AIS transponder

[Twister_Ken]

Sensible suggestion I will probably go down that route
I had thought that A & B were 2 different frequencies like radar but probably incorrect
What about active radar reflectors. Is that not a problem with those?
!

Dual frequency active radar reflectors have been available for five years or so. Set aside about £600 and you'll probably have change left for a bottle or three of decent malt.

 

[duncan99210]

One thing about an AIS receiver is that it gives you ship MMSI numbers, which you can use to call the vessel and check their intentions. A DSC call using their MMSI will generate an alarm on their radio which would be difficult to ignore.

 

[prv]

To be clear, I would definitely recommend an AIS receiver as a first priority if you want to avoid ships - no question.

What's less clear is whether the best transmitter is a radar enhancer or an AIS transmitter. Personally I think the radar one is a better option for the specific task of avoiding collisions with ships, though the AIS has some other side benefits.

Note that AIS transmitters generally include a receiver as well, so buying a receiver first and then upgrading to a transmitter soon afterwards would be a little inefficient in terms of purchasing.

Pete

 

[Tintin]

Sensible suggestion I will probably go down that route
I had thought that A & B were 2 different frequencies like radar but probably incorrect
What about active radar reflectors. Is that not a problem with those?

Do not know anyone with an AIS so cannot try out first. They will probable be wanting to look at mine!!!

No problem with both ais and rte. They operate on different frequencies. My ais uses a dedicated aerial on the pushpit. My rte is mounted on a 6 ft pole on the pushpit. I have found the rte alarm function to be if less use on coastal and cross channel as most of the time you are being painted by radar.

Since fitting both i cannot imagine not having them for solo passages and am fitting both to my latest boat this winter.

Pm sent.

 

[oldvarnish]

Personally (as I've said before) I would go with a radar target enhancer (Sea-Me or Echomax) before an AIS transmitter. All ships will be using radar, not all will be effectively using AIS (the number with integrated ECDIS or a useful AIS display prominently mounted is presumably increasing, but it only takes one...). An AIS receiver is always helpful.

If you do go with AIS, I would recommend the Vesper Watchmate series for their very useable display software.

Pete

I agree with everything prv says. I've got Echomax and Vesper AIS (receiver only)- an ideal working combination for me.

 

[Koeketiene]

All ships will be using radar, not all will be effectively using AIS

If by 'ships' you mean yachts: not all have radar or AIS. We didn't have either till this Summer.
If by 'ships' you mean merchantmen: use of AIS is compulsory for every vessel over 300GRT. They may not always be keeping a close eye on it, but that goes for radar as well.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

I agree with everything prv says. I've got Echomax and Vesper AIS (receiver only)- an ideal working combination for me.

I agree; that way you get all the benefits of AIS receive plus your blip appears on 100% of ships' RADAR screens; without the dangerous misconception that your class B transponder is showing up on more than a handful of ships.

 

[Koeketiene]

I agree; that way you get all the benefits of AIS receive plus your blip appears on 100% of ships' RADAR screens; without the dangerous misconception that your class B transponder is showing up on more than a handful of ships.

That too is a dangerous misconception.
If a ship's crew's not watching AIS, they're not more likely to keep a close eye on their radar screen.
Let's not forget that an AIS screen is far easier to read/interpret than a radar screen (which requires some skill).
What is true is that in congested areas (like the Solent) some/all merchantmen filter out Class B AIS as the screen would be too cluttered with contacts to be of any practical use.

 

[oldvarnish]

If a ship's crew's not watching AIS, they're not more likely to keep a close eye on their radar screen.

If that's the case, what hope is there for us? All the electronics in the world aren't going to make you safer.

 

[Koeketiene]

If that's the case, what hope is there for us? All the electronics in the world aren't going to make you safer.

Exactly.

You should never spend money on toys that enhance your visibility. Others won't see you if they're not looking.
OTOH, money spent on toys that enhance your ability to see others is money well spent.
All IMHO of course.

 

[Bilgediver]

As a single handed sailor I have recently had some rather startling near misses.
The last one where i came withing 60 feet of being run down in the Black Deep by a large container ship that did not see me, nor I them ( How on earth can one miss 2000 containers coming at me - don't ask) has me worried

I need the equipment on deck & do not have time to go below in rough weather or fog to read instruments be they radar or AIS or whatever
My yacht is 31 feet & there is little room for anything so it will have to go in a box on the pushpit where I can see it from the tiller

I think that I need an AIS transponder so others see me as much as I can see them

My question is :-
Should I be looking at class B or class A ?

