[CA] [CA11] Updating 2003 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum rfchandler3,

Q1. I have major headaches with my depth finder. It routinely gives bad depth readings, sometimes shows no reading and is unreliable. IS there some type of maintenance I need to perform?
A1. No depth sounder has been listed among the vessel's equipment list. If the RL80CRC is supporting fishfinder features, then a DSM250, DSM30, or DSM300, along with a compatible fishfinder transducer has been interfaced to the RL80CRC as shown within the diagram below.




If so, then it would be recommended that trouble shooting begin with ensuring the all hsb cable connections between the RL80CRC and the fishfinder sounder module of free of corrosion (unseat each plug to verify), are tightly connected, have proper strain relief applied, and that the hsb cables have not been damaged or otherwise modified. It would additionally be recommended that the transducer be inspected to ensure that it is free of marine growth.

Q2. I want to upgrade my system in technology and have the same capability as I do now. I would like to reuse what I can.
A2. Please note that the Raymarine equipment of the vintage stated neither supported NMEA 2000 communications nor did it support engine integration. Any update to currently manufactured equipment would require replacement of the currently installed radome ("closed array"). We're going to need a bit more information before being able to make any recommendations. ST7001 is the product name give to the autopilot's control head. These control heads were compatible with several generations of autopilot course computers ... we will need to know the model of autopilot course computer which is presently installed onboard and will need to know if the autopilot is operational.

Please note that Raymarine MFD designs which followed the hsb/hsb2/SL Pathfinder Displays (ex. RL80CRC, RL70CRC, L760, etc.) went from a portrait layout to a landscape layout. Accordingly, Raymarine does not offer any MFDs which are designed to exactly fill the cutout of the RL80CRC ... hence I need to know what the maximum dimensions of the desired replacement display may be.

Finally, are you seeking fishfinding and/or bottom graphing or are you simply seeking to view the numerical value of the depth beneath the vessel?