RYA Radar Course - is it worth it?

[PEJ]

With the acquisition of a new boat I have radar now and I didn't have it before. Is it worth going on the RYA radar course?

Reading the manual and looking at the screen I have worked out that the little yellow dot is a boat (or maybe a buoy) in the distance and the joined up yellow bits are the land. Try not to bash in to them.

Will an 8 hour course tell me a lot more stuff that I should know?

 

[Vara]

I did this course many years ago and found it very useful, radar is a very useful tool but without a certain amount of knowledge you can completely misinterpret what is going on.

 

[beebok]

We did a rya course 10 years ago which was not in my opinion any good.

Radar course is well worth doing and last year we did the Raymarine course.

Hands on to current technology and case studies,really worth the little
amount of money spent.
They run 1 day courses have a look at there web site.

If you want a course with simulation KIT then UKSA has all the gear you could want.

 

[prv]

I did the RYA course earlier this year and didn't think much of it. Though like all these things, different instructors can make a hell of a difference.

You do want to know a little more than what's in your post, in particular you need to be able to interpret the relative movement between yourself and the target to understand what's really going on. But you could just as well get that from a book.

Pete

 

[P430]

We had Jon Mendez do a radar course on our own boat a few years ago. Did the theory stuff in the morning and then spent the afternoon in the solent playing. Well worth doing if only to get the radar set up properly!!!

 

[Griffin Marine]

We had Jon Mendez do a radar course on our own boat a few years ago. Did the theory stuff in the morning and then spent the afternoon in the solent playing. Well worth doing if only to get the radar set up properly!!!

It's the best way to do the course in my opinion .
Tim

 

[Sandyman]

Read the book then go & play. Wont take you long to work out what does what & what is what.

 

[prv]

We had Jon Mendez do a radar course on our own boat a few years ago. Did the theory stuff in the morning and then spent the afternoon in the solent playing. Well worth doing if only to get the radar set up properly!!!

Now that sounds like the right way to do a course!

Pete

 

[Doug_Stormforce]

We had Jon Mendez do a radar course on our own boat a few years ago. Did the theory stuff in the morning and then spent the afternoon in the solent playing. Well worth doing if only to get the radar set up properly!!!

It's the best way to do the course in my opinion .
Tim

Now that sounds like the right way to do a course!

Pete

While there are many advantages of doing the course on board there are 2 distinct advantages of the classroom. Firstly the Instructor is able to set up scenarios, he can make boats appear on the screen according to what he wants at a given time and he can pause the simulation while you ask questions. The second benefit is being able to concentrate 100% on radar and not get distracted by the weather and everything going on around you.I remember trying to deliver a radar course on a Targa 48 a few years ago for a private owner. Sadly the engines would not start up and we ended up covering lots of other on board electronics but were very limited as to the amount of radar we could cover that day.

 

[paul salliss]

Another big vote for Mendez Marine. I have done various courses with them and much of it has been spent on the boat actually putting into practice the topics learnt. In short they are top notch

 

[lisilou]

Another big vote for Mendez Marine. I have done various courses with them and much of it has been spent on the boat actually putting into practice the topics learnt. In short they are top notch

+1 with knobs on!

 

[aquapower]

Most people who have radar think they can work it and understand it but the course will show you more, well worth it

 

[Falling Star]

Most people who have radar think they can work it and understand it but the course will show you more, well worth it

+1

I did the course at East Anglian Sea School, Levington. Highly recommend this way to get a real insight into getting the best out of the equipment. Spent the morning on the theory, then out on their boat for the practical after lunch.
Contact Mally: http://www.eastanglianseaschool.com/yachting_rya_radar.php

 

[prv]

Firstly the Instructor is able to set up scenarios, he can make boats appear on the screen according to what he wants at a given time

Mine couldn't

Pete

 

[Talulah]

If you have Raymarine gear it's worth noting that Raymarine run Radar courses at their HQ in Stubbington.
As you would expect it is all on Raymarine kit so maybe an opportunity to learn some specifics about your equipment not covered in a generic radar course.
I have not attended a Raymarine Radar course so only offer it as a suggestion.

 

[PEJ]

Thanks for all the replies.

That Raymarine one looks good and only just up the road from me.

 

[oceanfroggie]

We had Jon Mendez do a radar course on our own boat a few years ago. Did the theory stuff in the morning and then spent the afternoon in the solent playing. Well worth doing if only to get the radar set up properly!!!

That sounds a great formula mixing morning theory with doing it for real out on busy waters.

Classroom only training on radar seems a total waste without on the water practical use as part of the course. I went on a classroom course 10 years ago and it was very poor, too theoretical and abstract watching slides and an instructor push buttons. Like anything in life you learn best by doing.

 

[Jonmendez]

Blimey my £5 Christmas cards are well worth it!

 

[RogerRat]

Blimey my £5 Christmas cards are well worth it!

Ok, Ok, I'll take a box!

Well done JM. Must be nice to get some positive feedback again. eh?

I would have thought that the course you require would depend on your level of understanding and experience.

If it's your first time using radar on your own boat and it was installed by a previous owner then any basic course, shore based or own boat with a school will save you hours of reading and button pressing; accidentally placing the scanner on 'standby', etc..

Radar interpretation at various ranges and target tracking is where we all need to keep our hand in and probably all use some help from experienced instructors.

 

[Piers]

I did the course with Robin Avis, a radar guru, who sadly passed away a few years ago. He has written book(s) on the use of radar.

The course was simply stunningly good. He used simulators which worked 'real time' posing potential collision scenarios with you as a skipper having to take the correct avoiding action. Challenging. Remember the COLEGs all change when in fog (<1,000m).

COLREGs also call for radar to be on at all times (if fitted) and that the person operating it knows how to use it. If ever you encounter fog, you'll be really pleased you did the course. And don't forget the need to sound your IMO approved and certified horn when in fog (4 secs every 2 mins for a motor boat if under way).

I'd recommend practicing using your radar when in good vis so you get to know what the targets look like.

BTW, I use my radar in North up (there are benefits to this), not course up, and the best test for potential collision is not MARPA or ARPA, but the EBL which is the electronic version of the eyeball.

Piers