FLIR exceeded expectations after they acquired Raymarine.

By Roger McAfee

When Raymarine was acquired by FLIR in 2010, many in the marine industry thought FLIR’s only interest in the transaction was the sale of its night vision equipment through Raymarine’s world-wide 1,000 dealer-strong network. It was feared that FLIR would simply allow the other Raymarine businesses to dwindle away. That didn’t happen. In fact, FLIR recognized the value of owning a world-class marine electronics company that started under the Raytheon banner in 1923. Clearly, history had value and since the FLIR acquisition, Raymarine has stayed in the forefront of marine electronic development.

In fact, the manufacturer won two prestigious awards last year: an Innovation Award at the 2011 IBEX in Louisville, Kentucky; and a Best New Product Award at the Newport International Boat Show in Newport, Rhode Island. Raymarine won for its e-7 multi-function display. This new 7-inch display builds on the hybrid touchscreen introduced by Raymarine in 2009. That display enables you to use the screen as a typical touchscreen in good weather but, when the sea gets up, to switch to keypad control.

For 2012, Raymarine has added 9-inch and 12.1-inch displays to the e-Series and has introduced a new c-Series 9-inch and 12.1-inch display, which is basically the e-Series unit with fewer bells and whistles, but also costs about $1,000 less than a comparable e-Series display. The c-Series does not have the hybrid touchscreen.

The new display integrates a number of features into the same unit. It is bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled and can connect easily to Apple IOS. This means connectivity with iPhones and iPads. Depending on the model ordered, built-in GPS and sonar (no black boxes) are incorporated right into the display. Also built into the system is a suite of autopilot functions, as well as support for radar.

The built-in GPS is a highly sensitive 50 channel WAAS and EGNOS-compatible system. The built-in pulse digital sonar is capable of operating at 200, 50 or 83 kHz and ranging down to 3,000 feet. It is fully automatic and has the technology to effectively discriminate between targets. Serious fishermen will appreciate that feature. It is also CHIRP technology-ready, but will require a separate, optional CHIRP sonar module.

The new e-Series 9-inch and 12-inch displays offer two video inputs so the skipper can keep an eye on any part of the vessel, including the engine space, that is equipped with video cameras. The same monitors offer CGA output to connect to other monitors or a large flat screen TV. All the displays of both series can be combined to form a network of up to six displays and needless to say, all displays can handle the FLIR thermal night vision cameras.

Retail pricing for these new units range from $1,799 to $3,499, depending on the features included. For an extra $100 across the board, a suite of Navionics award-winning electronic charts can be added. The micro-SD chart package can be upgraded to Navionics Gold.