chriswilliams29
New member
i am looking to buy radar but which one do you experts think is best. i want to spend lees than a £1000 any help thanks
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which radar to buy
- Thread starter chriswilliams29
- Start date
tome
New member
If you've decided to spend less than £1000 you've boxed yourself into a corner where you can't afford the best. I have an older Foruno 1720 but would probably go for a Raymarine model with MARPA if replacing.
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LadyInBed
Well-known member
Ah! the best don't come that cheap.
If you are new to Radar I would venture to say that you will be pleased with the performance of any of the models currently on offer.
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If you are new to Radar I would venture to say that you will be pleased with the performance of any of the models currently on offer.
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Chris_Stannard
New member
I had a Navico in my last boat which did not work very well, about 8 miles on large ships and a mile on other yachts. This radar was also marketed as several other brands.
I now have a Raymarine 2 Kilowatt and with a monochrome display it works very well.
If you have a sophisticated instrument system, all from one source, then buy from that manufacturer as otherwise you will get compatibility problems.
<hr width=100% size=1>Chris Stannard
I now have a Raymarine 2 Kilowatt and with a monochrome display it works very well.
If you have a sophisticated instrument system, all from one source, then buy from that manufacturer as otherwise you will get compatibility problems.
<hr width=100% size=1>Chris Stannard
RJD
Member
Hi, I paid minimum price and bought a JRC1000 two years ago. It has worked very well bearing in mind the following... I use it for collision avoidance when crossing from Harwich to Continent, and for when vis drops in port localities.
I mounted the scanner on a pole at the stern and therefore only get about 8 miles of potential scanning area, a more powerful set up might give slightly better range but that could be arguable.
To conclude, I am very pleased with the result, it does all that I ask of it and provides the degree of safety I wanted.
Hope this is helpful..
TonyP
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I mounted the scanner on a pole at the stern and therefore only get about 8 miles of potential scanning area, a more powerful set up might give slightly better range but that could be arguable.
To conclude, I am very pleased with the result, it does all that I ask of it and provides the degree of safety I wanted.
Hope this is helpful..
TonyP
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zefender
Active member
I'd recommend buying from the US - I did.
ebay has a new JRC1500 for about £570. Add a bit of freight and tax and it will, still be far cheaper than buying one here.
If you interested, go to
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2411740788&category=31276
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ebay has a new JRC1500 for about £570. Add a bit of freight and tax and it will, still be far cheaper than buying one here.
If you interested, go to
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2411740788&category=31276
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vyv_cox
Well-known member
Go for service, not the cheapest.
I fitted Raymarine last winter, plus updates on my B&G instruments. It has been very interesting to compare the instructions for fitting this kit and the levels of support obtained when things needed explanation.
The Raytheon instructions were clearly worded, comprehensive and detailed. The equipment was good and well thought out, for example a plastic guide on the end of the scanner cable to protect it when pulling it through holes. I have had a couple of queries and a possible defect in the gyrocompass. Raytheon have been most helpful by phone and freely offered to replace a defective part even when it has yet to be established that it is defective. The basic radar (it's the MARPA that I'm having problems with) is superb, complex but easy to operate.
B&G were nowhere near so good. The booklets that accompanied the instruments had to be studied carefully before they could be understood. Now that they are working I find them less than user friendly. The instruction booklet for the whole system is only a few pages thick and is therefore less than comprehensive. When contacted, B&G are telling me that the information in their own brochures re the graphical depth display is incorrect and it doesn't work as advertised. Now that I may have a problem my only option seems to be to send the possibly faulty part back to them for repair or replacement. They are unable to supply a new component before I remove the old one, which basically makes the boat unusable.
I can't speak for other radar manufacturers but my experience of Raymarine could not be better.
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I fitted Raymarine last winter, plus updates on my B&G instruments. It has been very interesting to compare the instructions for fitting this kit and the levels of support obtained when things needed explanation.
The Raytheon instructions were clearly worded, comprehensive and detailed. The equipment was good and well thought out, for example a plastic guide on the end of the scanner cable to protect it when pulling it through holes. I have had a couple of queries and a possible defect in the gyrocompass. Raytheon have been most helpful by phone and freely offered to replace a defective part even when it has yet to be established that it is defective. The basic radar (it's the MARPA that I'm having problems with) is superb, complex but easy to operate.
B&G were nowhere near so good. The booklets that accompanied the instruments had to be studied carefully before they could be understood. Now that they are working I find them less than user friendly. The instruction booklet for the whole system is only a few pages thick and is therefore less than comprehensive. When contacted, B&G are telling me that the information in their own brochures re the graphical depth display is incorrect and it doesn't work as advertised. Now that I may have a problem my only option seems to be to send the possibly faulty part back to them for repair or replacement. They are unable to supply a new component before I remove the old one, which basically makes the boat unusable.
