On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:41:09 -0700 (PDT), Roger Long
wrote:

I think, if you poke around in the archives of this group, you'll find
a post from me about a year ago pontificating about how I couldn't
justify the cost, weight, and power draw of radar cruising in Maine.

Yes. You thought I was quite foolish to have RADAR on my boat, and
couldn't understand why I thought it was good to have. G

In late June we sailed from Point Judith Pond to Wickford, RI without
being able to see more than 100 feet, and often less. Without RADAR,
we would have been stuck in Point Judith for several days. During the
entire 10 days of that trip, there was heavy fog, or fog/rain much of
the time. It did clear up while we were visiting Wickford and riding
our bikes around.

This is normal conditions for the first couple months of the season in
the Eastern LIS and Naragansett Bay areas. "Fair weather only"
sailors have a much shorter season than we do. We are often heading
out, as everyone else seems to be headed in.

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:41:09 -0700 (PDT), Roger Long
wrote:

I think, if you poke around in the archives of this group, you'll find
a post from me about a year ago pontificating about how I couldn't
justify the cost, weight, and power draw of radar cruising in Maine.

Yes. You thought I was quite foolish to have RADAR on my boat, and
couldn't understand why I thought it was good to have. G

In late June we sailed from Point Judith Pond to Wickford, RI without
being able to see more than 100 feet, and often less. Without RADAR,
we would have been stuck in Point Judith for several days. During the
entire 10 days of that trip, there was heavy fog, or fog/rain much of
the time. It did clear up while we were visiting Wickford and riding
our bikes around.

This is normal conditions for the first couple months of the season in
the Eastern LIS and Naragansett Bay areas. "Fair weather only"
sailors have a much shorter season than we do. We are often heading
out, as everyone else seems to be headed in.

Last summer from July to end of August I was cruising the coast of Nova
Scotia.

I was glad to have an all integrated system mounted in the cockpit.

My radar attitude as changed. I found that using the radar side by side with
the plotter and watching the depth was very helpful. Having the direction
of the tide and current showing on your plotter helps.

At time when its high tide you may not see rocks (ex Brazil Rock) on your
radar screen but you will on your plotter and by validating your position
with the depth give you a warmer feeling. I have found it very practical to
plot my routes on the plotter first.

Normally radar works well in all but very bad weather conditions.
Conversely in heavy seas and heavy fog I have experienced sea clutters. The
book shows you how to control sea clutters.

While in reality I was only able to degrease and minimize the clutters.
After checking with commercial fishermen and Coast Guard vessels I learned
that this is true.

After this summer cruise I concluded that I needed to replace my radar
reflector.

Other vessels can easily interpret a small blip as part of sea clutters.
While in reality it's a small sailboat with an inadequate radar reflector.

Denis M wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:41:09 -0700 (PDT), Roger Long
wrote:

I think, if you poke around in the archives of this group, you'll find
a post from me about a year ago pontificating about how I couldn't
justify the cost, weight, and power draw of radar cruising in Maine.
Yes. You thought I was quite foolish to have RADAR on my boat, and
couldn't understand why I thought it was good to have. G

In late June we sailed from Point Judith Pond to Wickford, RI without
being able to see more than 100 feet, and often less. Without RADAR,
we would have been stuck in Point Judith for several days. During the
entire 10 days of that trip, there was heavy fog, or fog/rain much of
the time. It did clear up while we were visiting Wickford and riding
our bikes around.

This is normal conditions for the first couple months of the season in
the Eastern LIS and Naragansett Bay areas. "Fair weather only"
sailors have a much shorter season than we do. We are often heading
out, as everyone else seems to be headed in.

Last summer from July to end of August I was cruising the coast of Nova
Scotia.

I was glad to have an all integrated system mounted in the cockpit.

My radar attitude as changed. I found that using the radar side by side with
the plotter and watching the depth was very helpful. Having the direction
of the tide and current showing on your plotter helps.

At time when its high tide you may not see rocks (ex Brazil Rock) on your
radar screen but you will on your plotter and by validating your position
with the depth give you a warmer feeling. I have found it very practical to
plot my routes on the plotter first.

Normally radar works well in all but very bad weather conditions.
Conversely in heavy seas and heavy fog I have experienced sea clutters. The
book shows you how to control sea clutters.

While in reality I was only able to degrease and minimize the clutters.
After checking with commercial fishermen and Coast Guard vessels I learned
that this is true.

After this summer cruise I concluded that I needed to replace my radar
reflector.

Other vessels can easily interpret a small blip as part of sea clutters.
While in reality it's a small sailboat with an inadequate radar reflector.





