Calm water radar

G

Gludy

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I have just returend from a trip to Padfstow - on the way down the water was very calm. What amazed me was the ability of the radar to pick up lobster pots with a 100% accuracy. It also picked up dolphins and birds - in fact we had a wonderful time as four pods of dolphins played around the boat, jumping our wake and jumping out at eye level alongside the boat etc.

So in dense fog when the water is usually very calm, I feel great that the radar can pick out those nasty lobster pots and allow me to dodge them. Its a 50 inch open array.

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul
 
Paul
I've had similar results with my Raymarine set on 'Harbour' (lobster pots not dolphins) It's reassuring that in fog that you could pick up an inflatable or even someone on a lielow (sp?)with a flat sea.
Also try tracking the rain on the other setting ('Open Sea' for me) you can see it coming quite clearly from miles away.
David


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Yes, on the way back from Padstow the weather was overcast and there was a f3. I could see the rain coming and in fact steered a course between the rain in a clear corridor so as to stay dry!

I just thought that the advanatges of the large scanner should be made clearer to enable people to make an informed choice :-)

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul
 
Re: ah but

Not sure that being able to pick up birds and lobster pot is unique to more expensive radar. Properly set up, cheapier systems shd be ok. We had Autohelm LCD (laughable old rubbish these days) on a previous boat and i could accurately count the number of seagulls flying around the back of the boat.

Or is this another of those posts when you self-gloat at the wisdom and wonderfulness of your choice of boat/equipment? Which i spose is fair enuf, mind.

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My experience to date is limited to a 24 inch open array and a 50 inch open array - both Raymarine.

On the former I would often miss small sailing boats without detector - on the latter I can see the ones wirg radar reflectors better but can see both.

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul
 
Reminds me of a strange thing that happened to me a few years ago croosing the Channel in thick fog. I was on the radar and picked up a small target a couple of hundred yards away on the s/b side. It seemed to be keeping pace with us and this went on for miles; I was mystified and assumed that it was a small RIB or something. Eventually the target started to close on us and I told the helmsman to steer hard to port. Still the target closed on us and I told the helmsman to stop both engines but the target still kept on coming
Then out of the murk, a seagull landed on the bow. Did'nt have the heart to chase it away.

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Re: ah but

tcm:-"Not sure that being able to pick up birds and lobster pot is unique to more expensive radar. Properly set up, cheapier systems shd be ok. We had Autohelm LCD (laughable old rubbish these days) on a previous boat and i could accurately count the number of seagulls flying around the back of the boat. "

I can only go on my limited experience which is stated in the above post.

"Or is this another of those posts when you self-gloat at the wisdom and wonderfulness of your choice of boat/equipment? Which i spose is fair enuf, mind. "

Really, do you have to make personal remarks? The fact is that I enjoy learning - I have returned from my best weekend's boating ever and as usual I have learnt more. An experienced boater told me that radar can only pick up metal and given that I was not aware of just what could be picked up in a calm sea, I passed the information on for others - just to enable them to make a better informed choice when making purchases. It really is as simple as that.

As regards gloating my post made it clear that I had just learnt about what the radar can pick up post purchase - so there was a certain amount of accidental benefits involved in my decision. Not many boaters can experience all the equipment, of all types etc - so to me, one of the major benefits of the forum is to be able to share experiences. The fact that I can afford this or that is not important - you yourself cannot be short of a bob or two and make no secret of the joy you get out of your very expensive boat - yet despite the great detail provided I did nothing other than enjoy your enjoyment - nor did I think you were gloating. If anyone thinks my posts are gloating then frankly thats their problem - not mine :-).

What I do with all my interests is learn all the time and I enjoy sharing what I learn. In that process, whilst I listen to others, I still make my own decisions hence the jets, thrusters etc issues that I have raised.




