AIS - essential kit these days for channel crossing?

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Coming at this as someone who cruises in Scotland west coast where amounts of shipping etc are relatively small. Thinking of trip to south Brittany next year in company with some others and very aware of much busier shipping lanes in parts of the Irish Sea, Bristol Channel and English Channel areas.

Question is regarding one of the boats travelling at a different time to the rest of us. Their current nav kit is a 2007 Navman plotter, iPad with navionics and good passive radar reflector, but no radar or AIS.

For those of you who do this trip regularly, what’s the opinion re having AIS on a channel crossing? Thinking of either just a receiver or transceiver type. Nice to have, or mad not to have? I understand how it works, and it’s limitations (not everyone has it).

Panels thoughts?
 
In my view it's a 'nice to have', and not essential. It take a lot of the uncertainty about crossing busy shipping, so well worthwhile in that respect.

I have only a receiver*, bought in recent years after numerous channel, etc., crossings without AIS. I would not attach a high importance to being able to transmit at present - there is a lot of other kit I would get before that if money allowed (which it doesn't!) - because there's no clear expectation that the other party will actually be looking at their AIS receiver. Perhaps in future practices will change and it will become more important.

(*Digital Yacht combined antenna/receiver with NMEA output to plotter.)
 
I've never had AIS.

It didn't exist 35 years ago when I started doing the odd channel crossing during the season, and I don't think I was mad then.

I'll get one sooner or later, probably for next season.

So a nice to have in my book. There's often a long period between first sighting a vessel and being sure that it will pass us safely, and I would expect it to cut down the worry time. And although I have seldom had to take evasive action, maybe it will cut those numbers down as well.

This is in day or night in moderate to good visibility.

But in poor visibility, and without radar, it should be a great comfort compared to being without. I hate those moments. And we can't always avoid them if they arise unforecast and on passage, as happened to us on a shortish coastal hop this year.
 
We don’t have radar, AIS, or a plotter but except in fog don’t miss them at all. Then I’d like radar. GPS with lat and long still feels like a magical cheat.
 
I work on a ship, often in the channel.

We like AIS targets popping up on our screens, but still rely on radar, so if you’re giving a decent return we’ll see you and plan accordingly.

Just be aware not all the vessels in the channel have watchkeepers as switched on as ours, and be cautious of big traffic, and in particular their speed, some of the big commercials really romp on. Stick to the colregs, it’s what we’re expecting (none of this mad might is right nonsense) but be ready to react if you come to the conclusion you’ve not been spotted.
 
Budget is tight! To do this, they have already committed to a new engine (old one has been problematic for a few years now). The boat is well organised but there will be a lot of other things to buy for this trip (Charts, guides and the rest). The suggestion of the AIS is mine (I am lucky enough to have both radar and AIS fitted by past owner) given they will be making part or all of the passage there and back on their own.

Seems that NASA type receiver with a display is circa £200?
 
If money is tight, the best use for £200 is to keep it in reserve in case you need an extra day or two somewhere waiting for the fog to clear.
The cost of an AIS Rx is only part of it, you need an aerial, and to do work to get it all sorted. That's a time cost as well as surprising amounts for cables, interfaces, odd parts.

OTOH, if you want one, then you might as well buy one sooner as later.
 
mm42 said:
I work on a ship, often in the channel.

We like AIS targets popping up on our screens, but still rely on radar, so if you’re giving a decent return we’ll see you and plan accordingly.

Just be aware not all the vessels in the channel have watchkeepers as switched on as ours, and be cautious of big traffic, and in particular their speed, some of the big commercials really romp on. Stick to the colregs, it’s what we’re expecting (none of this mad might is right nonsense) but be ready to react if you come to the conclusion you’ve not been spotted.
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Amen to that, and I would add that ship watchkeepers may possibly be using AIS as one of their means of keeping a lookout, or not.. but they will definitely be using radar, so an Echomax type RTE is extremely useful..
I think they are a similar price to an AIS transmitter, but have various advantages.
 
