Raymarine Axiom 7-RV MFD with RealVision Transducer

[Starscream]

Well, I just bought myself an early Christmas present to complement last year's present. BL Yacht in Quebec City is having a sale right now (Sept 11 2021) on the Raymarine Axiom 7 RV with Navionics charts and the RV-100 Realvision transducer.

While stocks last: https://www.blyacht.com/en/raymarine-ax ... ts-0276503

$1,449.00 CDN (plus tax of course) which still puts it much cheaper than the same products at Defender, where the package is $1,399.99 USD. Shipment was free, and the total with taxes came to $1,665.99 CDN (about $1,285 USD at current exchange).
https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pa ... id=7074670
Probably doesn't make much difference for our US members, but if you're in Canada and are thinking about this system, it's the best price I've seen in the last year.

I know I'm still going to need to add the network cable and adaptor to tap into the SeaTalk network.

I started a new thread to document the chartplotter installation as a follow up to the original Raymarine Wheelpilot install: https://macgregorsailors.com/forum/view ... =8&t=28042

There are cheaper MFD/Sonar systems out there (like the Garmin GPS Map) but I really want the Real-Vision feature.

[adudinsk]

Very nice.. thats the unit that I want

Was yours a Axion +? Is there any difference?

I have contacted Raymarine, to see how to interface everything together .. I sent them a image of my proposed network, and they said it was fine.
(I hope).

Just layout your proposed network, and have them check it out...

AD

[Starscream]

Was yours a Axion +? Is there any difference?

Just layout your proposed network, and have them check it out...

AD

The Axiom + is functionally the same, it has two minor differences, according to the literature. The screen of the + is supposed to be a bit more robust and visible from wider angles, and the GPS processor is a bit faster. Neither were deal breakers for me, and I would be happy with either model. As far as I can tell, the package I bought is the + model, based on manufacturer's part numbers between Defender and BL-Yacht, where I placed the order.

You need to be sure the MFD is the RV model, because the base Axiom 7 doesn't have a transducer input for sonar.

With SeatalkNG, the network is relatively simple, although the package doesn't come with the right connectors for it, of course. It will take an adapter cable to connect into the network that came with the autopilot. The autopilot package had an extra T connector, so I can use that, along with a new adapter cable and an extension cable that I have to buy separately. I'll buy those from Defender shortly and post the part numbers.

[adudinsk]

I have an autopilot thats Seatalk (not the NG version ..)
My i40 depth is Seatalk
Need a Speed over Water sensor.. not just the GPS.

I have nothing nmea 2000 but hope to get a VHF that has AIS/NMEA 2000 etc.etc.
SO my goal is to move everything I can off the console... and use just the Axiom for display.

Did you install it yet? How does the RV look?

[Starscream]

Just received the package.

It's not the + version, it's the standard version, but of course with the transducer connection in the back.

It's a lot beefier than I expected, both the MFD and the transducer. The MFD is very solid, and it's deeper than I expected, too. The transducer is about 10 times the size as my current humminbird depthfinder. It's gonna be a massive brick hanging off the back of the transom. They feel very well built.

I just ordered a 9-meter backbone extender (P/N 6068) and an NMEA 2000 - Seatalk female adapter cable (P/N 6045), to convert the output of the MFD to a white SeatalkNG spur cable. I have a SeatalkNG tee-connector left over from my Autopilot install, so I'll use that to tap into the network; otherwise I would have had to buy an additional tee as well.

I think that I'm really going to like the navigate-on-autopilot feature. Just lay in a multi-waypoint track, or let the MFD calculate the best route through the markers, and just sit back and watch for obstacles.

[adudinsk]

Wow.. never thought the RV transducer would be that big... when installed could you post some photos?!
When running, could you do a review of the images you get.. I am REALLY interested in getting a similar setup !

[adudinsk]

Also.. what autopilot do you have?
I have an older ST6000

[Starscream]

Also.. what autopilot do you have?
I have an older ST6000

Sure, I'll post photos. I have the EV-100 Wheelpilot.

Not sure if I'm gonna install this fall or next spring. The macerator pump on our 10-year old TMC toilet just gave up the ghost, so that's gonna get priority, unfortunately.

[adudinsk]

Yes.. Toilet is a priority...

Did you install a blackwater tank?
Me.. just have a 5 gallon dometic porta-poti... with pump out option installed.


AD

[Starscream]

Yes.. Toilet is a priority...

Did you install a blackwater tank?
Me.. just have a 5 gallon dometic porta-poti... with pump out option installed.


AD

9 gallon rigid plastic blackwater tank under forward dinette, alongside another 9 gallon freshwater flush tank. No thru hulls. Vented to the cabin top, with pump-out, through the head roof. Those connections were already in place when I bought the boat, and in retrospect the vent location is terrible: it's INSIDE the dodger. Needs to be far away from the cockpit.

