question is how to interface old SeaTalk instruments with newer NG
(next generation) instruments.  I have seen a lot of stuff out there in the
past on NG but don't remember the solutions but my aging memory is that
there are incompatibility issues, meaning everything may need to be changed
out.  Hope this helps...
Allan S. Field


On Sat, Nov 16, 2019 at 2:58 AM Utility Comcast <kswanson123 at comcast.net>
wrote:

> Fellow C320IA Owners,
>
> A new C320IA Owner/Friend of mine that recently bought our C320 MK II has
> a few questions for you all.  His name is Robert Blix and he is the proud
> new owner of S/V Journey, formerly our S/V Emily Ann, a 2007 C320 MK II,
> No. 1107. that he sails out of Edmonds, Washington.  Rob has signed up for
> the C320IA, but doesn’t quite have email access yet, so I am sending this
> email on his behalf and forwarding your responses to him.  I have been
> talking up how valuable the C320IA is and the advice and suggestions from
> our fellow members, so I would like to share with him any experience,
> advice and/or suggestions you all would have for him with two recent
> problems that he has encountered.
>
> So a couple of questions on Rob’s behalf:
>
> 1. His 2007 C320 MKII, No. 1107, has the original RayMarine instruments,
> the C80 Chartplotter, Autopilot, Radar, Wind Indicator, and Tridata with a
> ACR AIS connected to the system and the factory ICOM's VHF antenna.  The
> instrumentation package has been reliable and great until last week when
> the C80 chart plotter screen started flickering and now it is just showing
> colored vertical lines across the screen.  It is un-useable.  So, our
> questions are:
>
> a.  Has this happened to anyone else with a 12 year old RayMarine chart
> plotter?  If so, did you repair/replace or upgrade it?
> b.  If you repaired, how did you do that and who did you use?  Any
> recommendations?
> c.  If you replaced it, did anyone buy a used one off of eBay and do a
> “plug and play” replacement?
> d.  Would it be possible to upgrade the C80 with a E80 chart plotter or
> even a working used larger screen E120 chart plotter and still use the rest
> of the existing RayMarine equipment?  We are not sure where to determine
> compatibility.  The RayMarine factory has not been that helpful for the
> repair of an older unit.  It seems like they just want to sell the newer
> Axiom units.
> e.  If you upgraded with a new unit, what is the consensus, RayMarine or
> Garmin?  If RayMarine, can you still use the existing Autopilot, wind
> indicator, speed/depth, etc or do these need to be upgraded as well to work
> with the new integrated chart plotter systems?
> f.  If you selected to upgrade to the Garmin system, how much of the older
> working RayMarine equipment can still be used?  Can the existing cabling
> for the wind indicator be used with the Garmin wind indicator?  Can the
> RayMarine autopilot interface wit a new Garmin Chartplotter?
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  The cost of upgrading the entire
> system seems like it might be cost prohibitive compared to replacing the
> C80 with a similar used unit or seeking a repair, but Rob and I are both
> curious about what other C320 owners have done and sage advice that you may
> all have.
>
> 2.  Recently, the Yanmar 3YM30 engine has a delay when the start button is
> pushed.  Rob explains it like "after he turns on the key, he has to press
> the start button several time before the engine turns over.  It is like
> power is not getting to the starter until several pushes of the start
> button.”  The batteries are fully charged, and the Yanmar engine starting
> and cockpit instrument panel system seems energized.  Has anyone had this
> happen to them and did they ever find the culprit?  Loose wire or
> connection, corroded or worn out start button, corroded connections, too
> much voltage drop from a corroded connection from the start switch to the
> starter solenoid, etc.  Again, any troubleshooting advice or similar
> experiences for Rob would be super appreciated.
>
> Thank you all for weighing in n these issues for Rob.  Our C320IA owners
> group is an invaluable resource.
>
> Thanks again for you help!
>
> Dave
>
> David B. Swanson, P.E., S.E.
> LEED AP/F. SEI
> Structural Engineer
> (425) 508-7971 mobile
> kswanson123 at comcast.net
>
>
>
>