Radar- Separate or Integrated

[pvb]

20 years of coastal daysailing is not quite the same as old varnish's gallivanting across oceans.

Absolutely right, but the underlying truth is that plotters are highly reliable. It could be argued that constant use over long distances would if anything reduce failure, as the electronics would just be operating in a steady state, rather than repeatedly being turned on and off. The fact that a plotter might fail one day isn't a valid reason for not having one.

 

[prv]

Although you are lining yourself up for a single point failure by relying on piece of equipment.....

..and separately...

Very true - which rules out most integrated systems which bring everything back to one screen.

True

I do have a second plotter in the cockpit as well though.

Pete

 

[prv]

20 years of coastal daysailing is not quite the same as old varnish's gallivanting across oceans.

Indeed - there's no need for a plotter in the middle of an ocean

Pete

 

[Birdseye]

Main issue is that hardly anyone sells a standalone radar nowadays

As he says. I have just coughed up for the latest B&G kit because my old seperate radar failed and I found I couldnt get a decent replace at a sensible price.

 

[yachtorion]

OK thanks all. You've convinced me that going to the cleverer plotter (Simrad NSS) and better radar (3/4G) is better value than the cheaper plotter (Standard Horizon CP300) and standalone radar (Furuno thingy).

 

[Elessar]

Have experienced radar folks got a view on seperate vs integrated with plotter radar solutions please? Specifically say Furuno 1623 vs Simrad NSS with broadband 3g.

Obviously if you integrate with the plotter you have the bonus of possible AIS and chart overlays... on the other hand if you have a separate radar display then one fault doesn't lose you all the nav gear. Also the Simrad scanner is meant to be better tech.

Are there any less obvious issues please?

my new digital radar is amazing. It can see targets behind rain squalls - how i don't know! I can use overlay though tend not to, I like the option. Overlaying AIS and waypoints on the radar is what i tend to do, with a split plotter screen.

However you can get some mono standalone radars on ebay at bargain prices. My amazing digital set up isn't so much better than a mono one. And a mono one is infinitely better than none at all.