On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:40:48 -0400, Larry wrote:

My Furuno for instance has the ability to overlay the chart and radar
image on top of each other, and keep it aligned with your heading.


Yes, you see "something" on your screen, a blip.

I agree that AIS is way cool and gives you a lot of information. A
*good* radar gives you a lot more than a blip however. For example:
Speed of target, Course of target, CPA (Closest Point of Approach of
target), TCPA (Time to CPA), Target Lat/Lon, Target Course/Speed
Vector, etc. About the only thing missing is name of the ship but a
quick call on channel 13 will get you that.

All for well under 10 boat bucks, and relatively easy to self install.
Even the admiral likes it and she is not easily impressed by
electronic gear on a boat.