121 Products
Frequently Asked Questions
What size Raymarine chartplotter screen do I actually need for my boat?
Screen size is one of the most personal decisions in marine electronics and depends heavily on your helm layout, your typical viewing distance, and how you use the display. A 7-inch Raymarine chartplotter is a capable unit for smaller boats where the helm is close and you are primarily using it for GPS navigation and basic sonar. Once you start splitting the screen between chart, radar overlay, and sonar - which is where a fully networked helm really shines - a 9-inch or 12-inch display becomes noticeably more usable. For center consoles and offshore boats where the helm may be several feet from your eyes, or where you want two data views side by side without squinting, stepping up to a 12-inch or larger Raymarine Axiom chartplotter is a decision most boaters do not regret. If budget is a constraint, it is generally better to buy a slightly larger screen than you think you need rather than a smaller one you will wish were bigger after a few trips.
How does a Raymarine chartplotter compare to a Garmin or Simrad unit at a similar price?
Garmin, Simrad, and Raymarine all produce strong chartplotters at overlapping price points, and the honest answer is that all three are capable pieces of hardware. The decision often comes down to ecosystem and interface preference rather than pure feature count. Raymarine's LightHouse OS is widely praised for its touchscreen responsiveness and intuitive layout, and for boaters already running Raymarine radar or autopilot, staying within the Raymarine ecosystem delivers tighter integration than mixing brands. Garmin's platform has an edge in cartography depth through their BlueChart G3 charts and a slightly larger user community for troubleshooting. Simrad integrates closely with Mercury and Navico products if you are in that ecosystem. If you are starting fresh with no existing electronics, the Raymarine GPS plotter lineup competes favorably across every tier - and buying from BLD Marine means your purchase contributes to causes beyond your boat.
Can I add radar and autopilot to my Raymarine chartplotter later, or do I need to buy everything at once?
One of the genuine strengths of the Raymarine platform is that it is designed to grow with your boat. A Raymarine chartplotter purchased today can serve as the foundation for a fully integrated helm built out over time - you can add a Quantum radar antenna, connect an Evolution autopilot, integrate a VHF with DSC, and expand sonar capability as your budget allows. The key is making sure the components you add are from a compatible Raymarine generation and use the same network protocol - RayNet is the standard on current Axiom and Axiom+ hardware. When you add a second display, both units can share chart data, radar overlay, sonar, and instrument feeds across the network without duplicating sensors. Starting with the right Raymarine plotter now and building outward is a smart long-term approach to outfitting a helm.
Do Raymarine chartplotters come with maps included, or do I need to buy charts separately?
Current Raymarine Axiom chartplotter units come preloaded with Lighthouse vector charts covering a broad base of global coastal data, which gives you functional navigation capability right out of the box. For more detailed coverage - particularly inshore, inlet, and marina-level detail - most boaters upgrade to a premium chart card such as Navionics Platinum+ or Raymarine's own LightHouse Premium charts. These cards slot directly into the chartplotter and deliver depth contours, aerial photography overlays, and regularly updated navigational data. If you fish seriously and want precise bottom contour mapping in your local waters, a premium chart subscription or card is a worthwhile addition to any Raymarine GPS plotter purchase. Chart compatibility information is listed on each product page, and our team at BLD Marine can help you choose the right chart package for your home waters.
Is a Raymarine chartplotter hard to learn for someone switching from a different brand?
Most boaters switching to a Raymarine chart plotter from Garmin, Humminbird, or an older analog setup find the learning curve manageable within a trip or two. Raymarine's LightHouse OS is built around a touchscreen-first interface that behaves more like a modern tablet than an older marine electronics system, so boaters comfortable with smartphones generally adapt quickly. The main adjustment is getting familiar with where Raymarine puts specific functions - chart overlays, sonar settings, radar controls - compared to what you are used to. Raymarine publishes thorough video tutorials and documentation for their Axiom lineup, and the onscreen help system within LightHouse OS is genuinely useful for navigating new menus. Switching brands does involve a short acclimation period, but it is rarely as difficult as people expect, and most boaters feel comfortable with their new Raymarine chartplotter well before the end of their first full season.