AIS - WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND

alisdair4

alisdair4

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Isle of Bute
midnightdrifter.net
Does anyone have a view as to the utility of AIS off the West Coast of Scotland? Apart from exiting the Clyde, and occasionally crossing to Northern Ireland, most of our sailing is done well away from the main shipping lanes. Most fishing boats in that part of the world are less than 300 tonnes, so don't have to carry it.

I am sold on AIS as I use it when sailing on JSASTC boats - but they tend to go further and to busier places.

Thoughts - (I'm just looking for an excuse to buy another gadget, really!)
 
Re: AIS - WesT COAST OF SCOTLAND

After starting a thread about ais class B and since then talking to a merchant seaman I am not gong to bother with AIS class B but I am going to check my radar return with a passing vessel next time I am out. Then look at the sea-me active radar reflector then AIS parallel reciever. My needs slightly different to you as based in the Channel Islands but hope to go to Ireland over the summer.

Still looking for crew, last week of july and 1st 2 weeks of August. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: AIS - WesT COAST OF SCOTLAND

Re alisdair4
I sail on the west coast of Scotland, and do not have AIS, and have no intention of having it. As you say, the area is not busy enough to justify it. If, however, I sailed on the south coast of England, I would certainly get it.
If you put "AIS" into Google, and then navigate to the west coast, you will see how few returns you get. Fewer electronic gadgets, and a better eyeball watch, methinks.
 
Re: AIS - WesT COAST OF SCOTLAND

I don't think AIS would have helped me getting into Iona in fog but it may have worried me going into Loch Boisdale in fog as I would have seen Clansman heading in after me;-)
 
Re: AIS - WesT COAST OF SCOTLAND

Get the MacBraynes timetable.

Busiest place on the West Coast can be the S of Mull. Time to watch out for is when the Isle of Mull, the Clansman and the Lord are all at the south end (predictable, read timetable)

You then have to watch out for the stone boats from Glensanda, unpredictable, and then fishing boats running south, very unpredictable.

Avoid area during West Highland Week, too many predictably testosterone charged racers rushing around, unpredictably.

Other than the odd fishfarm boat not much else on the coast.

No, I don't think you need AIS
 
Re: AIS - WesT COAST OF SCOTLAND

Bulkers coming and going to and from Glensanda generaly call a securite when approching the Sound of Mull so a good VHF..
 
I have made many journeys between N.Ireland and the Scotish West Coast. It is surprising how fast you can loose visability in mist or fog which seems to suddenly appear in that area. Radar has proved itself invaluable. I have just added Ais. Its not expensive and as you say it is an excuse for another toy and adds a bit more security when crossing the shipping lane. I hope I can get mine to work.
 
I'm hoping to add an AIS engine to our plotter this year, but mostly because we are thinking of a N Sea crossing and perhaps another Biscay crossing in the next few years. The only time I think I would switch it on cruisng W Scotland is between Mull of Kintyre and N. Ireland, as the previous poster said. Otherwise, not required. Of courrse, there would be the odd other occasion whe you would switch it on- eg bad vis in the Minch when you hear a tanker talking to Stornoway CG . . . or maybe occasionally in teh Sound of Mull . . .

In fact, yes nice to have. Far from essential and probably just a distraction most of the time, but occasionally - and so cheap now, why not?? AIS engine through a compatible plotter is cheapest if you already have the plotter.

- W
 
Thanks, all. I already have a tablet PC running Seapro Lite, I thought I'd try the NASA AIS engine - just over 100 quid. As MD has a radar arch, I thought I'd just put the AIS antenna on top of that - should be about 10 feet above sea level.
 
The nice feature of AIS is that it gives you ship's name (as well as MMSI) so its much easier to say "G'd Morning, I'm here too".
 
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