ColinR
Member
Mine got water in the radome, probably when the mast was being stored down over the winter and although its not that old its not economical to repair. I've had radar for about 15 years, use it very occasionally but a few times it has been a godsend. Shorthanded at night when fog descended in the middle of the Channel, before AIS was the norm, for example. But I'd say its been the most problematic bit of electronics on board. The radar engineer stressed not to cut the data cable at the bottom of the mast if at all possible, so now I'm sailing in an area where the mast must come down for the winter, it involves a fiddly process of removing the cable from the radome, unthreading it from the mast and the reverse at the start of the season. Plus its power hungry in use and requires experience to really understand what its telling you. But it is definitely another pair of eyes in some situations.
Chartplotters and AIS have changed the picture since I first got radar. I notice a lot more yachts don't have radar now. On the other hand some boats don't have their AIS on, or maybe don't have it? And of course AIS relies on the other guy having it turned on. So should I bite the bullet and get a new one or go without?
Chartplotters and AIS have changed the picture since I first got radar. I notice a lot more yachts don't have radar now. On the other hand some boats don't have their AIS on, or maybe don't have it? And of course AIS relies on the other guy having it turned on. So should I bite the bullet and get a new one or go without?