<hr width=100% size=1>Paul
 
Re: ah but

I've only got a little Furono 18'' thing with a small display (a budget <£1000 sort of thing) and that picks up Lobster Pots e.t.c and once on a calm day it picked up the wake from a passing yacht!!!! ( we are talking a yacht here, you know one with sails)
However I would like a spinny round radar cos' it actually looks like it is doing something as well as making the boat look more "shipish"

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moosewalk.gif

El Alce
 
Re: raw nerve, personal remarks

I think it is ok to make personal remarks, provided that they aren't hideoulsy offensive. Or if they are hideoulsy offensive, they have to be very funny. But mine was neither, and even softened the light remark about gloating with " Which is fair enough, mind."

It isn't personal to rib someone about the style of their posts, is it? And you do post self-congratulatory stuff - even the fact that you are always learning more. I mean, surely there are days when you learn *less* and cock things up big-time? A lot more interesting too.

Anyway, no real offence meant, honest.

On the other subject you touched upon, i can confiirm that I am very very short of lots of bobs, and all donations are gratefully accepted.



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Re: raw nerve, personal remarks

"I mean, surely there are days when you learn *less* and cock things up big-time? A lot more interesting too. "

I do not think there is a time I go out without some level of cock up - last weekend I put my boat aground on sand shoal - it was 100% my own stupid fault. No damage was done and I learnt I cannot always trust my depth sounder.

Its this constant learning that I like, not putting the boat ashore of course but the overall learning.

Woke up Sunday morning in Padstow surrounded by huge fishing boats - could not even do a sideways out bow and stern thrust to get out but managed it easily because of the control.

I am also learning to do a lot of the manouvering without any thrusters - using the thrusters as a reserve aid - a bit like having those safety wheels on a kids bike :-)

"And you do post self-congratulatory stuff"

Disagree - I post on things that I learn about because knowledge interests me. Its seems that I post tcm rub up the wrong way stuff though:-)

In this thread so far I am trying to find out if lobster pots can be spotted by small radar scanners or if its the resolution of the bigger scanner that is needed. I do not know the answer.

Seems that gulls can be spotted on all radars.







<hr width=100% size=1>Paul
 
Re: Much more interesting

This is more like it.

I agree about using the thrusters a bit less. It always seems a bit rubbish helming to hear the grind of the thrusters in the marina all the time. Also, in highish winds the thrusters are proportionally less (and eventually, not any) blimmin use.

The plonking the boat aground is a bit worryin tho. We caught the ground on an inland canal last year, and i was v relieved to get away. But later, I found the primary filters had a load of leaves innem, so praps worth a look in there?

I unreservedly withdraw my earlier slight nastiness.

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Re: Seagulls

I don't think I can see seagulls on mine. How close are they? Could someone come and hold one still for me while we look, please? Don't seem to have a problem spotting yachts without radar reflectors, though, as well as bouys, but not lobster pots. Should I upgrade?

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Re: Seagulls

We were spotting gulls at over a mile and then getting visuals as they approached the boat. Try checking fast moving targets against visuals it seems that most radars pick up gulls.

The Cornish lobster pots have flags on them - I have yet to check it out on unflagged pots.

There is a small advantage in being able to pick up lobster pots in calm seas when say in fog - however, I have not yet been able to establish how far up the radar ladder you have to go to have that resolution. I doubt if the extra cost of upgrading is worth it for most - however when buying a radar it would be nice to know what extra you get for any given hike up the cost ladder - that is what I am trying to establish.





<hr width=100% size=1>Paul
 
Re: Seagulls

before upgrading, try tuning the radar sensitivity. I know on our Furuno radar we can pick up our own V shaped wake behind us and other wakes from passing boats over a mile away. Seagulls, lobster pots are all easily picked up but in rough weather things become more difficult. As for submerged containers that float 2 feet below the surface, we don't have a hope...



<hr width=100% size=1>Princess Owners Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://surf.to/princessownersclub>http://surf.to/princessownersclub</A>
 
Re: Seagulls

Ah, I run a software filter to reduce clutter that does warn that it may make small fast targets hard to spot. But seagulls at a mile? Bear in mind I only have an 18", 2kW radome as well, so I may still need someone to hold the gull steady for me. Maybe I could tie one to a lobster pot with a short line, or something...

Any ideas on things to detect the blue 45litre oil drum, covered in black slime and just underwater in the middle of Brixham fairway gratefully received, BTW...
 
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