Raymarine Axiom + Hydrotough

[BUDXR7]

Anybody have experience with the latest iteration of the Raymarine hardware? Specifically the Axiom+ and above models. The “+” is essentially the same as the legacy axiom however it has a screen coating called hydrotough, which allegedly provides protection to the touch screen to maintain functionality when wet. I currently have the original axiom model (circa 2016) and from experience, when the screen gets wet, it becomes useless. This is a real problem in rough weather and unfamiliar waters. My intent is to get a second MFD and link it with the raynet cable to the primary unit. I can go with either the improved “axiom +” or the push button element series, which is significantly cheaper and really only has lower resolution. It will be nice to have a second display too. Looking at 7” or 9” displays to compliment the primary 12”. I’ll also mention nothing is networked NMEA 2000 currently, hence the raynet cable (if anybody has any comments on this). Thanks guys.

 

[133]

I have and like the axiom line. It’s easy to use. Though, it is annoying that you need the RV model to use to your transducer and is Not compatible with a 1k unless you get the axiom pro. At that point, the price is similar to any garmin/simrad and between all three I’d go with garmin personally.

 

[Wharf Rat]

Couple things: The Element unfortunately was not designed to network w/ multiple displays via RayNet, was designed as a stand-alone display.
The + models definitely have a much better screen both with it being an IPS LCD and the 'hydrotough' coating. That said, if it's really just a matter of the touch screen when wet, why not just add a RMK-10 wired remote keypad? It basically turns it into a hybrid touch display, and connects via RayNet. A much less expensive solution unless you really want a second screen.
RMK 10 Remote Keypad

 

[BUDXR7]

That is an interesting option. Adding a second screen was a nice side effect to solving the wet screen issue. I’m not a huge fan of the split screen options and radar overlay is not available. Also, setting up the network would allow me to integrate the autopilot, vhf, hard wire the radome (the Wi-Fi has been very unreliable for me), and expansion to any other devices. The simplest would be to replace my Axiom 12 RV with a Plus but I didn’t really have the stomach for that.

 

[Wharf Rat]

If you end up with a + unit, you could bring the display software to Lighthouse 4.2 and update the Quantum dome SW, allowing you to change the WiFi channel. The dome has to have at least version 2.44 to update it to V.2.50, but aside from adding a network switch, this would at least help improve the connectivity. Personally we hard wire every Quantum, we had all kinds of issues when we were pairing those things originally. Here's the SW link: Software Updates for Raymarine Quantum CHIRP Radar | Marine Electronics by Raymarine

 

[133]

I used this Raymarine RayNet to RayNet Cable and works great for the extra screen (see below).

 

[Jason S]

Are those 12” axioms? And is that a 5xx series furuno?

wharf, is the lighthouse 4.x update not recommended for the regular axiom line?

 

[BUDXR7]

I used this Raymarine RayNet to RayNet Cable and works great for the extra screen (see below).

View attachment 154230

Is the raynet cable sharing all data (position/radar/sonar) between the units?

 

[133]

Is the raynet cable sharing all data (position/radar/sonar) between the units?

Yes it shares info between the two (Nav, charting). If it were a RV then it’d be able to share sounder info as well. I don’t have radar but pretty sure you’d need a network switch (5 ports) to run the additional devices.

 

[133]

Are those 12” axioms? And is that a 5xx series furuno?

wharf, is the lighthouse 4.x update not recommended for the regular axiom line?

Yes and 628 furuno. They run independently from each other.

 

[Jason S]

I have an axiom 9, axiom 9 rv, and a quantum radar connected together with a 5 port DC powered Ethernet switch that i got off Amazon. I have one set to master, one set to slave, and they all share the information back and forth.
Has worked very well for me.

I agree with you on the 1k transducer part and the RV feature has been a dud for me with the rv100 transducer, If i did it again i would find a used cp370 and get two of the regular axioms and just network the cp370 with a b260
Transducer.