The C-70 draws a miserly 9 watts, but it is worth considering the C-80, which draws 10 watts and offers two more inches of diagonal screen space. The C-80's 8.4-inch LCD display allows the operator to take advantage of split screens and truly puts the "multi" in multi-function.

There is no 6.5-inch display in the E-Series line. The E-80 is the smallest available and uses the same 8.4-inch screen. The E-80 screen has been enhanced to make it brighter in sunlight conditions, which is a noticeable improvement over the C-Series. However, the enhancements double the power consumption to 20 watts.Glen JusticeA Raymarine C-80 (left) and E-80 (Right) side-by-side. Screen enhancements make the E Series a bit brighter.

Both C-Series and E-Series also offer a 12.1-inch display. The C-120 and E-120 appear identical when flush mounted in a dash, but the E-120 screen has been enhanced. Whether you split the display to show various combinations of information or enjoy charts or radar at full screen, the 120s are the biggest and best of Raymarine's multi-function display line. However, there is one big difference. While the C-120 draws a respectable 12 watts, the E-120 consumes a full 30 watts of power.

GPS AND CHART PLOTTER

Borrowed from the computer industry, Raymarine uses the term applications to describe the various features made available by adding sensors or antennas to a C and E Series displays.

Out of the box, neither display will do much. A Raystar-125 GPS antenna and Navionics chart card will make the plotter available, which is probably the primary application for most boaters. The GPS engine is built into the Raystar-125 and feeds position information to the display.

Navionics produces two types of charts. The standard Gold XL9 chart covers vast coastal areas and offers detailed charts and complete navigation information. You would likely need only one or two Gold XL9 charts to cover all your boating areas, unless you plan an extended voyage.

They also make a Platinum series, which adds aerial photographs and underwater 3-D bathymetric information to the detailed coastal charting information available in the Gold charts. Both the C-Series and E-Series can use the Gold XL9 charts, but only the E-Series displays can operate Platinum cards. Otherwise, the actual navigating procedures on both the C and E are virtually identical.

RADAR AND AIS

The quality and clarity of your radar depends on the size, power and height of your radar antenna. Both the displays, C-Series and E-Series, can use any of Raymarine's offerings. There are two sizes of dome-style antennas – 2 KW and 4KW – and two sizes of open arrays, 4KW and 10KW models.Glen JusticeAbove, a Raymarine C-80 uses Navionics gold charts. Below, a Raymarine E-80 uses Navionics Platinum. The Platinum can be overlaid with arial photography, which makes it easier to identify landmarks. Glen Justice

You could conceivably hang a huge 10 KW open-array radar on a C-70 display, but the screen would waste a good radar. Conversely, a sailboat cruising in tropical climes may put a 2 KW dome on an E-120 display and have a sufficient radar on an otherwise powerful display.

Bottom line: the radar capabilities on both C and E Series are identical.

Similarly, Raymarine's offering for AIS (Automatic Identification System) capability will also connect to either series. AIS is a required transmitter on most commercial vessels. Raymarine's AIS250 will not broadcast your information to other boats, but it will receive their signal and position them on your plotter or radar screen along with the vessel's name, course, speed and the intended destination.

Think of it like air traffic control for your boat. As more and more vessels, especially larger pleasure craft and commercial boats, add mandatory AIS transmitters, this feature will become nearly as valuable as radar itself.

FISH FINDER AND WEATHER

Both the C-series and E-Series require a separate "black box" fish finder module. Raymarine has recently introduced the DSM30, a 600-watt digital sounder module operating on 12 volts that may be used with either series. For more power, you can add a DSM300 module, along with a number of 600-watt or 1,000-watt transducer options, and have a commercial quality sounder.

The C-Series and E-Series fish finder applications operate the same and the modules are interchangeable with both displays.

When it comes to graphic weather information, there are some differences. The E-Series displays have had the capability to add a Sirius Weather receiver for some time. The SR100 is a module and antenna combo that displays real time weather charts over your existing navigation chart. For a monthly fee, the Sirius service shows weather patterns and water temperatures, along with a host of optional data.

Raymarine just introduced the SR50, which will offer the same weather data for the C-Series, with the added capability to receive and control satellite radio through your display as well. It does not include the requisite stereo, but it will interface with any unit with an auxiliary input.