Radar Detector?

[Dick Barthel]

As I'm getting more venturesome, I'm giving a lot more thought to fog. I'm installing a mast mounted reflector and a spreader halyard to fly another. Some day if my sailing warrants it I might install radar. But for now.....

I'm currently reading "Sailing Small" a collection of articles about small boat sailing and in Chapter 6 Offshore in a 22-Footer (Falmouth Cutter) by Michael Meier he makes an interesting point which I don't beleive I've seen before:

"After buying everything else, we could not afford radar, and so I opted for a radar detector. This gave us the relative direction and signal strength of broadcasting radar. The theory here is that, in fog, everyone would have radar running, so all we needed to do was avoid those guys and we would be okay. In practice the unit did work well."

Has anyone out there used this technique?

Thanks for any responses.

Dick

[barfwinkle]

Hello Dick

If you remember John Churchill (sp) and his trip to Bermuda on a 26 he used such a device (I think). He later traded UP (yes I said up) to a Bristol Channel Cutter and I KNOW he had one on it. It was a CARD, Collision Avoidance Radar Detecter.

At one point in the past West Marine has it, but I dont think they carry it any more. I did see the developer at the Annapolis Boat show a few years back so maybe someone with recent attendance to the show may know if it/he is still around.

My memory is week, but I think I recall John say he liked the device.

Do a search for C.A.R.D. Here is the link!



Good luckhttp://www.survivalsafety.com/

[Joe CD MS 300]

That gaget still is not cheep. I'm gussing that your own radar would set it off or is beam too narrow as it leaves the transmitter? I'm going to bring my Escort radar detector along this spring and give it a try. Just another electronic gaget to play with. I'm definitely not old school when it comes to electronics. It might make a nice back up if your own radar failed. Valentine makes an automotive radar that is directional. Most if not all others are not.

[s.v. LaVida]

Dick,

To my knowledge auto radar detectors don't work for shipboard radar frequencies, at least that's what I've read and when I tried mine, it didn't go off with a ship clearly in site, running its radar.

The CARD device is useful, in the fog, but only if the vessel your hoping to detect has its radar on. Many ships are known to run with them off or only on once in a while. If the unit isn't on, your SOL!

If your serious about sailing in areas with fog, I would suggest bitting the bullet and go for the radar. If I remember correctly the CARD unit is about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of a radar unit. Considering how much radar used to cost, today's units are very, very cost effective.

As usual, its a real trade off between the cost, installation, amps used, etc., etc., so do the homework and you'll find a unit that will fit your boat.

IMHO - I've found my radar unit is useful in so many ways. In addition to watching out for ships, I've use mine for a number of useful chores.

For example, remember running the depth contour line coming back up the St. Lawrence? Radar allowed us to stay right on top of it and keep the shoreline just at the right distance.

You can see squalls approaching and hopefully steer clear of them.

I've used it to scan an anchorage before pulling in, in the dead of night, to drop a hook in the proper place.

In remote and questionable anchorages I've set the guard alarm to alert me to any strange vessels approaching.

Dialed down, I can see crab pot floats and sometimes even birds sitting on the water.

Even though the cost curve is a full boat credit (1,000) and then some, I find our radar to be a valuable addition to our onboard "toys" and would highly recommend putting it on your boat.

sea u,
Mike

[Steve Laume]

This kind of sounds like dodge ball in the dark. I wonder if the money would be better spent on a used radar? It would be pretty scarry to know some one was out there, just not knowing exactly where, how far, fast, big or in what direction they were moving. Do radar units come with this alarm built in? It would be great as an alert to study the display a bit more carefully. I believe the hazards of running into another boat are on the increase as more and more boats are running GPS chart plotters so they feel confident to move around in the fog. Many of these same boats do not have radar so you would still not be able to detect them. I worry about a lot of these guys even on a bright and sunny day. You never know when a boat is just running along on auto pilot with the captain doing who knows what. It seems like the technology developed to help keep us safe sometimes does just the opposite, Steve.

[Cathy Monaghan]

....The theory here is that, in fog, everyone would have radar running, so all we needed to do was avoid those guys and we would be okay. In practice the unit did work well.".....

Hi Dick,

Everything out there DOESN'T have radar running, and of those that do, half of them either don't know how to properly use them or they're not paying attention to them. You'd be surprised at how many vessels are running on autopilot without a proper watch.

And depending on your boat/reflector, sea state and how well the gain on the radar has been adjusted, you may not be visible at all! It's really up to you to avoid what's around you. Don't count on others to look for and avoid you. Also, make sure you have the appropriate sounding devices (horn and bell) aboard and use them. [According to the nav rules, while underway, a sailing vessel should sound 1 prolonged blast, followed by 2 short blasts, regardless of tack, every two minutes. If you're anchored (not in a special anchorage), well then you'll need that bell.]

By the way, we've got radar on our boat and I'm still learning how to use it. Bruce is much better at making head or tail of what he's looking at than I am. Also, every season, it seems that we have to learn how to use it all over again since we've been away from it all winter. So even with radar, I'm not comfortable in fog. Needless to say, we'll go through a few cans of air with all the noise we make out there in the fog. I purchased one of those horns that you just blow in just in case we run out of air.

So it's often best to stay in port if you can rather than venture out in the fog no matter how many nifty pieces of electronic equipment you've got on board.

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

[Gary M]

So I'm in the fog and can't see 25 feet in any direction. I flip on my trusty radar detector and it tells me I have one or more radars in the area. So now what to I do? Sound my horn? Hail on 19? Or is this thing able to give more information like direction and distance to multple signals?

All new to me.

[Neil Gordon]

So I'm in the fog and can't see 25 feet in any direction. I flip on my trusty radar detector and it tells me I have one or more radars in the area. So now what to I do?

It's of more value in open water, where you might see a ship once a week or so. Where there's lots of traffic with radar... ships, ferries, Sea Tow, tugs, etc., there will be signals coming from everywhere.

What you can do in any case is see which of the beams has a constant bearing. Assume it's also decreasing range and watch out accordingly.

[Dick Barthel]

Thanks all for illuminating the subject. It seems that marine detectors are expensive, not that reliable (except perhaps in the open ocean) and the money can be better spend elsewhere - like buying more air horns. My budget is busted for this year but maybe in a few years radar would be the way to go. Just when you thought you bought the last piece of expensive equipment you will ever need....

Dick

Thoughts for small boat owners: You can only be in one place at a time so look at all the extra room you really have! Michael Meier

[Leo MacDonald]

Hi Dick,

I looked into the C.A.R.D. a few years back (current price is $485.00, which I thought excessive.) That said, it is worth consideration. It gives limited directional and relative strength of signal info, consumes little power and is very lightweight.
Look at http://www.survivalsafety.com/c_a_r_d.htm

A 2kw radar will run ~$1500 - 1800, consume power and add weight up the mast or on the stern.

Fair Winds,
Leo

[Gary M]

N/M

[Sailing Soldier]

I've seen brand new radar sets on sale for under $1000 this winter. I'm thinking you could probably buy a used radar for the price of that new "detector".

[Leo MacDonald]

n/m