Radar

[ArgoNot]

Some years ago I was told by my then skipper that if a boat has radar installed there is a legal requirement that it be on, and presumably manned, at all times when the boat is under way. Is this true? If so then it rather suggests that sailing boats run their engines when underway just to supply the power.

From this I wonder if there is a passive device on the market to alert a non-radar equipped crew to the fact that they were being painted by another ship's radar. Anyone know?


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[iangrant]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cruisinghome.com/Pages/card.htm>http://www.cruisinghome.com/Pages/card.htm</A>

I got one it works a treat.

Ian

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[Guest]

No legal reqt

But if you had an accident and it was found that use of radar may have asisted in avoiding the accident - you may have problems with insurance or even the law in case of damages / injury etc.

It is expected of all seaman / yotties etc. to act in best interests and in prudent observance of good seamanship, using all tools at disposal .....

Yes there is a item to give wanring that radar is in vicinity ..... it is a a passive receiver that sounds an alarm when painted by radar.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[AndrewB]

IRPCS requirements

The 'legal requirement' to have the radar on at all times while under way comes from the literal interpretation of IRPCS Rules 5 and 7:

Rule 5: Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight as well as by hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.

Rule 7: (a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt such risk shall be deemed to exist.

(b) Proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational, including long-range scanning to obtain early warning of risk of collision and radar plotting or equivalent systematic observation of detected objects.

In practice small boats generally only use a radar for look-out in conditions of restricted visibility.

 

[IanPoole2]

That would be meaningless for me - usually single or short handed, and radar display not visbible from the cockpit.

Any how - how many people - like myself - got a Radar with the boat and have no idea how to use it?

I must get some training sorted - but it will probably be of limited use

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[ArgoNot]

My boat doesn't have radar and I have no plans to install one but I was interested to know if there was a legal requirement to use it if fitted.
The C.A.R.D. device that Iangrant points to seems just the sort of thing that a single handed sailor might find useful if, having gone below to put on the kettle or attend to nature, the Cal Mac ferry emerged from one of her ports when 5 minutes warning that I'd been painted would be very useful.

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[beneteau_305_553]

I have the furuno 1522 radar which uses only 1/2 amp on standby and 3 amps when scanning. It has a watchman feature that lets you set how often you want to scan. I normally have it on continuously when near port but only once every 5 minutes when 5 miles out. So my 110 amp battery powers it and the autohelm for about 10 hours with the engine off.
It also has a guard watch alarm so that you can have a warning of anything comming into range.
its also simple to use.
The auto sensitivity works really well cutting out waves and spurious returns and only sets off alarm when a blip is maintained for a significant period. For single handed sailing I find it a great safety item.
The thought of knowing you are being zapped by someones radar in the dark or fog and not knowing what or where its heading is a scarry.

<hr width=100% size=1>Richard

 

[duncan]

The device on Ian's boat gives you a lot more information than you are suggesting here. I will leave 'full spec' to others but have to admit to being very impressed with it in practice, and in his case he can 'resort' to radar if a situation develops that needs further information. I started a trip surprised he wasn't using the 'full works' and ended up a complete convert!

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[iangrant]

As Duncan says - I only turn on the power hungry radar when the need arises - even from "Duncans' helm (er 12 hours won't let go) you can hear the bleep of a ships radar. A quick look down the hatch and a visual check of the units' lights will tell you which way to look out for the painting vessel.

Ian

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[ArgoNot]

Ian & Duncan,
Thanks for your information. CARD sounds exactly the sort of thing that I would find useful. I've only found the Cruising Home web site in the UK that seems to deal in it. Other than that it's Survival Safety Engineering in the States. Where did you get your's Ian?

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[peterb]

Re: IRPCS requirements

I have been told (by one of the RYA's staff) that there has been a court decision that radar is only deemed to be 'operational' if there is a trained operator available. Can't vouch for it myself; it's one of those questions that I want to read an up-to-date edition of 'Marsden' for. If so, I wonder whether the one day RYA Radar course is sufficient to bring people up to the standard of a 'trained operator'?

(Incidentally, 'Marsden on Collision Regulations' is the standard tome relating to the interpretation of Colregs. I suppose I could buy one one for myself, but it does cost about £600!)

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[iangrant]

Thankfully it was on the the boat when I bought her

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