Radar Systems - Experience

[TonyMills]

Hi I'm considering installing a Radar system for long distance cruising in the Indian Ocean - single handed.

I'm looking at the Furuno 1625 as it appears to be reliable and has a low power draw watchman function with alarm. Others appear to be mostly combination GPS/RADAR units from Raymarine and Garmin. A combination is also attractive but I dont want to get too complicated.

Thoughts/opinions on these systems and the utility of Radar as 'night/day watchman' would be appreciated.

Regards
TonyM

 

[johnalison]

I don't know if you intend to keep the radar on through your off-watches, which sounds quite demanding on current. One alternative might be a SeaMe enhancer which can have a radar alarm included, with negligible current drain.

 

[beneteau_305_553]

I have a Furuno 1623 radar and also sail mainly singlehanded and use the radar continuously. Its a brilliant piece of kit. It only draws 8W when on standby and 36 W when scanning. Can pick up dolphins and seagulls at 1/2 mile when set properly and conditions are good.

 

[ga1135]

I'd just encountered a situation last week for entering port in thick fog. The option of Rader combined with GPS Plotter is very helpful in this situation. Solely read the radar image is difficult to define land / anchored ships / moving ships in close distance as they all moving fast towards you. Combined rader image in Plotter screen clealy indicate which is land & which is ship, which gives safe & comfort natvigation in the blinding fog.

Of course, using radar image in open sea will be simple as all images on screen are mostly ships (if not waves).

 

[Conachair]

I use a raymarine SL72 , also long distance single handed. Never used any other systems so can't really comment on how it stands up against others but works very well for me. Can't remeber what the current draw is when on standby but not too much. There are 2 seperate definable guard zones, you can set it to wake up from 3 to 15 mins and do 10, 20 or 30 scans. Only thing I'd like to change is to have a louder alarm. It doesn't get much use but when it does I'm very grateful to have it onboard(Biscay solo and fog off Portuguese coast spring to mind). I've never really used and radar/chartplotter. Would be nice I suppose but no way could I afford the new digital charts.

 

[Gypsy]

The Raymarine alarms are not good for waking people up. I designed an alarm monitor which allows a louder alarm to be easily attached. Please see www.tech-x.com.au or PM me.