Moving up to a 326, will have a GPS - how important is Radar, have never used it so I may be "in the dark" about how important it may be. Mostly day sail occational overnight only sail during July and August. I am pretty diligent about watching weather but stuff happens. If I need Radar what type (brand) I have a garmin GPS chart plotter with a map chip that I am transfering to this boat. I think it is a 225, will it talk to any particular type of unit. Ed
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Rich Stidger
Need?
Ed, Maybe "need" is the wrong term. I sailed Long Island sound and the islands for 16 years without radar. Yes, there were times that I wished for radar, but I never bought it. However, I now have a Raytheon RL70H 4KW unit on my 40.5 that I keep in Westerly, RI. I use the radar all the time, and I consider it a very valuable tool. I purchased it before a Maine cruise so I could deal with the legendary fog. However, now that I am used to having it, I would always want it. In addition to seeing other vessels, it can be used for thunderstorm watchs and tracking rain cells that are in your area. Interfacing to your GPS will allow your waypoint to be plotted on the radar screen. This is a really neat feature since it helps indicate which of the targets on the screen is actually your intended point. Why don't you talk to Fred at Dockside Electronics at the Noank Shipyard. He has demos set up with different equipment. If you wish more info on installation of the radar, or if you want to see my system in person, email me. Rich
Ed, Maybe "need" is the wrong term. I sailed Long Island sound and the islands for 16 years without radar. Yes, there were times that I wished for radar, but I never bought it. However, I now have a Raytheon RL70H 4KW unit on my 40.5 that I keep in Westerly, RI. I use the radar all the time, and I consider it a very valuable tool. I purchased it before a Maine cruise so I could deal with the legendary fog. However, now that I am used to having it, I would always want it. In addition to seeing other vessels, it can be used for thunderstorm watchs and tracking rain cells that are in your area. Interfacing to your GPS will allow your waypoint to be plotted on the radar screen. This is a really neat feature since it helps indicate which of the targets on the screen is actually your intended point. Why don't you talk to Fred at Dockside Electronics at the Noank Shipyard. He has demos set up with different equipment. If you wish more info on installation of the radar, or if you want to see my system in person, email me. Rich
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Russell Egge
Radar is worth the price
We have had our 376 for 3 years and wouldn't but a boat without radar. We keep our boat in Wickford RI and fog is always a possibility. We go to Block every year and almost always see fog. And Nanatucket, well they don't call her the gray lady for nothing. On each of our last 2 trips we have left in visability less than 1/8 of a mile. That may sound like alot, but it sure isn't when one of those ferries or 60'er is closing in on you. Visability can also go to less than 100' in minutes. The ability to spot other boats 1-2 miles away (our usual range setting) makes for a saftey factor I wouldn't be without. A GPS may be able to tell you where you are, but you also need to know where the other boats are. Where do you plan on putting your Garmin 225? If not in the cockpit you might want to rethink the placement. Ours is in the nav station and we rely on our hand-held and use the Garmin 220 as a backup. RREgge S/V Allie Kat Wickford, RI
We have had our 376 for 3 years and wouldn't but a boat without radar. We keep our boat in Wickford RI and fog is always a possibility. We go to Block every year and almost always see fog. And Nanatucket, well they don't call her the gray lady for nothing. On each of our last 2 trips we have left in visability less than 1/8 of a mile. That may sound like alot, but it sure isn't when one of those ferries or 60'er is closing in on you. Visability can also go to less than 100' in minutes. The ability to spot other boats 1-2 miles away (our usual range setting) makes for a saftey factor I wouldn't be without. A GPS may be able to tell you where you are, but you also need to know where the other boats are. Where do you plan on putting your Garmin 225? If not in the cockpit you might want to rethink the placement. Ours is in the nav station and we rely on our hand-held and use the Garmin 220 as a backup. RREgge S/V Allie Kat Wickford, RI
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Ed
Thanks Rich and Russel
I will look into the RADAR, so I also need to add a "target" on my boat to be sure others pick it up? As to the placement of the GPS I am going to have it put in the cockpit. May need to add a console or something if I add RADAR also. Thanks for the advice.
