The effects of heeling on radar

[Ex-SolentBoy]

If you are too scared to sail with non-radar craft nearby, you won't go out very much. Incidentally, there is a technique for avoiding unlit buoys and land. We call it navigation.

My last word on this.

Every sailor should use every means available to him or herself to be as safe as possible when sailing. If you have radar available you should use it. If you haven't, because you can't afford it, or don't want to use it, that is your choice.

As a qualified instrument rated pilot, and Yachtmaster Ocean I have a rudimentary knowledge of navigation. I have also learnt that there is never too much information when it comes to target avoidance. The only limiting factor is the skill of the recipient.

This thread was all about an excellent article on how radar performance degrades with increased vessel heeling. Let's keep it that way and leave non-humorous snipes for PM's.

 

[Yakker55]

If you are too scared to sail with non-radar craft nearby, you won't go out very much. Incidentally, there is a technique for avoiding unlit buoys and land. We call it navigation.

Interesting. You can use navigation techniques to miss a buoy at night? What if it isn't marked on the chart? What if it has moved?

Please let me know where you were taught how to do this. Have I missed something or is ESP a new RYA requirement?

 

[Ubergeekian]

Interesting. You can use navigation techniques to miss a buoy at night? What if it isn't marked on the chart? What if it has moved?

How good is your radar at spotting submerged tree stumps, then? Or do you use your forward facing sonar array for that? You do have a forward facing sonar array, don't you?

I'm with Solentboy: use everything you've got when it's appropriate to do so. And never, ever, ever believe that any one thing - radar, AIS, GPS, whatever - will protect you.

 

[snooks]

I'm with Solentboy: use everything you've got when it's appropriate to do so. And never, ever, ever believe that any one thing - radar, AIS, GPS, whatever - will protect you.

This was one of the reasons the test was done, look at the number of yachts with radar happily sailing along microwaving fish or seagulls and are not aware that their radar is loosing detail. Whether the owner needs that detail is up to them to decide, but it seems silly not to make the equipment you have work as efficiently as possible.

One busy day in the Solent I straightened the radar up as of it wasn't gimballed. Around 60% of the yachts on the display vanished as if the gain had been over adjusted.

 

[snooks]

The system has now updated and the pics from the test are available for you to have a look at now

 

[Ubergeekian]

This was one of the reasons the test was done, look at the number of yachts with radar happily sailing along microwaving fish or seagulls and are not aware that their radar is loosing detail. Whether the owner needs that detail is up to them to decide, but it seems silly not to make the equipment you have work as efficiently as possible.

I find myself wondering if gimballed navigation lights would be a good idea. It seems a shame to use them to illuminate the water ...

 

[snooks]

I find myself wondering if gimballed navigation lights would be a good idea. It seems a shame to use them to illuminate the water ...

I think you'll find their angle of sight is well over the 25º (or 12.5º above and below horizontal) of radar

 

[Ubergeekian]

I think you'll find their angle of sight is well over the 25º (or 12.5º above and below horizontal) of radar

In which case gimballing them would allow a narrower and therefore brighter beam!

 

[Sybarite]

When I looked at them the gimbals cost about the same as the radar.

 

[snooks]

When I looked at them the gimbals cost about the same as the radar.

It's true to say that aren't cheap, but if after spending money on a radar, I know mine works when I'm heeling over.

The self-levelling mount tested (for a mast) costs £621.58

If you want to mount it on a pole (like mine) the pole costs extra but they also do a proper kit, but I wanted to get all my aerials off the pushpit.

It's very simple to fit, a few hours, if you don't drop half the bracket over the side - Like I did - or you can go for a backstay mount (which I couldn't because of my backstay adjuster)