Will be modifying this system to have both 9 gallon tanks receive the waste, and will add a flexible 13 gal plastimo water tank mounted under the V-berth to supply flushwater. 9 gal blackwater isn't enough, between pumpouts, for extended trips with 5 people on board. In addition to monitoring weather, fuel, ice, power, water, I also have to monitor the tank condition. 9 gal is good for about 2 to 3 days, with access to occasional shore based systems.

In Ontario waters one has to be careful about having a toilet that can discharge overboard: it's basically illegal, but this system passes inspection. Plus, I didn't want any underwater thru-hulls.

[adudinsk]

Nice setup.. mine has 5 gallons.. and is 1-2 days for me and the wife.
More of an emergency use only.
It is connected to the deck for pump out.. and vented to the side of the hull RIGHT below the rub rail .
Was considering holding tanks.. wife wants pressurized water system first..
(and to always stay in a marina)

Question.. I am from Ontario.. Lake St. Clair.. Lake Erie.. Detroit River.
What kind of anchor do you have? I have 2 danforths.. I think the big one is about 13lbs...

Thanks
AD

[imjustinbraun]

I'm currently bench testing my Raymarine Axiom 7 system before installing. I was wondering if the touchscreens are always borderline unusable or do I just have a defective unit? I have a 7" axiom with Lighthouse 3. Did the software update, etc. It seems as though the screen is just not calibrated properly though I can't find a way to calibrate it anywhere in the settings and the manual is useless. Sometimes it won't register an input at all, sometimes it will rapid fire. It made typing in the wifi password to get updates incredibly frustrating and turning the unit on/off is simply impossible because you have to hold the power button for like 10 seconds and it won't register a finger input for that long no matter how hard you push...

[Starscream]

Nice setup.. mine has 5 gallons.. and is 1-2 days for me and the wife.
More of an emergency use only.
It is connected to the deck for pump out.. and vented to the side of the hull RIGHT below the rub rail .
Was considering holding tanks.. wife wants pressurized water system first..
(and to always stay in a marina)

Question.. I am from Ontario.. Lake St. Clair.. Lake Erie.. Detroit River.
What kind of anchor do you have? I have 2 danforths.. I think the big one is about 13lbs...

Thanks
AD

Sorry, I didn't see this question come in a few months ago.

Originally we had a Danforth, too, but decided to upgrade to a Mantus after a night on anchor in the bay at Grenadier Island Central in the 1000 islands region of the St. Lawrence. In a weed/sand combination the Danforth didn't re-set after a wind shift and we dragged. Now we use a 13 lb Mantus and if there is any available bottom not totally covered in weeds, it sets, holds and resets like a champ.

Here are two anchor possibilities: ours is on the left, on the right is the Jill Kristy on its great-loop.

Ours is mounted in a PVC tube that is pipe-clamped to the bow pulpit, and the J-K is on a bow roller (but not the stock roller, of course). When Mantus was helping me decide which anchor to go with, the nice guy at Mantus couldn't help but make fun of the stock "roller"...in good humor, and his comments were hilarious.

[Starscream]

I'm currently bench testing my Raymarine Axiom 7 system before installing. I was wondering if the touchscreens are always borderline unusable or do I just have a defective unit? I have a 7" axiom with Lighthouse 3. Did the software update, etc. It seems as though the screen is just not calibrated properly though I can't find a way to calibrate it anywhere in the settings and the manual is useless. Sometimes it won't register an input at all, sometimes it will rapid fire. It made typing in the wifi password to get updates incredibly frustrating and turning the unit on/off is simply impossible because you have to hold the power button for like 10 seconds and it won't register a finger input for that long no matter how hard you push...

It sure sounds like you have a faulty unit. I haven't powered mine up yet; I didn't spend nearly as much time on the boat this winter as I did last winter. I only went on board a few times, enough to convince myself that the Axiom 7 won't be mounted on the pedestal, but instead in the port bulkhead under the winch. It's just too bulky to be mounted near my mainsheet; I can imagine some bad snags happening under sail.

The Raymarine warranty department gave a reasonable service, the couple of times that I needed them. They responded to my technical inquiries pretty quickly, and when I needed a replacement part they sent it out, no questions asked, no RMA.

[imjustinbraun]

I only went on board a few times, enough to convince myself that the Axiom 7 won't be mounted on the pedestal, but instead in the port bulkhead under the winch. It's just too bulky to be mounted near my mainsheet; I can imagine some bad snags happening under sail.

I considered doing the same but I ultimately decided that I it's too far from the helm and I'm going to need the spaces underneath the winches for the other raymarine displays. The Axiom 7 is going on the pedestal and I'm going to install the BWY table that has a big metal loop to protect whatever is under it. I've seen some Macgregor owners use that metal loop as an attachment point for their boom so I'll be moving to that rather than the pedestal.

The Raymarine warranty department gave a reasonable service, the couple of times that I needed them. They responded to my technical inquiries pretty quickly, and when I needed a replacement part they sent it out, no questions asked, no RMA.

That's a relief. What is the process? Do I need to find a dealer or do I just contact them directly? I bought all of my gear on amazon and their support is what it is lol.