Which Radar ?

[escape]

I am aware that Advertising, sorry, Yachting Monthly are running a series on radar but I would appreciate a more balanced recommendation on which set to choose from the forum.
Yacht is 37' with all Raymarine kit including GPS and chart plotter (monochrome).
Sailing is mostly coastal with jaunts across irish sea.
I believe I do not require massive range - 16 mile max but would prefer accracy (narrow beam) and easy to read display.
I intent to mount the array on a transom post rather than mast but would also appreciate comments on this.
Thanks in antisipation


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[LadyInBed]

You need to do a search, there has been lots of threads on Radar.

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[johna]

Hi
Faced with the same arrangement of existing kit I opted for the Raymarine RL70 + together with a software update to change my RC520 chartplotter to HSB2. I find the dual use excellent. I do wish I could justify the colour version for the cockpit.

Had I not already owned the plotter I would have gone for one of the stand alones. With the preent exchange rates many i know are buying the JRC 1500 from the USA.

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[MarkJohnson]

I bought Furuno radar/chart plotter. (1722C)

Can recomend it.

I have opted to mount the dome on the mast, mainly to get it out of the way. Mt Sadler 32 has quite a narrow stern for pole mounting.

I was a bit sceptical about the chart plotter, but having used it in earnest at night, it is good to have it on board.

Mj

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[Talbot]

If you are after value for money then the JRC 1500 should be the best bet (especially from the States) If you want all the knobs and whistles and are happy to pay a lot more for a little extra then look at either the Furono or the Raymarine.

Dont be fooled by range claims, the useable range is a factor of height of radar and height of target, and all yacht radars have the same abilities in this area. The angular discrimination is merely a factor of aerial width - the wider the aerial, the greater the angular discrimination (and the heavier the scanner). The other factor to consider is power consumption. The longer range claims are normally for the higher powered sets, Whilst the range claim is silly (because it is not useable except for high cliffs), what is true is that the higher powered sets do perform better in bad conditions.



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