Radar Useful?

[Broken Glass]

I just installed a Garmin Radar on my boat. The other night I came back to my house on Rattlesnake Island from Meredith at night.
After I tied up the boat I said to my wife I will never go out in a boat at night again that does not have radar. The radar is overplayed on the GPS map, so it paints every marker with the actual position of the marker. Some of the markers are not actually where they are plotted on the GPS. As far as other boats go it is like having eyes in the back of your head. Anything that is on the water shows up quite accurately on the chart. I have never worried about navigating on the lake at night. I have however always worried about the clown out there running without lights, or the guy who is driving like its daytime running up my stern and climbing over us.
In my opinion it is most definitely not a waste of money if you are going to run at night, or in bad weather. If your visibility is reduced, then so is everyone else out there. It’s really nice to be able to see clearly what and who is around you when conditions are such that your own visibility is compromised.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Broken Glass

I just installed a Garmin Radar on my boat. The other night I came back to my house on Rattlesnake Island from Meredith at night.
After I tied up the boat I said to my wife I will never go out in a boat at night again that does not have radar. The radar is overplayed on the GPS map, so it paints every marker with the actual position of the marker. Some of the markers are not actually where they are plotted on the GPS. As far as other boats go it is like having eyes in the back of your head. Anything that is on the water shows up quite accurately on the chart. I have never worried about navigating on the lake at night. I have however always worried about the clown out there running without lights, or the guy who is driving like its daytime running up my stern and climbing over us.
In my opinion it is most definitely not a waste of money if you are going to run at night, or in bad weather. If your visibility is reduced, then so is everyone else out there. It’s really nice to be able to see clearly what and who is around you when conditions are such that your own visibility is compromised.

Going from Meredith to Rattlesnake is all open water, an easy trip for experienced islanders. Not many buoys to look for. I would be more interested in your experience seeing other boats. What day of the week? What time of night? Weather conditions? What make model of radar? Digital?

[LakeDad]

Originally Posted by Descant

Going from Meredith to Rattlesnake is all open water, an easy trip for experienced islanders. Not many buoys to look for. I would be more interested in your experience seeing other boats. What day of the week? What time of night? Weather conditions? What make model of radar? Digital?

I have the Raymarine Axion GPS charts and it keeps me sane at night even though I know the lake for the most part. I leave it on all the time, even during the day. They are also useful when anchoring to fish in shallow water (helps manage approach), keeps you from tossing anchor over a wreck, etc.

However, I have not activated the radar. I’m going to try it out because idiots will always be idiots

Anchor marine actually rents boats without lights equipped. I told them this was stupid; they responded by saying that they don’t allow anybody out at night.

OK, What if someone gets stuck at dusk?
Renters are bad enough even with the right equipment


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[Broken Glass]

Originally Posted by Descant

Going from Meredith to Rattlesnake is all open water, an easy trip for experienced islanders. Not many buoys to look for. I would be more interested in your experience seeing other boats. What day of the week? What time of night? Weather conditions? What make model of radar? Digital?

Garmin GMR Fantom 18”. 10PM Saturday night. Like I said the navigation for me is no problem the radar only enhances my situational awareness. The ability to see anything floating on the water most importantly other boats is in-beatable. It makes no difference how much experience you have driving back and forth on the lake if you can’t see what is around you on the water.

[trfour]

I absolutely refuse to live on the DARK side too!!

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Broken Glass

Garmin GMR Fantom 18”. 10PM Saturday night. Like I said the navigation for me is no problem the radar only enhances my situational awareness. The ability to see anything floating on the water most importantly other boats is in-beatable. It makes no difference how much experience you have driving back and forth on the lake if you can’t see what is around you on the water.

You've made a couple of great posts on this thread. Thanks for the added detail.

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by Broken Glass

I just installed a Garmin Radar on my boat. The other night I came back to my house on Rattlesnake Island from Meredith at night.
After I tied up the boat I said to my wife I will never go out in a boat at night again that does not have radar. The radar is overplayed on the GPS map, so it paints every marker with the actual position of the marker. Some of the markers are not actually where they are plotted on the GPS. As far as other boats go it is like having eyes in the back of your head. Anything that is on the water shows up quite accurately on the chart. I have never worried about navigating on the lake at night. I have however always worried about the clown out there running without lights, or the guy who is driving like its daytime running up my stern and climbing over us.
In my opinion it is most definitely not a waste of money if you are going to run at night, or in bad weather. If your visibility is reduced, then so is everyone else out there. It’s really nice to be able to see clearly what and who is around you when conditions are such that your own visibility is compromised.

I don't have direct experience, but isn't identifying other boats on radar only good if they are on radar as well? I've been out with friends on the ocean in the fog and I know the captain wasn't concerned with where we were going, but he was concerned with all the other smaller boats that "weren't on radar".

[P-3 Guy]

Originally Posted by Shreddy

I don't have direct experience, but isn't identifying other boats on radar only good if they are on radar as well? I've been out with friends on the ocean in the fog and I know the captain wasn't concerned with where we were going, but he was concerned with all the other smaller boats that "weren't on radar".

If you are operating in a low vis environment and you have radar and are painting another vessel that doesn't have radar, then he is blind but you are not. That's better than both of you being blind. When using radar in such conditions, always assume that other vessels are not as well equipped as you. Always be ready to take proper evasive action, especially if you find yourself in a constant bearing, decreasing range type situation.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by Shreddy

I don't have direct experience, but isn't identifying other boats on radar only good if they are on radar as well? I've been out with friends on the ocean in the fog and I know the captain wasn't concerned with where we were going, but he was concerned with all the other smaller boats that "weren't on radar".

No, it's like AIS, ideally both boats have transmitters, but one is better than none.


Unlike AIS though, the "other" boat doesn't need to have any particular electronics in order to show up for a boat that IS running radar.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by Shreddy

I don't have direct experience, but isn't identifying other boats on radar only good if they are on radar as well? I've been out with friends on the ocean in the fog and I know the captain wasn't concerned with where we were going, but he was concerned with all the other smaller boats that "weren't on radar".

Radar is an anachronism for “radio detection and ranging.” Your radar unit is sending out a radio signal that bounces off of an object and then the radar unit receives the bounced wave. It knows the distance to the object by the time it takes to receive the “bounce” and the direction to the object by the direction the “bounce” returns from. It makes no difference if another boat has a radar unit or other electronics. Unless it is coated in radio wave absorbing material, or hidden in the waves it will bounce the radar signal. A boat can increase its radar visibility by installing a reflective object at its highest point. Often sailboats on the ocean will have reflective balls at the top of their masts.


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[Rich]

I can add to this for the newer RADAR units:

This past weekend I was onboard a friends boat that had the newest solid state doppler radar. It sure was much improved from my older analog (2005) Radar!

It seemed to be able to see almost every boat around (with minimal testing. just a seat of the pants observation). Even the small fiberglass boats that my older unit would often miss.

Radar is very useful at night, and has been even useful during the day to notice that someone has snuck up quickly behind you. Since we don't have rear-view mirrors on most boats you actually have to turn your body around to see if someone is close behind you. Radar let's you see/notice this without having to rotate around to take a look, so it's often useful for this. Not to mention if someone is approaching you from a side, etc.

The newer doppler radar can automatically highlight (color) boats going away from you. vs coming towards you. This adds to their situational awareness and seems very helpful.

After this short session on my friends boat, I'm looking forward to updating my electronics on my boat a bit more than i was before I had the short demo.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Rich

I can add to this for the newer RADAR units:

This past weekend I was onboard a friends boat that had the newest solid state doppler radar. It sure was much improved from my older analog (2005) Radar!

It seemed to be able to see almost every boat around (with minimal testing. just a seat of the pants observation). Even the small fiberglass boats that my older unit would often miss.

Radar is very useful at night, and has been even useful during the day to notice that someone has snuck up quickly behind you. Since we don't have rear-view mirrors on most boats you actually have to turn your body around to see if someone is close behind you. Radar let's you see/notice this without having to rotate around to take a look, so it's often useful for this. Not to mention if someone is approaching you from a side, etc.

The newer doppler radar can automatically highlight (color) boats going away from you. vs coming towards you. This adds to their situational awareness and seems very helpful.

After this short session on my friends boat, I'm looking forward to updating my electronics on my boat a bit more than i was before I had the short demo.

Helpful post. Maybe Big Guy's "anachronism" was correct after all, not just a description of the acronym. Gotta love auto correct.
In a crowded harbor, mooring field, etc, how far apart do the targets have to be before you just get clutter? I may have to rethink my old, 2003, radar, but I still want to see a FLIR demo. The New England Boat Show doesn't have the vendor booths in the quantity we used to have. Need to go to Ft Lauderdale, end of October, or maybe Annapolis or Newport.