Raymarine Chartplotters

Raymarine Chartplotters

Raymarine chartplotters, also known as multifunction displays, are among the most popular choices for recreational boaters. There are many reasons for this, but the key ones are ease of use, a rich set of practical features and very high reliability.

Raymarine’s own test laboratories allow the devices to be heated, frozen, vibrated and exposed to water under controlled conditions. In other words, Raymarine thoroughly tests the products and their components so you do not have to. You can trust Raymarine equipment to work in all conditions.

See Raymarine chartplotters at Marinekauppa

Raymarine displays are suitable for a wide variety of boats, from small day cruisers to larger motorboats and sailing yachts.

Below we look at some of the features that make Raymarine chartplotters so popular with boaters.

Ease of Use

Raymarine chartplotters are designed to be easy to use. Even if you are not familiar with electronic chartplotters, you can learn to operate a Raymarine unit quickly and intuitively.

The user interface is straightforward and easy to understand, and the buttons and controls are clearly labeled. On touch screen models, menus and views are logically arranged so that key functions are accessible with only a few taps.

Rich Feature Set

While ease of use is important, boaters also want a chartplotter with a full set of features. Raymarine chartplotters deliver on this as well. They offer all the main capabilities you would expect from a modern, high-end plotter, including:

• GPS navigation and route planning

• Fishfinder / sonar functions (depending on model)

• Radar compatibility

• NMEA 2000 and SeaTalk NG networking

• Integration with autopilots and engine data

• Various sailing and fishing tools and much more

Reliability

When you are out on the water, you need your chartplotter to be reliable. A frozen screen or unexpected crash is the last thing you want in a critical situation. Raymarine chartplotters have an excellent reputation for reliability. Their robust design and extensive testing make them a safe choice for demanding boaters.

NAVIONICS CHARTS

All current Raymarine chartplotters support Navionics, C-MAP and Raymarine’s own LightHouse charts. LightHouse is Raymarine’s in-house chart family, introduced in 2022.

Most Raymarine users still prefer Navionics charts thanks to their proven reliability and clear, easy-to-read presentation.

Navionics charts are sold here.

TWO MAIN RAYMARINE PLOTTER SERIES

Raymarine chartplotters can currently be divided into two main series: AXIOM and ELEMENT.

• AXIOM: more versatile and powerful, with glass touch displays and excellent connectivity

• ELEMENT: a more affordable, button-operated range with more limited networking compared to Axiom

The older Dragonfly series has been discontinued. It was the most basic of the groups and worked only as a standalone chartplotter/echo sounder without network capability.

Below we look at the Axiom and Element series in more detail and explain the key differences.

Raymarine Axiom user guide
Raymarine Element user guide

Raymarine Element Series

The Raymarine Element series includes two main plotter model lines: Element HV and Element S. The difference between them is in the built-in sonar.

All Element units are operated with buttons; none of them have a touch screen, regardless of size.

Element HV Models

Element HV models are HyperVision units. Their sonar uses 1.2 MHz HyperVision technology, making it easy to distinguish underwater structures, vegetation and fish.

Supported sonar views include:

• DownVision

• SideVision

• RealVision

The Element HV series runs Raymarine’s lightweight LightHouse Sport OS. This operating system is clearly targeted at anglers: it is stripped down, fast and easy to learn.

Element HV models are almost always sold with a transducer included. If you do not need the HyperVision sonar, it usually makes more sense to choose an otherwise similar Element S model at a lower price.

Available screen sizes in the Element series:

• 7 inch

• 9 inch

• 12 inch

Element S Models

Element S units are similar to HV models in terms of chartplotter functions but have a simpler sonar section. Element S models are affordable chartplotters to which you can add a traditional CHIRP sonar if desired.

Compatible sonar transducers for Element S models are from the CPT-S family.

Raymarine AXIOM Series

Raymarine Axiom multifunction displays are equipped with glass touch screens and are extremely versatile. They can be networked with almost all Raymarine accessories and sensors.

The LightHouse 3 operating system is very fast, powerful and flexible. Axiom devices are available:

• with built-in sonar

• or as chartplotter-only units without sonar

Screen sizes in the Axiom series:

• 7 inch

• 9 inch

• 12 inch

• 16 inch

Screen resolutions:

• 7" and 9": 800 x 480 WVGA

• 12": 1280 x 800 WXGA (HD) IPS

All Axiom model screens use a glass front panel for a modern, flush-mount look.

Sonar Options in Raymarine Axiom

Axiom devices are divided into three groups based on sonar:

1. Models with no sonar

2. Models with DownVision (DV) sonar

3. Models with RealVision 3D sonar

DownVision Sonar

DownVision provides a photo-like view of what is beneath your boat, allowing you to see bottom structure and target fish at the same time with very high resolution.

Unlike traditional single-frequency sonars, CHIRP-based DownVision sends a broad spectrum of frequencies with each pulse. This multi-frequency return is combined into an exceptionally detailed, almost photographic image of the underwater world.

RealVision 3D Sonar

RealVision 3D sonar is technology many anglers have wanted from the beginning: the ability to see what is under, behind and to the sides of the boat simultaneously and in three dimensions.

RealVision images clearly show structure and fish around the boat, making it much easier to understand what is happening below the surface.

All Raymarine Chartplotter Models (Series, Screen Size, Sonar)

Raymarine Element Series

• Raymarine Element 7 S – 7" – light CHIRP sonar

• Raymarine Element 7 HV – 7" – high-resolution 1.2 MHz HyperVision

• Raymarine Element 9 S – 9" – light CHIRP sonar

• Raymarine Element 9 HV – 9" – high-resolution 1.2 MHz HyperVision

• Raymarine Element 12 S – 12" – light CHIRP sonar

• Raymarine Element 12 HV – 12" – high-resolution 1.2 MHz HyperVision

Raymarine Axiom Series

• Raymarine Axiom 7 – 7" – touch screen – no sonar

• Raymarine Axiom 7 DV – 7" – touch screen – photo-like DownVision sonar

• Raymarine Axiom 9 – 9" – touch screen – no sonar

• Raymarine Axiom 9 RV – 9" – touch screen – high-definition 3D RealVision sonar

• Raymarine Axiom 12 – 12" – touch screen – no sonar

• Raymarine Axiom 12 RV – 12" – touch screen – high-definition 3D RealVision sonar