Radar/AIS installation

[LinTeal]

I am considering purchasing a boat that doesn't have radar.I would appreciate any thoughts as to rough budget costs for purchase of radar/AIS plus installation whether it be on the mast or on a post at the pushpit. Many thanks in advance.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I don't have any thoughts on budget, but I would first consider whether or not I need these add-ons. The requirement depends on the type of sailing you do; if you intend making offshore passages, or normally sail in a very busy shipping area both would be important, but the necessity declines if these conditions are not present.
You need to add further information to your question, as to ;
a, how you will display the radar? A modern MFD using NMEA2000-type protocols will be a better starting point for the new type radars. If you have to interface between NMEA 2000 and 0183-type equipment you will need additional electronic devices to facilitate this
b, do you have receive-only AIS in mind, or are you considering installing a transceiver?

 

[johnalison]

I agree that it would be best to see radar and AIS as part of a system with a MFD. I can't remember what my s/s pole cost 20 yrs ago, £2-300 I think. Radar on a pole has several advantages and few disadvantages and I have always found the range to be more than adequate. It is said that the pole should be to starboard since a SAR helicopter will approach from port.

Your system is not going to be cheap, so Class B AIS would be worth including, as well as combining with the VHF, something that I don't have, for the odd occasion when you want to give orders to a ship.

 

[LinTeal]

I will be doing some offshore and hence would hate to be without radar/AIS transducer.
I am only looking for a v rough budget figure to help my thoughts on the purchase.

 

[Yellow Ballad]

3k+

 

[PaulRainbow]

I will be doing some offshore and hence would hate to be without radar/AIS transducer.
I am only looking for a v rough budget figure to help my thoughts on the purchase.

If you don't answer the question above, it's not possible to give even a rough idea.

What equipment do you already have ? How will you display the info ? Receive only or transmit AIS ? Boat ? Where will the equipment be fitted ?

 

[scruff]

If it's offshore AIS to give you an alarm when a ship gets close, then the NASA AIS "radar" is circa £200. If you want all singing, all dancing AIS transponder, MFD, Radar etc (plus potentially new speed, windspeed, depth etc sensors) then a goodly number of thousands.

 

[doug748]

I agree with Yellow Ballad, 3 grand would cover it if you can do the installation yourself. It is possible to spend almost endless amounts more.

.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I have been looking at fitting a new MFD, a Class B AIS transceiver, a new GPS antenna with heading sensor, an NMEA convertor/Actisense/Multiplexer and the sums came out at €2700-€3000, taking advantage of current special offers. If I was to stretch to fitting radar, I could add another €1000-€1400.

 

[FlyingGoose]

Just Google shop and you can compare prices for your requirements but many of the manufacturers keep their prices relatively close to each other . So in essence you really need to look at what brand your interested in.
Also what equipment you have at the moment as stated above this will affect what you need to buy . So perhaps a list of what you have as an MFD or what are you using as a plotter can help us help you.
Edit Mr paul R. Beat me to it

 

[cherod]

2 nd hand all up under 2k ( ( radome , mfd , gps , AIS transducer , cables etc ) self installed .

 

[PaulRainbow]

I agree with Yellow Ballad, 3 grand would cover it if you can do the installation yourself. It is possible to spend almost endless amounts more.

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This is just nonsense. You don't know anything about his setup, what he wants, or where he will fit it.

What if he want radar up the mast, AIS transceiver and a 9" MFD to display it on, how will he get that for 3K ?

What if he already has a modern MFD, the radar bracket is on the mast and he only wants receive AIS, how does that come to 3K ?

Plus, any number of installation in-between, plus he said the cost should include installation.

 

[ithet]

I am considering purchasing a boat that doesn't have radar.I would appreciate any thoughts as to rough budget costs for purchase of radar/AIS plus installation whether it be on the mast or on a post at the pushpit. Many thanks in advance.

You have used the term radar/AIS in this thread, but they are different devices. Do you mean that you want both, or would be satisfied with just one? I would suggest you look at an AIS transponder first.

To answer you question more fully, as already said what, if any, plotter/MFD you already have is key - as that would determine if a compatible Radar scanner to connect to it is available. Not many recreational boaters buy stand alone plotters (i.e. with dedicated display) these days, although they do have a following.

If you are talking getting a complete new Radar system I looked into this fairly recently, as although my boat had plotter and radar, it was all obsolete. The cheapest MFD/radome packages were about £1700 with smallest display, going up to more typically £2500+ with a larger more functional display. A mast mount is about £300, a pole mount considerably more. My local marine electronics company charges £60hr for fitting and I expect they would charge for something like a days work - mast work might cost more. There will also me charges for extra cabling and sundry parts.

An AIS transponder would cost about £500 and be a simple fit if you already have a plotter (unless very ancient). I would go with that and see how you get on. I only got a new scanner in the end because (a) I needed a new plotter which made my old scanner obsolete, (b) I already had a mast mount and (c) I found a heavy discount on a refurbished display and scanner.

 

[doug748]

This is just nonsense. You don't know anything about his setup, what he wants, or where he will fit it.

What if he want radar up the mast, AIS transceiver and a 9" MFD to display it on, how will he get that for 3K ?

What if he already has a modern MFD, the radar bracket is on the mast and he only wants receive AIS, how does that come to 3K ?

Plus, any number of installation in-between, plus he said the cost should include installation.

Nonsense? Are you sure? Nonsense? Are you losing your grip?

I would say It's a rough figure for which the OP could equip his boat, as required, if he were able to do the work himself.

You think it's wrong?

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[PaulRainbow]

Nonsense? Are you sure? Nonsense? Are you losing your grip?

I would say It's a rough figure for which the OP could equip his boat, as required, if he were able to do the work himself.

You think it's wrong?

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I have no idea, as i don't know what equipment he already has, what he wants, where he wants to fix them etc. He has already said he wants them installed.

Can you give us a breakdown of the £3k you have quoted please ?

 

[Sooty Dog]

Whilst this thread is still active................ whats the general opinion of Radar over wifi displayed on a tablet or similar?

 

[FlyingGoose]

Whilst this thread is still active................ whats the general opinion of Radar over wifi displayed on a tablet or similar?

There is only the foruno wifi model available, and is only for apple products.
But the reviews from the cruiser net community who are mainly american seem to give it a thumbs up

 

[PaulRainbow]

Radar scanner between £1200 and £8000
MFD between £800 and £4000
AIS between £120 and £1300

Radar brackets, cables, network components, charts etc.

So, if he already has a Garmin GPSMAP MFD, a radome bracket on the mast and only wants receive AIS he needs to spend about £1400 plus installation.

If he has nothing and wants top of the range equipment and an AIS transducer he could spend £14000 plus, plus installation.

Or anything in between.

 

[doug748]

I have no idea, as i don't know what equipment he already has, what he wants, where he wants to fix them etc. He has already said he wants them installed.

Can you give us a breakdown of the £3k you have quoted please ?

ithet has addressed the question in a helpful way, his figures might assist you.

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[PaulRainbow]

ithet has addressed the question in a helpful way, his figures might assist you.

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I don't need any assistance, thanks. I'm asking you for a breakdown of the £3k that you claim the OPs system will cost.

Can you provide a breakdown, or is £3k just a random figure that you plucked from the air ?