I can't speak for other radar manufacturers but my experience of Raymarine could not be better.
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PeterGibbs
New member
It all depends on your expectations.
If you want a clear display in all conditions, a sub £1000 machine is unlikely to satisfy. The extra £200-400 required makes all the difference against this kind of spec.
The screens on today's machines are getting better but I reckon a Cathode display still beats the cheaper alternatives. Forget the dandy static displays shown at the boat shows - the reality requires more interpretation than many salesmen would lead you to believe.
Siting the scanner is very important. As shown above, putting it on a pretty pole on the transom is a mistake. Site it at the cross trees, say, 18-20 feet above deck.
It (ie a radome, not open array) will not ruin your sails - another myth. Nor will it wreck your stability curve - yet another nonsense.
For sailoring, the most common use I find is at a range of up to 6 miles. Most smaller radars will produce good actionable detail at this range in calm conditions. At 0.5 NM the resolution should be good enough to make port in thick fog.
However, in rough conditions, the higher spec kicks in. Ranges beyond 6 miles with the lower power of the small radar are less reliable - 16 miles is the most a small vessel can deliver from a mast ounted scanner; claiming more than this is salesman's puffery.
Site the screen not over the quarter bunk but in full view of the wheel where the ranges and EBL can be played to great advantage.
There are nice toys now appearing on small radars that have made their way down from commercial sets, where projections of closing courses etc are something to behold. I would strongly recommend you ensure all the above factors are taken care of first before more money is thrown at the fringe benefits of radar technology.
Having said this, I think anyone who installs electronic charting in preference to radar should advertise his / her presence, so we can all take a wide berth!
PWG
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If you want a clear display in all conditions, a sub £1000 machine is unlikely to satisfy. The extra £200-400 required makes all the difference against this kind of spec.
The screens on today's machines are getting better but I reckon a Cathode display still beats the cheaper alternatives. Forget the dandy static displays shown at the boat shows - the reality requires more interpretation than many salesmen would lead you to believe.
Siting the scanner is very important. As shown above, putting it on a pretty pole on the transom is a mistake. Site it at the cross trees, say, 18-20 feet above deck.
It (ie a radome, not open array) will not ruin your sails - another myth. Nor will it wreck your stability curve - yet another nonsense.
For sailoring, the most common use I find is at a range of up to 6 miles. Most smaller radars will produce good actionable detail at this range in calm conditions. At 0.5 NM the resolution should be good enough to make port in thick fog.
However, in rough conditions, the higher spec kicks in. Ranges beyond 6 miles with the lower power of the small radar are less reliable - 16 miles is the most a small vessel can deliver from a mast ounted scanner; claiming more than this is salesman's puffery.
Site the screen not over the quarter bunk but in full view of the wheel where the ranges and EBL can be played to great advantage.
There are nice toys now appearing on small radars that have made their way down from commercial sets, where projections of closing courses etc are something to behold. I would strongly recommend you ensure all the above factors are taken care of first before more money is thrown at the fringe benefits of radar technology.
Having said this, I think anyone who installs electronic charting in preference to radar should advertise his / her presence, so we can all take a wide berth!
PWG
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snowleopard
Active member
MARPA
who makes this apart from raytheon? met the system on a big boat and loved the idea but concerned about the cost. how much will i have to pay?
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who makes this apart from raytheon? met the system on a big boat and loved the idea but concerned about the cost. how much will i have to pay?
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vyv_cox
Well-known member
Re: MARPA
Assuming you have Raymarine radar to start off with, it needs input from a gyrocompass and COG/SOG from GPS. A Raymarine autopilot gyrocompass can give the heading info but otherwise the Smart Heading kit will cost you about 550 pounds. It only works with certain of the display units.
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Assuming you have Raymarine radar to start off with, it needs input from a gyrocompass and COG/SOG from GPS. A Raymarine autopilot gyrocompass can give the heading info but otherwise the Smart Heading kit will cost you about 550 pounds. It only works with certain of the display units.
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duncan
Active member
Re: chart plotter v radar
harsh words - almost fighting talk!
Firstly I think I agree with your principle, which is a little like the anchor as the most important safety item on board.
However as outlined in this thread to be really effective as a safety item you rneed a good quality radar, somewhere to put it and experience to use it all plus the little matter of other vessels (especially inshore / pleasure craft) having any form of reflector.