I will look into the RADAR, so I also need to add a "target" on my boat to be sure others pick it up? As to the placement of the GPS I am going to have it put in the cockpit. May need to add a console or something if I add RADAR also. Thanks for the advice.
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Daniel Jonas
Depends on your needs
I have radar (on a 290) and would not trade it away. After the VHF and depth it is the most important electronics we have (that includes the GPS, chartplotter, and autopilot). That said, need is a very individual thing that is predicated on where you sail and how much exposure your sailing provides to low visibility. If you sail close to a safe port and conditions in your area do not change rapidly, or you don't sail when they can, then a radar probably does not rise to a need. If low visibility conditions can occur before you can reach a safe port, than I consider it a need. I define need as something that would cancel a trip if it were not working considering the conditions for the trip. Just having radar is not necessarily going to make things safer. Once you have it, use it in good visibilty conditions. Find out what you can see and what you can't. Sometimes very small boats near by do not show up. Also, practice using it in simulated zero conditions. You can do this if it is below by having a competent person on the helm and passing steering instructions to him using just the radar as a guide. Try actually getting into a safe anchorage this way...it is a great confidence builder. If the radar display is outside you can do the same thing alone by making the initial steering decision off the display and then checking it against what you see. We sail our 290 regularly in San Francisco Bay with trips to the delta and in between. On quieter days, we will venture outside the gate. All these places have the potential for very low visibility to occur rapidly, and all are littered with things that move and things that don't that we prefer not to try and sail through. A GPS will allow you to navigate in the fog, but a radar (without a GPS) will allow you to navigate safely and see traffic in the same conditions. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije)
I have radar (on a 290) and would not trade it away. After the VHF and depth it is the most important electronics we have (that includes the GPS, chartplotter, and autopilot). That said, need is a very individual thing that is predicated on where you sail and how much exposure your sailing provides to low visibility. If you sail close to a safe port and conditions in your area do not change rapidly, or you don't sail when they can, then a radar probably does not rise to a need. If low visibility conditions can occur before you can reach a safe port, than I consider it a need. I define need as something that would cancel a trip if it were not working considering the conditions for the trip. Just having radar is not necessarily going to make things safer. Once you have it, use it in good visibilty conditions. Find out what you can see and what you can't. Sometimes very small boats near by do not show up. Also, practice using it in simulated zero conditions. You can do this if it is below by having a competent person on the helm and passing steering instructions to him using just the radar as a guide. Try actually getting into a safe anchorage this way...it is a great confidence builder. If the radar display is outside you can do the same thing alone by making the initial steering decision off the display and then checking it against what you see. We sail our 290 regularly in San Francisco Bay with trips to the delta and in between. On quieter days, we will venture outside the gate. All these places have the potential for very low visibility to occur rapidly, and all are littered with things that move and things that don't that we prefer not to try and sail through. A GPS will allow you to navigate in the fog, but a radar (without a GPS) will allow you to navigate safely and see traffic in the same conditions. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije)
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Carl and Juliana Dupre
Yes!! To Radar
We had our own attitudes about the value of radar quickly adjusted during a recent sail from Vineyard Haven to Cuttyhunk; got nailed by pea-soup fog about half-way there. The rest of the story is too long for here, and the short version misses all of the drama! Suffice to say that our next present for 'Syzygy' will be radar! And although radar is expensive, a radar reflector is very cheap; you may not see the big guys, but at least you have the comfort of knowing that they can see you; don't sail without one. Carl and Jule s/v 'Syzygy'
We had our own attitudes about the value of radar quickly adjusted during a recent sail from Vineyard Haven to Cuttyhunk; got nailed by pea-soup fog about half-way there. The rest of the story is too long for here, and the short version misses all of the drama! Suffice to say that our next present for 'Syzygy' will be radar! And although radar is expensive, a radar reflector is very cheap; you may not see the big guys, but at least you have the comfort of knowing that they can see you; don't sail without one. Carl and Jule s/v 'Syzygy'
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Dan
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Bryce
Radar
I have the Raytheon radar on my H410. Been very reliable and after close to 50 hours of fog this summer, I'd say is a requirement and not an option. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
I have the Raytheon radar on my H410. Been very reliable and after close to 50 hours of fog this summer, I'd say is a requirement and not an option. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
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