jax
New member
I'm thinking of fitting radar on 36' sloop Any advice on choise ?
Radar
- Thread starter jax
- Start date
pvb
Well-known member
Not enough info, I'm afraid. Where do you want it - cockpit or chart table, or both? Do you have a chartplotter already? Might you want one? Do you intend to keep the boat for at least 5 years?
FullCircle
Well-known member
I asked on PBO recently. Lots of replies, I choose the JRC1800CP, colour radar/chartplotter. Pays your money, takes your choice. About 1250 quid best in UK so far, 860 quid from US, so the Uk deal is pretty good.
Jim
Jim
Koeketiene
Well-known member
Furuno - nothing beats it for simplicity, reliability & durabulity.
Might not have all the whistles & bells as say Raymarine,... but does what it says on the box.
Got a 1622 installed & very pleased with it.
Very userfriendly - figured the set out in less than 30 mins. With other brands you have to take a day off to wade through a 400 page manual before you can turn the set on.
Might not have all the whistles & bells as say Raymarine,... but does what it says on the box.
Got a 1622 installed & very pleased with it.
Very userfriendly - figured the set out in less than 30 mins. With other brands you have to take a day off to wade through a 400 page manual before you can turn the set on.
rhinorhino
New member
Pretty much all major makes are pretty good - Raymarine my favorite, but just a personal view.
Whatever model you go for I would strongly recommend MAPRA - really useful in real world situations.
Colour nice but probably not worth the price, IMO.
Also consider integration with current/future kit. Much easier to stick to one maker if you can.
Also consider where to mount the scanner. Up the mast probably the worst place, try a pole on the stern or the back-stay.
A radar course is also almost a must.
Hope this helps.
Whatever model you go for I would strongly recommend MAPRA - really useful in real world situations.
Colour nice but probably not worth the price, IMO.
Also consider integration with current/future kit. Much easier to stick to one maker if you can.
Also consider where to mount the scanner. Up the mast probably the worst place, try a pole on the stern or the back-stay.
A radar course is also almost a must.
Hope this helps.
Colin_S
New member
Certainly pays to read the manual - Came back up the Medway in the dark on my friends new (to him) fishing boat using the plotter and mark 1 eyeball and discovered on the next outing that he could overlay the radar onto the plotter. Would have improved the trip no end!
Sea Devil
Well-known member
I have a reytheon - raymarine - intergrated with the rest of the system - not partiuclaly useful but intergrated with the GPS it shows the next waypoint superimposed on the screen! Really useful. I think the mast is as good a place as any - the scanners are really not that heavy. I am certain that all the main makes are good.
Once you have it the trick is to switch it on and practice seeing with the screen and relating that to the what you can see with the eye.... Not sure a course is required but experience with it in good visability relating to whats happening is a goood way forward.
The bigger the range you have is good not for the extra range as that is goverened by how high the scanner is but it makes for better echos. The alarm system is pretty useless except in very calm conditions.
Once you have it the trick is to switch it on and practice seeing with the screen and relating that to the what you can see with the eye.... Not sure a course is required but experience with it in good visability relating to whats happening is a goood way forward.
The bigger the range you have is good not for the extra range as that is goverened by how high the scanner is but it makes for better echos. The alarm system is pretty useless except in very calm conditions.
chrisb
New member
agree c bambola regarding a course. i read the manual and then locked myself in the cabin with the set and my crew at the helm. we spent hours motoring around the harbour comparing what we could see untill i was happy i new what was what. the next trip was ushant in mist-it worked. reccommend marpa its worth the extra bob or two. radar is great but only bas good as the operator
Becky
New member
We were in this position before the Southampton B S. Our Furuno radar had just thrown in the towel, (its magnetron most probably), so we did a search for the best value/quality, and for us it had to be Raymarine. It has integrated with our existing Navman insrtumentation and gives us a black/white image. For us, colour wasn't necessary. Cost fitted was under £2000 with Boat Show discount
Worth considering for good quality equipment.To be fair, Shaun at Greenham Marine (at Northshore office) did the fitting, and he is excellent. Very neat, quick worker, and priced lower accordingly. Unusual that.
Worth considering for good quality equipment.To be fair, Shaun at Greenham Marine (at Northshore office) did the fitting, and he is excellent. Very neat, quick worker, and priced lower accordingly. Unusual that.
jax
New member
Thanks everyone. I will look around the boat show at the recomended units, I hope to be off to the boat in the US shortly where the cost of this equipment is usualy much less.
jamesjermain
Active member
The new (February) issue of YM has a test article on eight low to medium priced sets. You might find a little useful information there.
Koeketiene
Well-known member
Well plugged! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif