Portofino
Well-Known Member
It’s useful only in fog I have found .Then if you actually have to go out , or run into it from a duff met report .
I can see this in UK boating esp cross channel or / and Brittany hopping .
As far a training goes then in the U.K. yes pref own boat .
Med users then just skim the manual if your bored and play with it .Just be mindful of the heads down no eyes Fwds flying along across a typical Med boaty paradise in full summer .Get a look out while you play.
I did use it once in the Med on my S/Skr .Was port bound with fog in August in Bormes on a Sat Am with a Sun Am flight out of NCE looming .Needed to get moving back to La Nap ( home port );to pack up etc .
Bormes is in a bay surrounded by hills and it was an “ inversion “ cold air descending in the early hrs = thick fog .
On the sea wall of the marina heard out boards screaming past and in the port saw locals going out fully togged up only in beach wear .After all mid French hols in August .
Waited and waited for the dam fog to clear .Read the Furuno manual cover to cover .Wife + two little kids on board .
Decisions decisions ? It wasn’t lifting even by midday .Had 40 miles to run home .
So took a brave pill and set off slowly at D speed fog horn in hand radar blazing away .
Got 200 m into the pea souper off shore and blazing sunshine ☀.Nothing all gone .Every man and his dog out doing water sports in the bay .
So that was that openers her up and turned the radar off …..sped home .
Anyhow I’ve had 200 M worth FWIW .
Hence when I changed boats years later realised the sans radar Itama s ( no arches ) we’re not deal breakers / red lines .
How ever from a U.K. perspective I would want own boat tuition for piece of mind .
I can see this in UK boating esp cross channel or / and Brittany hopping .
As far a training goes then in the U.K. yes pref own boat .
Med users then just skim the manual if your bored and play with it .Just be mindful of the heads down no eyes Fwds flying along across a typical Med boaty paradise in full summer .Get a look out while you play.
I did use it once in the Med on my S/Skr .Was port bound with fog in August in Bormes on a Sat Am with a Sun Am flight out of NCE looming .Needed to get moving back to La Nap ( home port );to pack up etc .
Bormes is in a bay surrounded by hills and it was an “ inversion “ cold air descending in the early hrs = thick fog .
On the sea wall of the marina heard out boards screaming past and in the port saw locals going out fully togged up only in beach wear .After all mid French hols in August .
Waited and waited for the dam fog to clear .Read the Furuno manual cover to cover .Wife + two little kids on board .
Decisions decisions ? It wasn’t lifting even by midday .Had 40 miles to run home .
So took a brave pill and set off slowly at D speed fog horn in hand radar blazing away .
Got 200 m into the pea souper off shore and blazing sunshine ☀.Nothing all gone .Every man and his dog out doing water sports in the bay .
So that was that openers her up and turned the radar off …..sped home .
Anyhow I’ve had 200 M worth FWIW .
Hence when I changed boats years later realised the sans radar Itama s ( no arches ) we’re not deal breakers / red lines .
How ever from a U.K. perspective I would want own boat tuition for piece of mind .