Yes, I know 'it's not as good as radar' and I accept that.
I have a Comar transponder, it saved my backside and kept my crew lady calm whilst avoiding a very large dredger that came out of the river, veered off the channel towards me then slowed right down and dropped anchor in thick fog crossing the St Nazaire shipping lane in June. We could hear the anchor chain going out, I knew exactly where it was 50 metres away. Thus far for me worth the money just for that...
Sadly I can't afford a four figure sum for radar and don't knowingly set off if fog is forecast but this time we left Pornic in bright clear sunshine and sailed into a wall 6NM West which lasted until we reached the entrance to the Baie du Pouliguen off Pornichet.
I'm an AIS believer but I'll still keep scouring fleabay up for Radar
 
A nice to have. I never look at mine unless I want to see where the big ship over there is going.

Friends and family can see where I am, more importantly, and if I am going to get back for last orders at the bar!
 
lw395 said:
If money is tight, the best use for £200 is to keep it in reserve in case you need an extra day or two somewhere waiting for the fog to clear.
The cost of an AIS Rx is only part of it, you need an aerial, and to do work to get it all sorted. That's a time cost as well as surprising amounts for cables, interfaces, odd parts.

OTOH, if you want one, then you might as well buy one sooner as later.
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+1, a very good point re having funds and no pressure if staying in port, often the sensible option with the Channel and fog.

I'd like AIS and may well get a transponder for next season, but it's a nice to have - I have radar I can use in short bursts, but have crossed the Channel dozens of times without either.
 
I had to call a ship up that had clearly not seen me, on the approach to Portsmouth, after a crossing. There was a very either side of me, and they had seen me. The ship was going to cross in from of one and behind the other, but had not seen me in the middle. After a few mins they located me from my LAT/Long and decided to change their course to behind both ferries, so in front of me my half a mile. At the time the watch keep chastised me for not transmitting AIS.

I was watching the ships using a receive only device. Next year I shall be transmitting. Not because I don't keep a look out but it does appear to be useful.
 
I have just started with a B AIS and already I wouldn’t be without it. A few days ago a ship looked to be going to pass well clear by the aspect of her lights. The AIS didn’t think so. Red flashing ship symbol. The AIS was right. A point to note - radar is a thirsty beast. AIS is not.
 
Very nice to have. Combined with a good plotter visible to the helmsman it can turn a scary trip into a much safer voyage. And in quieter times it is often interesting to learn about the ships nearby.
 
Minn said:
I have just started with a B AIS and already I wouldn’t be without it. A few days ago a ship looked to be going to pass well clear by the aspect of her lights. The AIS didn’t think so. Red flashing ship symbol. The AIS was right. A point to note - radar is a thirsty beast. AIS is not.
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I agree with Minn. If you only sail in daylight then AIS is nice to have. If you sail in fog or at night in areas with large ships, then, for the price, it would not make sense not to have an AIS transceiver. :)

Richard
 
Have not had a working chart plotter for 18 months, so my AIS transmits & I cannot receive. Has not been a problem so far. I cross the channel regularly. Last week I crossed the Dover Straits from Boulogne & Cross CG called me up to report that someone on the French coast (It was F8) had suggested that I may be in difficulty. They wanted to check I was OK.
2 years ago Dover contacted me just North of North Foreland in very heavy weather, when a report of a yacht in difficulty had been reported. Turns out it was me, but at least Dover were able to identify me.
So it is useful to be seen by coastguard etc. My wife likes to know where I am so follows me online.

In July when I was en route from Ostend to Bradwell, 2 ships contacted me and asked me to hold my course, as they were changing course to avoid me- One of them was not even visible to me for another 10 minutes or so.

It would not worry me if I did not have it but in the shipping lanes others seem to like to know what I am up to. I assume it is difficult for them to determine what a yacht going relatively slow is likely to do & to establish its course. Transmitting this data must help them.

I also have Echomax active radar reflector & because Cross requested that I advise Dover when I wanted to cross the northern shipping lane, I complied. Dover immediately said that they could see me on radar. Whether that was due to the AIS or the Echomax I do not know.
 
It is perfectly possible to cross safely without AIS or radar, and many of us have done it often. It would not be prudent to set out with the chance of fog with only AIS and no radar, but it would be a great comfort if one were caught out in fog with nothing else to rely one. A cruise with AIS might well be much more enjoyable with AIS and you friend might consider it money well spent. They would also have the option of being able to track their companions if they are transmitting.
 
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