Radar. It shouldn't be this complicated

Trundlebug

Trundlebug

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 Jan 2007
Messages
2,444
Location
River Trent
Visit site
My ageing (even antique) Kelvin Hughes Kingfisher radar packed up on our recent summer cruise to Scarborough, just when I needed it most - in the fog.

Despite checking and confirming it worked before departure, lo and behold when I turned it on as we approached the Humber - no display.

Tentative enquiries at Kildale chandlery in Hull suggested that even if I could find someone to repair it, it wouldn't be economic and I would be better off replacing it. It is, after all a 1986 model and I'm sure I saw a newer KH radar than mine in Hull maritime museum.

Replacement with a new radar will be the start of an expensive avalanche.
As radars are now integrated and displayed on chartplotters, and my new (2 year old) Garmin GPSmap451 isn't compatible with a radar, I'll need a new and much more expensive chartplotter.

As the display on the new and expensive chartplotter will be much bigger I'll have to make a completely new instrument binnacle in which to house it.
Even so, there won't be room for some of the other instruments, which will have to be combined and replaced to make room for the big display.

Is there no alternative?
Should it be this complicated?
What are the risks of buying an older, stand alone radar from e.g. Ebay?
How long are radars supposed to last?

I'd appreciate some clear thinking from the expertise on the forum, right now I'm really not sure on the best course of action.
 
Ah, thanks Neale. I wasn't aware of that.

I can't see any UK stockists though, although that isn't necessarily a problem.

It might be the simplest solution, and (relatively) low cost for a new unit.
 
Watch ebay - loads of folks offloading good Raymarine analogue Radars and associated displays - having been caught in the new plotter only takes digital radar gotcha !
 
Last edited:
As others have said.. old radar units (both radomes and display units) do seem to be available on places like eBay.

Unfortunately, as you have found, performance of even solid state electronics can gradually fade with age.

Many of the capacitors on the circuit boards will not be performing as they did when new.. You could replace all the capacitors on the board for a few pounds and if there is a diagnostic display it might point you towards which semiconductors might also now be failing.

I went through similar and after taking the radome off the mast and replacing parts (surface mount soldered) within it twice over the last few years... yes, it gave me two more years of life.. It just became too much hassle.

For close to £1000 you can get that Furuno standalone.. or £1800 you can get a new Broadband radar and plotter.. but as you say.. it's the new pod, wiring, hassle that cost a lot more :(

Overview of semi-conductor aging..
http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/processors/transistor-aging
 
Trundlebug said:
My ageing (even antique) Kelvin Hughes Kingfisher radar packed up on our recent summer cruise to Scarborough, just when I needed it most - in the fog.

Despite checking and confirming it worked before departure, lo and behold when I turned it on as we approached the Humber - no display.

Tentative enquiries at Kildale chandlery in Hull suggested that even if I could find someone to repair it, it wouldn't be economic and I would be better off replacing it. It is, after all a 1986 model and I'm sure I saw a newer KH radar than mine in Hull maritime museum.

Replacement with a new radar will be the start of an expensive avalanche.
As radars are now integrated and displayed on chartplotters, and my new (2 year old) Garmin GPSmap451 isn't compatible with a radar, I'll need a new and much more expensive chartplotter.

As the display on the new and expensive chartplotter will be much bigger I'll have to make a completely new instrument binnacle in which to house it.
Even so, there won't be room for some of the other instruments, which will have to be combined and replaced to make room for the big display.

Is there no alternative?
Should it be this complicated?
What are the risks of buying an older, stand alone radar from e.g. Ebay?
How long are radars supposed to last?

I'd appreciate some clear thinking from the expertise on the forum, right now I'm really not sure on the best course of action.
Click to expand...


Furuno is launching a new plug and play radar. The transmitter and all the 'bits' are in the aerial dome, with wi-fi to your iPad. About £1.2k with no cabling apart from the dome apart form a power supply. First three shipments are sold out.

To me, sounds like a dream, and from a company that's specialised in radar - good kit.
 
Thanks for the replies so far.

I'm reassured that my thinking wasn't too far off the mark, although as I said earlier I did miss the Furuno 1623 offering.

Piers, I have seen a review of the latest Furuno wi-fi radar (in MBY I think) and they seemed rather lukewarm on it, so I discounted on that basis.
Plus, it would probably be OK if you already have an iPad, but as I don't that would be another expense - may as well get a dedicated display as per 1623.

I've been watching eBay for a couple of weeks (OK not that long), but it all seems a bit risky.
Lots of radomes being sold separately, which mean I would need to keep looking out for a chartplotter / display in the hope a compatible one came up.
Some of the complete sets on offer looked a bit tired, which would leave me in a similar situation to my KH set-up, i.e. wondering how much longer it was going to last - and finding out it had expired just when my need was greatest. All for similar money to a new Furuno.

So my conclusion would appear to be to buy a new Furuno 1623 from the link in Neale's post, which seems a great price.
I do get the feeling I'd better buy fairly quickly as it won't be long before it's discontinued - seen as old technology.

Many thanks to all.
 
Trundlebug said:
Thanks for the replies so far.

I'm reassured that my thinking wasn't too far off the mark, although as I said earlier I did miss the Furuno 1623 offering.

Piers, I have seen a review of the latest Furuno wi-fi radar (in MBY I think) and they seemed rather lukewarm on it, so I discounted on that basis.
Plus, it would probably be OK if you already have an iPad, but as I don't that would be another expense - may as well get a dedicated display as per 1623.

I've been watching eBay for a couple of weeks (OK not that long), but it all seems a bit risky.
Lots of radomes being sold separately, which mean I would need to keep looking out for a chartplotter / display in the hope a compatible one came up.
Some of the complete sets on offer looked a bit tired, which would leave me in a similar situation to my KH set-up, i.e. wondering how much longer it was going to last - and finding out it had expired just when my need was greatest. All for similar money to a new Furuno.

So my conclusion would appear to be to buy a new Furuno 1623 from the link in Neale's post, which seems a great price.
I do get the feeling I'd better buy fairly quickly as it won't be long before it's discontinued - seen as old technology.

Many thanks to all.
Click to expand...

Understood Trundlebug. The good thing is that you won't go wrong with a Furuno.
 
I have two furuno navnet 3d 12" displays that i have just taken out of my boat, Greenham Regis did the work. Both displays fully functional, just waiting to put them on ebay if you are interested ? I know Greenham Regis could do the work for you aswell ?
 
Bazzer said:
I have two furuno navnet 3d 12" displays that i have just taken out of my boat, Greenham Regis did the work. Both displays fully functional, just waiting to put them on ebay if you are interested ? I know Greenham Regis could do the work for you aswell ?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer Bazzer, but I think that's way out of my league and a bit too big for the space I have available.
I could self install, but think the temptation to use all the bells and whistles would be too much and I would end up on the gravy train described above.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top