You can fit either however bear in mind that the Class A will cost much more IE £1800 pounds and up and up and up!!!! Moreover Class A is designed for ship's bridges which are pretty rain proof so you might need to go for an expensive version if requiring a watertight enclosure for the Pushpit!!!!

 

[haydude]

Personally (as I've said before) I would go with a radar target enhancer (Sea-Me or Echomax) before an AIS transmitter. All ships will be using radar, not all will be effectively using AIS (the number with integrated ECDIS or a useful AIS display prominently mounted is presumably increasing, but it only takes one...). An AIS receiver is always helpful.

If you do go with AIS, I would recommend the Vesper Watchmate series for their very useable display software.

Pete

Here we go again! The AIS vs Radar religion

 

[Rivers & creeks]

That too is a dangerous misconception.
If a ship's crew's not watching AIS, they're not more likely to keep a close eye on their radar screen.
Let's not forget that an AIS screen is far easier to read/interpret than a radar screen (which requires some skill).
What is true is that in congested areas (like the Solent) some/all merchantmen filter out Class B AIS as the screen would be too cluttered with contacts to be of any practical use.

What AIS screen? There's no such thing on 95% of commercial vessels.

 

[pvb]

What AIS screen? There's no such thing on 95% of commercial vessels.

I'm afraid that those who put blind faith in AIS transceivers have little knowledge of the reality of ships' systems. I've been saying for years here that anyone who thinks that fitting a Class B transceiver to a small boat will improve their safety is at best an optimist. Most ships rely on visual and radar watches, which is why an active radar reflector is a far better choice than a Class B transceiver.

 

[haydude]

What AIS screen? There's no such thing on 95% of commercial vessels.

All the commercial ships I know of and those I have visited do have AIS on the Navigation console, clearly I cannot make this into a statistic, but speaking to the Officers, having AIS on the cockpit screen is the norm. After all, with the extremely expensive equipment they all carry, an AIS link to their mandatory transponder it is not a big deal.

Since you are citing a clear percentage which is against my perception and common sense, please could you clarify
where you got your information from? Please could you support your assertion with evidence? Or is it just your perception?

 

[doug748]

I singlehand a similar size boat.

Setting up a chartplotter, with AIS input, above the companionway was one of the best things I ever did. It is fairly dry there, right in your field of vision and only needs a short flying lead from the deckhead area. I have made a dead simple wooden bracket so the thing can be removed to the chart table when not under way:

View attachment 38042

If I could justify the spend I would follow pvb and Old Varnish and fit one of those Echomax dual channel radar botherers, as well.

 

[sailorman]

I singlehand a similar size boat.

Setting up a chartplotter, with AIS input, above the companionway was one of the best things I ever did. It is fairly dry there, right in your field of vision and only needs a short flying lead from the deckhead area. I have made a dead simple wooden bracket so the thing can be removed to the chart table when not under way:

View attachment 38042

If I could justify the spend I would follow pvb and Old Varnish and fit one of those Echomax dual channel radar botherers, as well.

Does it display all those numpty yachties ais signals as well :sleeping:

 

[Twister_Ken]

Does it display all those numpty yachties ais signals as well :sleeping:

That's the problem. We were sailing Guernsey - Jersey this summer, reasonably close to a guy broadcasting his AIS position on 'B'. Everytime the gap between us closed a bit my AIS alarm would sound and I needed to cancel it. I'd have turned it off completely, but viz wasn't good, and I wanted to know when the Condor cats were coming.,

 

[oldvarnish]

Exactly.

You should never spend money on toys that enhance your visibility. Others won't see you if they're not looking.
OTOH, money spent on toys that enhance your ability to see others is money well spent.
All IMHO of course.

Yes, that makes sense. My inclination is always to assume the other boat/ship hasn't seen me.

 

[Koeketiene]

What AIS screen? There's no such thing on 95% of commercial vessels.

On the contrary.
All vessels >300GRT have to have AIS Class A - it is compulsory!!!

As from December 2004, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires all vessels over 299GT to carry an AIS transponder on board, which transmits their position, speed and course, among some other static information, such as vessel’s name, dimensions and voyage details.

All Class A AIS transponder units units have some kind of screen (however small)- again: it's the law.