On Jul 25, 11:00*pm, Wayne B wrote:
On Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:15:25 -0700 (PDT), Bill Ewald

wrote:
I was thinking of taking the marine radar course at $279.

Is the course worth that price?

It depends what you are hoping to gain and what you already know.

Hi, Wayne. I don't know much, except from the radar section of the
USCGAUX coastal navigation course.

Are you looking for a radar endorsement on your captain's license? *If
so, does the course meet USCG qualification standards?

Good question; I think the Starpath issues a certificate after passing
the examination, but I don't know what that certificate is good for
except hanging on the wall.

Are you already an experienced navigator and just looking to sharpen
your radar skills? * If so, you might be able to learn what you need
on your own without a formal course. * It depends on your learning
style and what your objectives are. *Basic radar operation is not all
that complicated on modern equipment but you do need to first
understand the basic principles of navigation with regard to taking
bearings on an object and plotting them over time.

I have looked at the Raymarine manual and one book on radar operation.
I need to learn at a pace similar to that in the classroom. To me the
problem is the combining of the GPS and radar on the same screen at
the wheel. To me at least, radar should be a separate operation.

Thanks for your response,