Avoiding containers

[Gludy]

Interesting mention in MBY about the Collision Avoidance Sonar System from echopilot that looks 1.25 km ahead for obstacles. To date this is the only solution I have seen that enables leisure boats to avoid hitting obstacles - at 30 knots you get about 60 seconds warning, which is time enough to take avoiding action.

The cost is about £8k, so its not a cheap solution but it does remove a nightmare and greatly aids safety.

Has anyone used one of these as yet? Can they pick up lobster pots? Nets?

Cheers
Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[byron]

It's gotta be some super kind of system to avoid a container, they float just showing a few inches above sea level.

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[BrendanS]

but like an iceburg, they show a great deal more underwater. I won one of their forward looking sonar systems in a ybw competition last year, and have played with it extensively. Based on those results, I'd trust what they claim, and from what I've read the floating junk system should work well

<hr width=100% size=1>Utinam logica falsa tuam philisophiam totam suffodiant

 

[Gludy]

Byron- they project 60 degrees wide and 30 degrees down (vertically) - its a forward looking sonar built to detect underwater objects. It cannot detect out of water objects - that is left to radar. So a container is the perfect target for it.

The one thing that always worries me is hitting a solid object and ripping the bottom of the boat out. I know people who have hit fridges, couches etc,. It makes boating a bit of a lottery.
The peace of mind should a system would give is considerable.

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[hlb]

From my extencive cruising, I've not hit anything yet. I would wonder what the hell was bleeping at me and probably hit the container anyway while trying to sort out the noise..../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>Specializing in marine sanitation since 1997.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[tcm]

i wd not be sure to trust it - would larginsh floating pallets come up? Sound great for a decent sized ship wwanting to avoid icebergs, containers, and semisubmerged fairlines, but things a lot smaller would still cause big damage i think.

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[byron]

Sorry Gludy, wasn't think that early in the morning. Didn't realise you were talking about underwater forward looking Sonar.
Incidentally I understood the range of those isn't too hot and the 'Bulb' on the hull is easily knocked off. Having said that anything is better than nothing.

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[Gludy]

Nope its not really for the decent size ship they have had their systems for years and frankly do not get damaged by most rubbish including containers - the new system is for our sort of boats.

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Gludy on 10/03/2004 09:34 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Gludy]

The system is not just foward looking radar which typically has a limited range - its a new system with a range of 1.2kms.


<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[steverow]

Paul,

8000 quid does seem a lot for what seems on the surface to be an echosounder with a tailored radiation pattern although obviously quite a high powered one.
It may be worth having a play in the summer with a standard unit, hacking it about a bit and see what range can be achieved and how sensitive it is.
Hmmm youve got me thinking now...
Talk to you at the weekend.

Steve.


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[Wiggo]

Re: Who\'s seen what, then?

I, too, am nervous about this kind of thing. We passed a floating domestic fridge in the Alderney Race, once. Anyone else passed anything interesting/dangerous?

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[BrendanS]

Re: Who\'s seen what, then?

Coming back from Weymouth last year, just avoided at last second a water logged piece of wood, barely visible. About 16' long, and probably 3x3'

Also last year, a harbour/police launch towing a huge cylinder (bigger than the buoys) out of the shipping lane between Southampton Water and Cowes

Trees, logs, general floating debris, big enough to sink a boat at speed.

<hr width=100% size=1>Utinam logica falsa tuam philisophiam totam suffodiant

 

[Gludy]

Re: Who\'s seen what, then?

There is a real (unrealised) demand for a powerful forward looking sonar at a good price.

The facts are that the sea is liitered with dangerous objects - hit a container at 30knots or even 12 knots and you may only have seconds to abandon ship.
It is the one thing that really is not covered by standard equipment.

I congratulate anyone for bringing out the device at any price and whilst 8k is not a lot compared to the cost of a 60 footer it is a significant enough price to put many off.

If the long range forward sonar can detect lobster pots and nets then any help in dodging these small objects that can totally disable the boat has to be a good thing.

I can name over a dozen boats in our marina that have hits objects and become disabled in the last few years - if you then take away the boats that never go out anyway the percentage of regular sailors hitting objects is high.

I have watched a full sized couch be washed out to sea through the lock at my marina - anyone hitting that would be damaged.


<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[Nauti Fox]

Re: Who\'s seen what, then?

Found an upside down sea going canoe off Whitstable,bit nervy turning it right way up,Wifey would'nt look.
Al

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

FWIW, I have an Echopilot Forward Looking Sounder on my boat and its pretty useless. I'm told that this is because the signal can be distorted if you have another sounder already on the boat and it seems to function even worse at speed
Before I blew £8k on one of these, I would want to see a convincing demonstration on a fast planing boat which is bouncing along in a choppy sea because I would be very sceptical
Probably best to wait until Raymarine either copies the system or buys the rights, develops it properly and flogs it for £1k or so

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[omega2]

you guys are always on flybridge, whats wrong with the mark one eyeball, and before you mention it 30 knots in the dark is not clever

<hr width=100% size=1>J HAMER

 

[whisper]

Re: Who\'s seen what, then?

Oi ! Are you a doctor or something ? I'm not giving personal details like that on here.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Wiggo]

Re: Elephant joke

reminds me of my favourite elephant joke:

Q. How can you tell if you pass an elephant?




A. You can't get the toilet seat down...

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[MainlySteam]

I know of a small hydrographic vessel (around 80 footish) with forward looking sonar. On its maiden voyage they accidently drove it onto a coral reef - fortunately not fast enough to rip the bottom out. At least it avoided all the containers I guess.

John

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[Gludy]

"Before I blew £8k on one of these, I would want to see a convincing demonstration on a fast planing boat which is bouncing along in a choppy sea because I would be very sceptical"

I agree - I too would need to see it checked out and working on a planing boat with a fair sea. But I am also open to it being proved to work. There is a mag review coming soon in MBY.


<hr width=100% size=1>Paul