I have been digging into what
actual functionality you get from an MFD when using a single vendor package. For
Raymarine products it has been illuminating - and, unfortunately, disappointing.
Clearly the new C and E series MFD's are mainly aimed at powerboat users. The fully supported waypoint navigation is of very limited use to a sailboat. The key functions for sailing are the +10 +1 -1 -10 heading adjustments, both in
compass and windvane mode. These do not appear to be available on the MFD at all. Neither, apparently, does the ability to enter and exit either
compass or windvane mode and set heading. This is addressed in section 9.1 of
this manual.
WARNING: 25 meg download.
This is all a little strange. These functions are already available on a simple cabled remote so there is clearly a demand for remote heading adjustments. Replicating the remote's functionality on the MFD would appear to be a pretty simple task.
So they 'talk' to one another but they certainly don't appear to make good use of that fact. I'm guessing that alternative MFD's will be able to display
Raymarine data as effectively as the
Raymarine MFD via NMEA.
Interestingly where this leaves me is that there appears to be little functional advantage in sticking to a single vendor for instrumentation so I might be able to go with that broadband
radar after all......
Please let me know if I am missing something here.
Thanks
Graham