It is a well known fact to eastern Mexico cruisers that the
electronic charts are not to be trusted and MUST be backed up with
radar. These charts were made from 1800s surveys. I understand
Worldcharts are up to date having been made from a recent survey.
As to radar reflectors. Here is a site on making your own. Haven't
been tested, but should work better than any off the shelf cheapos.
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/07/...adar/index.htm
I made mine from 10" al flashing material. Mounted it on the mizzen
spreader.
Gordon

In article ,
"Denis M" wrote:

After this summer cruise I concluded that I needed to replace my radar
reflector.

An active one will work wonders.
And (active) AIS is an even better option, provided you are aware that
only vessels over 500 tons are mandatorily fitted with one. This will
even give you the equivalent of MARPA.

HTH

Marc

--
remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
http://www.heusser.com

On Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:39:08 +0200, Marc Heusser
d wrote:

In article ,
"Denis M" wrote:

After this summer cruise I concluded that I needed to replace my radar
reflector.

An active one will work wonders.
And (active) AIS is an even better option, provided you are aware that
only vessels over 500 tons are mandatorily fitted with one. This will
even give you the equivalent of MARPA.

HTH

Marc

Those big boats can (and do) filter out all signals from AIS-B
transponders to reduce clutter on their display. You may see them, but
they still don't see you.

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:39:08 +0200, Marc Heusser
d wrote:

In article ,
"Denis M" wrote:

After this summer cruise I concluded that I needed to replace my radar
reflector.

An active one will work wonders.
And (active) AIS is an even better option, provided you are aware that
only vessels over 500 tons are mandatorily fitted with one. This will
even give you the equivalent of MARPA.

HTH

Marc

Those big boats can (and do) filter out all signals from AIS-B
transponders to reduce clutter on their display. You may see them, but
they still don't see you.

Very true, when a target is showing on the radar. I use MARPA's
information and contact the vessel with DSC. This way (hopefully) the
vessel or radar base can identify me with my MMSI number and get my GPS
position on their screen. In theory this is how it should work. I practice
it's a difference story. Most of the foreign ships have not had their
personnel trained to use DSC yet!

When practicing with friend I can track their GPS positions and they can
track me without problems.

In article ,
wrote:

Those big boats can (and do) filter out all signals from AIS-B
transponders to reduce clutter on their display. You may see them, but
they still don't see you.

If they do - they are at least at a legal disadvantage should a
collision happen.

An argument to fit an AIS-A transponder :-)

In this case an active radar reflector would be better, as it cannot be
filtered.

Marc

--
remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
http://www.heusser.com

"Marc Heusser" d wrote in
message ...
In article ,
wrote:

Those big boats can (and do) filter out all signals from AIS-B
transponders to reduce clutter on their display. You may see them, but
they still don't see you.

If they do - they are at least at a legal disadvantage should a
collision happen.

An argument to fit an AIS-A transponder :-)

In this case an active radar reflector would be better, as it cannot be
filtered.

Marc

--
remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
http://www.heusser.com

An active radar reflector is the way to go. The only problem is it takes
electrical power.

Power boats with a large generator have no problem.

The next best thing for a sailboat is an adequate passive radar reflector.

I am looking at the Tri Lens Radar Reflector.

It is always best to know the traffic on or close to your route.

This is best done when you are planning your route.

When this is not possible I check for traffic with the Coast Guard.

Over here we use Fundy and Halifax Traffic I visited their office and they
have the latest of equipment and land base radar antennas all around the Bay
and the gulf of Maine.

When entering narrow passages under heavy fog I prefer to make my self known
by being in radio contact with the traffic dept and the vessels in my
vicinity.

"Marc Heusser" d wrote in
message ...
In article ,
"Denis M" wrote:

After this summer cruise I concluded that I needed to replace my radar
reflector.

An active one will work wonders.
And (active) AIS is an even better option, provided you are aware that
only vessels over 500 tons are mandatorily fitted with one. This will
even give you the equivalent of MARPA.

HTH

Marc

--
remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
http://www.heusser.com

AIS is on my wish list. MARPA works well and I like to talk about this on
another thread.

This summer in heavy fog I would acquire a target with MARPA. Then I would
monitor it.

At time the target speed was 5 knots going to 15 knots and back to 3 knots.
After 15 minutes of monitoring the target would disappear and reappeared
after. The conclusion was that it could have been a whale watching
pneumatic boat. I later checked with some owner of whale watching boats and
they stated very few boat can reach 15 knots. Beside that MARPA has work
wonder for me.