Radar what and where ?

[ferroboat]

We have just bought a Windboat 44 and want to fit a chart plotter /radar leaning towards the Ramarine c series, can't afford the e series to allow a repeter so two questions please. Am i right to choose Ramarine and where should i site it, at the chart table, on the cockpit bulkhead or on the binnicle ? Advice appreciated thanks

 

[Skyva_2]

C series is a good enough choice. We have been pleased with ours.

Where you position it depends on your level of crew and available expertise. We sail 2 up most of the time, and have the display under the sprayhood.

The binnacle is popular with some but personally I would not trust myself to steer the boat and keep a good eye on what happens on the screen.

If you have some one who is trained and prepared to stay below and watch the screen that could be OK.
But do the course if you have not done it already, it will help your decision.
Radar is one of the least intuitive systems that we use.

 

[pvb]

Good choice...

The Raymarine C-series is a good choice, it's affordable, with excellent performance and a very intuitive user interface. I have a C120 mounted under the sprayhood, visible from helm or from cockpit seating. Binnacle mounting isn't necessarily a good idea - if it's really filthy weather, I'm hiding under the sprayhood anyway, using the autopilot to steer, so having the radar/plotter there is very convenient. As for the chart table, well if you really need the radar, you need it where the helm can see it.

Incidentally, I've never heard of a Windboat 44.

 

[mandlmaunder]

We (us personally) see a lot of radar screens by the chart table --why???
Unless you have crew that can interpolate what they see and relay this information accurately the best place for a sceen is where it can be seen by the person on the helm.
If you want to mount it near the compass do a test, walk upto the compass holding the screen out , if the compass moves put it somewhere else.

 

[ferroboat]

Re: Good choice...

Interesting and useful information, thank you. We intend mostly to be sailing as a husband and wife team. A Windboat 44 by the way is a 44ft ferro cement ketch built by Windboats of Wroxham who have built and fitted out Oysters. Ours was built in 1983 and to all intents and purposes is a ferro cement Oyster with a centre cockpit.

 

[Sybarite]

Incidentally...

There are speed radars on the Seine in Paris...

John

 

[jstr]

C80

We sail 2 up and chose the C80. I have it behind the wheel in a pod where I can see it all the time. I find it's best where the helm is. I tend to use the autopilot (st4000) most of the time, so I can study the radar and chart whilst the boat stays on course.

I suggest you pay the extra and get the AIS overlays - essential IMO for any cross channel work

PM me if u have any specific questions.

 

[ferroboat]

Re: Good choice...

Good morning, when you say mounted under the spray hood do you mean cut into the bulkhead or or mounted on (for want of a better word) the coach roof, where not so easy for people to sit in front of but more vulnerable. We have room to consider both.

 

[ferroboat]

Re: C80

Our binnacle has largish compass on top with one stainless steel rail a couple of inches away raising up one side,over the top and down the other. Are the pods expensive, easy to fit to such a rail or be to close to the compass?

 

[jstr]

Re: Pod

I made my pod and a safety rail, and moved my compass, so it wasn't a simple job, but as we are usually 2 up, I like the chart in front of me. The compass is not affected by the C80 nor the stainless.

 

[Koeketiene]

I'm not a fan of having loads of instruments (radar - plotter) by the helm.

There's the risk that the helm becomes so engrossed in what's happening on the shiny screens he becomes oblivious to what's happening around him.
I've seen it happen.

In case of bad visibility I'd rather have 1 - trained - person at the radar and another at the helm.
Sailing in bad visibility with just one watchkeeper helming & plotting is bad seamanship IMHO.

As to which radar: you can't beat the Furuno 1623 - everything you're evergoing to need. Selling for £750 at the moment.

 

[AJB43]

I have the C70 plotter/radar kit mounted at the chart table.Very pleased with the kit altho I do find the route creating/amending not particularly intuitive (it could be operator incompetence of course!!) I wish I had opted to have it in the cockpit- when shorthanded it is easier to not have to go below to check something - also by having it on view in the cockpit all the crew can feel more involved in the passge, because they can see the progress being made. Only downside is having to sit in the cockpit to program waypoints and routes etc.,.. and security.Ideally a unit that can be unplugged to be switched from cockpit to chart table would be the best.

 

[Skyva_2]

Re: C80

Just mounting a large pod on a hoop might leave it poorly supported - you might have to extend the rail in some way.

Navpods are about £250 - see here

http://www.jgtech.com/navpods.htm

http://www.yachtbits.com/navpod/navpod_pre_cut_for_raymarine_c_series.php

As said earlier, under the sprayhood (not on a bulkhead) is another way.

 

[pvb]

Under the sprayhood...

Just like this...

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Agree with this statement.

Sailing is intuitive, your best and most intense feedback is from the weather, waves and tiller. Mark 1 eyeballs are the supreme instrument.

Radars etc need only to be looked at intervals of 10 minutes or so. If circumstances demand, crew should be doing Radar watch and navigation.

My radar is firmly screwed to the navigation desk, I can see it through the perspex washboards when needed. rest of the time in close weather I am able to concentrate on sailing the beast throught the murk.

And hopefully enjoying it, or at least looking forward to the pint in the club telling everyone the tale.

IMHO

MJ

 

[DaveS]

Re: Under the sprayhood...

That's very neat and uncluttered. I really like the fixed screens. Where did you hide all the ropes, though?

 

[pvb]

Re: Under the sprayhood...

[ QUOTE ]
That's very neat and uncluttered. I really like the fixed screens. Where did you hide all the ropes, though?

[/ QUOTE ]On the port side!

 

[ferroboat]

Re: Under the sprayhood...

Thanks for the photo, now i need to ask have you embedded the back of the unit into something [thinking of hardwood] from pic it looks not. Is it 100% waterproof like that. What about two sets of wires and another bracket at the chart table would a splitter do it? Bye the way thanks to all for input its helping a lot

 

[Skyva_2]

Good sailing is intuitive, radar is not. One of the (many) reasons for the Wahkuna accident is that the yacht crew did not look at the radar once they thought they were safe. At close quarters ie a a few miles, you should be glued to the screen. Just as you would be keeping a lookout in good visibility. IMHO.

 

[pvb]

Re: Under the sprayhood...

The unit is just mounted on its standard trunnion bracket. The back of the unit has some protection from the fixed windscreen.

I imagine it would be feasible to have a second set of cables at the chart table - although splitting the radar cable might not be simple. However, the C-series is so easy to program with waypoints and routes that I find there's no problem doing this when just sitting in the cockpit.