Solent based: Do you have AIS?

[XDC]

Looking at this screenshot it would seem everyone has rx/tx ?

I have hopefully inserted a poll, please keep it Solent based only so there is no distortion over what I can see. Ta.

 

[andy59]

We can receive but don't use it to be honest, as i am not aware of dinghies, jet skis, kayaks, paddle boards, floating rubbish etc being fitted with it and i prefer to be looking outside of the boat rather than in. Perhaps nice to have but in 10 years I've not had a situation ( including fog and night passages) where i felt i really needed it, not knocking it though.

 

[Gary Fox]

No, I don't: the more gadgets you fit, the less fun, the more expense and the worse lookout.

 

[Momac]

Seems like The Solent is one place AIS doesn't really fit with reality due to the number of boats.
Other places AIS is really good for keeping out of the way of ships

 

[Never Grumble]

I have a transmit facility but its still in its cardboard box. I only bought it for channel and similarly other long crossings. I don't intend broadcasting every time I stick my head out of Portsmouth.

 

[Bobc]

It's ridiculous, and people don't even switch them off when in the marinas.

 

[laika]

I've had transmit for 10 years but the AIS stays off in the Solent. Technically I should tick the 3rd box but that seems unconnected with the OP's observation. AIS is a marvellous aid to navigation crossing traffic which runs in straight lines for miles but rather pointless compared to a chart and an eyeball when traffic follows channels which bend.

 

[LadyInBed]

I have mixed feelings, it isn't needed when sailing in confined waters in good conditions, but I would normally leave my receiver on, but then, what is the point of having that on if others are like me and turn the transmitter off!

 

[Bristolfashion]

I have receive & transmit, but I have the "dark" mode (no transmit) switch connected - in ridiculously crowded areas like Cowes to Southampton on Saturday morning, I can switch it off. Ditto when in a marina / harbour & I want to see what's around.

 

[Boathook]

Just outside the solent in Christchurch Bay but I have a transceiver.
Still a new toy as I purchased in 2019 for my dad to ge able to see where I was. He then then died and then covid came along so not much use so far. Whether I will use it in the Solent I'm not to sure, but I suspect not now.

 

[Rappey]

When your beating to windward with umpteen other boats and your in a secret race, tweaking your sails and trying to get maximum speed it's nice to have a crafty look at what speed the other boats are doing...
If the ais could display the different coloured boats like marine traffic website does it would be awesome as it's not always obvious which of the large amount of targets is the large ship.
It's also great when sailing with a group as you can see exactly where everyone is.
It is probably more of a novelty in the solent, but I'm always clicking on other boats and enjoy seeing who is where.
I would say well over 60% of all boats in the solent are transmitting ais.
A large amount could be the charter fleets.

 

[ashtead]

Don’t leave turned on in marina but do look for large blobs when sailing in Solent if in main channel. Quite useful if a Merck is sneaking up on you at a distance although some don’t seem to realise how fast they go .

 

[LadyInBed]

I have receive & transmit, but I have the "dark" mode (no transmit) switch connected - in ridiculously crowded areas like Cowes to Southampton on Saturday morning, I can switch it off. Ditto when in a marina / harbour & I want to see what's around.

You won't see much if all the others also go into 'stealth' mode ?
Same dilemma as I raised in #8

 

[Bristolfashion]

You won't see much if all the others also go into 'stealth' mode ?
Same dilemma as I raised in #8

Not too bothered with who is in the marina - but big ships entering harbour are interesting.

 

[johnalison]

How many people navigate through the Solent zoomed out to a small scale chart? Of course it looks crowded, but so did our airspace pre-Covid.

 

[langstonelayabout]

Yes, we have TX/RX AIS but don’t use it at all unless we leave the Solent or are sailing in company.

 

[Rappey]

Of course it looks crowded,

It always looks worse than it is . It's often possible to sail from portsmouth to the needles without having to take any avoiding action.

 

[RichardS]

How many people navigate through the Solent zoomed out to a small scale chart? Of course it looks crowded, but so did our airspace pre-Covid.

Indeed so. Most of those boats won't even be particularly aware of the nearest boat with AIS.

Richard

 

[prv]

If the ais could display the different coloured boats like marine traffic website does it would be awesome as it's not always obvious which of the large amount of targets is the large ship.

That’s a property of your plotter. Mine shows yachts, ferries, and cargo vessels all differently. The latter two are also larger than the former.

I usually have AIS reception running all the time, but don’t look at it much (and don’t have any alarms active) inshore.

I haven’t voted in the poll because it doesn’t have a clear option for “I have transmit capability, but don’t normally turn it on in the Solent.”

Pete

 

[LadyInBed]

Mine shows yachts, ferries, and cargo vessels all differently.

Same here and my plotter would now be considered old (SH)
Interesting, as it's the ais that passes on the 'ship type' info to the plotter.
Is it the ais or plotter that decides what symbol to display?