Raymarine Element 7S Multi-Function Display - First look and Introduction 12-27-21

[@yachtbubble7063]

I have just purchased exactly the same plotter but am yet to install it. I found your video incredibly helpful and now feel much more confident about proceeding with the installation. Many thanks and good wishes, Jonathan

[@todddunn945]

I am glad you found the video useful. I have now been using mine for the 2022 season. The plotter is a bit finicky in that some of the functions don't always work correctly. The main issue I have is with the information put into data boxes (corners of the display). I currently have speed over ground, distance traveled, maximum speed and time of day. Speed over ground works well although the time constant (averaging) seems too short to me and I haven't been able to find a way to change it. Distance traveled on a day doesn't always reset to zero and sometimes doesn't start. Most of the time it works though. Maximum speed is a bit fussy I think related to too short an averaging time for the GPS signals. Now and then it gives a very high speed. Other than that the unit works well. I have not yet gotten a radar so can't comment on how well that works. The issues I have noted may have been fixed in a software update, but my system is not connected to the internet so I haven't been able to see if there has been an update. I will bring it home at the end of the season and update it next spring before launch.

[@yachtbubble7063]

@@todddunn945 Very interesting, Todd. I suspect the time constant (averaging) issue is because Raymarine went for a 'compromise' figure that would 'work' on both yachts and speed-boats. Distance travelled: I wonder if the unit needs to be completely powered down in order to reset the trip? Updates: I intend to connect the unit to the hotspot on my iPhone; then I can do the updates when on the boat. I am going to connect my Element to my Raymarine SeatalkNG adapter (to which my old Raymarine ST1 instruments are connected); that might mean that the Element will draw the GPS position from the network and not from itself. It does also mean that the update will update the adapter as well as the Element. If you have connected your Element to your boat's network then it may be that the Element is taking its GPS data from the network and that might possibly cause some of your 'corner' issues. The only way to test that would be to remove the network cable. Anyway I am looking forward to playing with the unit although the installation at the steering column will be a bit of a challenge.

[@todddunn945]

@@yachtbubble7063 I would update it via my phone except that I only have a flip phone that can't connect to the internet and we have very poor signal (a bar is good) in this area. I am currently running the Element connected via NMEA 2000 to a GPS receiver/heading sensor. That is the total extent of my network. The GPS is a 10 hz model, which may be part of the issue. It is easy to turn it off, which I will try to see if speeds are more stable. I agree that they likely did use a compromise time constant, I just wish I could figure out how to change it. The manual is terrible.

[@yachtbubble7063]

Hello again, Todd. I've now installed the Element 7S and have tested it at sea. I can report that the SOG was absolutely rock solid, showing the SOG to 1 decimal place. My 7S is connected to my SeaTalkNG network so it is taking the GPS position from that (actually from the Vesper AIS engine connected to it), not from its own GPS. My 7S appears to have the latest software version so when I tried to update, by connecting to my iPhone, there was no newer version available. Mine came with free Raymarine Lighthouse charts of the UK and they look OK. I am having trouble getting the tide function to work though but hopefully that will resolve with experience. I am planning to give the 'basic' and 'advanced' manuals a good read over the next couple of weeks! Best, Jonathan

[@todddunn945]

@@yachtbubble7063 glad it is working well for you. My speed issue seems to have resolved itself. The only issue I have had lately is that I put daily trip distance in a data box and about half the time it doesn't work. I did some resetting today so hopefully that will resolve that issue. I have the Lighthouse charts for North America and they are fine.

[@jeffgrier8488]

That looks like a nice chart plotter, i would definitely consider one when the time comes to buy one.

[@todddunn945]

I agree. So far it looks pretty good. I tested it while moving by putting it in my truck. It worked well. Have a happy New Year.

[@captainjayc9217]

Which boat do you plan to mount this chart plotter? I assume the sail boat that you intend to keep.

[@todddunn945]

I will put the plotter on the sailboat. The Lowrance HDS5m on that boat now has become unreliable. I am not sure if I will add radar to the sailboat since my wife won't even go on board if there is any chance of fog. We never sail at night because of the lobster gear.

[@BetterthanitwasNetsailing]

WARNING! The Element series by Raymarine is NOT an MFD. It is a cut-down unit built to fill the (and I quote from the person I spoke to at Raymarine) "cheap" end of the market. There are several functions it will NOT do. It will not, for example, sync with your navionics account - see here (www.navionics.com/media/wysiwyg/docs/Compatibility_Guides/GPS_Plotter_Cards_Compatibility_Guide.pdf) and it will NOT sync with your phone, iPad or other mobile device. It is a BASIC chart plotter with depth sounder. It will NOT talk to Raymarine MFDs. Think very, very carefully about how you use your charts and how you plan your navigation before purchasing this device.

[@todddunn945]

That is fine with me since I have zero interest in synching the Element with anything. I do not have a Navionics account, or any other account. I don't own an I-anything and never will. My boat has a minimal electronics suite and I want to keep it that way. All I wanted was a stand alone chart plotter. It fills that niche quite well. Another reason I went with this particular series is that I detest touch screens such as in the Axiom series. So far, other than the issue I had with a corrupted chart file, the Raymarine Element S is working very well for what I want it to do. It also works well with the one NMEA 2000 instrument I have.

[@Jack-wr5wg]

We never needed pads and phones connected to our old lowrance and furuno. This plotter is very good. No bullsht apps Netflix, etc. You can easily pay $5000 for a 12 axiom. I'd rather have 12" element for $1700. 😂 if I Want to play music or use ipad I'll use ipad or my radio. A lot of yachts have plotter out in the weather. Axiom touch is a nuisance. . Element is awesome. Much cheaper, no bs bells and whistles.