Pass by a boat show kiosk containing Raymarine's C and E Series displays and it is easy to mistake the two. Both are daylight-viewable, multi-function units available in 8-inch and 12-inch models. Mounted, they look almost identical.

But under the hood, the capabilities – and the costs – of each line are different in several important ways, leaving many owners scratching their heads when it comes to making choices. Can you get away with the economical C-Series for your boat or should you step up to E-Series, with its enhanced capabilities? I'll explain the features of each, discuss the differences and provide links to the manuals to help you decide.

Like all decisions about boat gear, the verdict will turn on the type of boat you have and how you use it. If you are looking for a single-display system, the C-Series is a rock-solid performer for the price. Many of its core capabilities are exactly the same as its more expensive cousin.

The E-Series adds networking and video monitoring capabilities, as well as the capacity to use premium electronic charts and integrate a computer more easily. If you are looking for a system with multiple displays, the E-Series is probably your winner.

POWER CONSUMPTION AND SIZE

A few years ago, the employees of Raytheon's fledgling marine electronics division bought out their employers and endeavored to create the dominant brand in the recreational market. Through rapid new-product introductions and forceful marketing, Raymarine has largely succeeded. The company's trademark grey products are difficult to ignore if you own a boat between 25 and 45 feet, be it power or sail.

Raymarine

There was plenty of competition from well-respected Furuno in the multi-function display category, which both companies saw as the future of marine electronics. Raymarine almost immediately abandoned its Raytheon-era products and introduced the C-Series, the anchor product in the company's current line-up. Not long after, Raymarine introduced E-Series, an Ethernet-based network system with the ability to link multiple displays and share common peripherals.

C-Series displays are available in three sizes. The C-70 is the smallest with a 6.5-inch, sunlight viewable color TFT LCD screen. If you are to truly use it as a multifunction display, including radar, fish finder and GPS/chart plotter, then the screen is a bit small. There is a lot of information available and screen size is paramount to making sense of it all. But for runabouts and small sailboats, it may offer the right fit and features.