In practice I find the combination of instantly and confidently knowing where I am, and where the fixed bits are, enables me to maintain the necessary full time visual watch if the weather (fog) closes in on an inshore trip. If I could fit one of those radars that gives the images at boat shows. or magazine pages, for around a grand I would - but nothing I have seen used in practice gets close, and even the good ones don't pick up sportsboats and dingys..........
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harsh words - almost fighting talk!
Firstly I think I agree with your principle, which is a little like the anchor as the most important safety item on board.
However as outlined in this thread to be really effective as a safety item you rneed a good quality radar, somewhere to put it and experience to use it all plus the little matter of other vessels (especially inshore / pleasure craft) having any form of reflector.
In practice I find the combination of instantly and confidently knowing where I am, and where the fixed bits are, enables me to maintain the necessary full time visual watch if the weather (fog) closes in on an inshore trip. If I could fit one of those radars that gives the images at boat shows. or magazine pages, for around a grand I would - but nothing I have seen used in practice gets close, and even the good ones don't pick up sportsboats and dingys..........
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snowleopard
Active member
Re: MARPA
ouch- do you really need a gyrocompass? what do they cost??
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ouch- do you really need a gyrocompass? what do they cost??
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vyv_cox
Well-known member
Do you need it?
As far as I understand it, the radar needs fast heading information for MARPA to work properly. The MARPA on mine does something without the compass connection but I have no idea how accurate the output might be.
The price I quoted is for the fluxgate compass and the gyroplus unit, two separate units. Suggest you look at http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/ for all the technical info. I must say I like Raymarine's style, everything is well explained and freely available.
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As far as I understand it, the radar needs fast heading information for MARPA to work properly. The MARPA on mine does something without the compass connection but I have no idea how accurate the output might be.
The price I quoted is for the fluxgate compass and the gyroplus unit, two separate units. Suggest you look at http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/ for all the technical info. I must say I like Raymarine's style, everything is well explained and freely available.
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tome
New member
Re: Do you need it?
For MARPA to work you are correct that you need a responsive compass or gyro with a rate of at leat 5-10 Hz. Most autopilot or low-end fluxgate compasses are 1Hz output an so won't track your own heading changes fast enough to remain locked onto targets. The MARPA is then pretty useless. You need to upgrade (and calibrate) the fluxgate to get MARPA to work.
I believe that the Raymarine system limits targets to something like 10, but this is generally enough. Targets have to be manually selected using a cursor, after which the radar tracks their movements providing a CPA and speed/heading vectors. It's a very good system for the short-handed sailor but needs the screen to be close to the helmsman to allow continuous target reselection in busy areas.
Even the ARPA systems fitted on big ships lose their targets, and these are interfaced to an expensive gyro with much better heading track than fluxgates.
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For MARPA to work you are correct that you need a responsive compass or gyro with a rate of at leat 5-10 Hz. Most autopilot or low-end fluxgate compasses are 1Hz output an so won't track your own heading changes fast enough to remain locked onto targets. The MARPA is then pretty useless. You need to upgrade (and calibrate) the fluxgate to get MARPA to work.
I believe that the Raymarine system limits targets to something like 10, but this is generally enough. Targets have to be manually selected using a cursor, after which the radar tracks their movements providing a CPA and speed/heading vectors. It's a very good system for the short-handed sailor but needs the screen to be close to the helmsman to allow continuous target reselection in busy areas.
Even the ARPA systems fitted on big ships lose their targets, and these are interfaced to an expensive gyro with much better heading track than fluxgates.
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ArthurWood
New member
JRC1000 and JRC1500 have been rated by mags as best buys under 1000 quid. 1500 probably worth the extra money. I have the 1000 and am v pleased with it.
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duncan
Active member
SO where do I get a 1500 for under a grand pounds and in the UK!?
Sorry to be picky/forums/images/icons/smile.gif
ps next question involves a grand of course................
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Sorry to be picky/forums/images/icons/smile.gif
ps next question involves a grand of course................
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ArthurWood
New member
Duncan - Dunno, but I can get you one for $900+tax (that's about 640 quid) and send it to you.
Or you could order direct from West Marine; that's if you've answered the "grand" question
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Or you could order direct from West Marine; that's if you've answered the "grand" question
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lyc
New member
Try Yachtbits, excellent service and price
http://www.yachtbits.fsnet.co.uk/menu.htm
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http://www.yachtbits.fsnet.co.uk/menu.htm
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longjohnsilver
Well-known member
oldharry
Well-known member
Just bought a yacht back from Sweden with a Raymarine fitted. With fog a lot of the way (including Dover!) I can say its one of the best Yacht radars I have used to date.
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