If.....radar was THAT sensitive then why was I, sailing a 43 footer, nearly
run over by a tanker in the English Channel between Flushing and Lowestoft?
The weather was stormy, rainy and it happened in the middle of the night
during a downpour!
And....vessels are not on auto pilot in that location.
Radar is a tool, but it does not replace common sense ;-)
--
c ya Wim
www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html


"surfnturf" wrote in message
news:xlMvb.461044$pl3.204000@pd7tw3no...
: The waters cited are not prone to large swells, but I have been in a water
: taxi late at night and seen the radar pick out logs and other debris on
the
: water. It was overcast, poor visibility and moderately high wind at the
: time.
:
: Unfortunately, did not note manufacturer of unit.
:
: surfnturf
:
: "Doug Dotson" wrote in message
: ...
: Maybe on a dead calm sea.
:
: "Tom Dacon" wrote in message
: ...
:
:
: The stuff is so low in the water that it can't be picked up by
radar.
: A
: debris object would have to be nearly as large as your boat to set
off
: any
: radar collision alarm..
:
:
: This hasn't been my experience. In calm inner waters, such as the
inland
: passage along the west coast of Canada, radar when set to short range
: can
: commonly pick up a log or the top of a deadhead if it breaks the
water's
: surface, and it will routinely pick up a seagull standing on top of
it.
: In
: fact, I've even seen it pick up the riffles from a tidal rip.
:
: Tom Dacon
:
:
:
:
:
:

The waters cited are not prone to large swells, but I have been in a water
taxi late at night and seen the radar pick out logs and other debris on the
water. It was overcast, poor visibility and moderately high wind at the
time.

Unfortunately, did not note manufacturer of unit.

surfnturf

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
Maybe on a dead calm sea.

"Tom Dacon" wrote in message
...


The stuff is so low in the water that it can't be picked up by radar.
A
debris object would have to be nearly as large as your boat to set off
any
radar collision alarm..


This hasn't been my experience. In calm inner waters, such as the inland
passage along the west coast of Canada, radar when set to short range
can
commonly pick up a log or the top of a deadhead if it breaks the water's
surface, and it will routinely pick up a seagull standing on top of it.
In
fact, I've even seen it pick up the riffles from a tidal rip.

Tom Dacon

Maybe on a dead calm sea.

"Tom Dacon" wrote in message
...


The stuff is so low in the water that it can't be picked up by radar. A
debris object would have to be nearly as large as your boat to set off
any
radar collision alarm..


This hasn't been my experience. In calm inner waters, such as the inland
passage along the west coast of Canada, radar when set to short range can
commonly pick up a log or the top of a deadhead if it breaks the water's
surface, and it will routinely pick up a seagull standing on top of it. In
fact, I've even seen it pick up the riffles from a tidal rip.

Tom Dacon

Even if your radar will pick up such a low profile object, how would you be
able to set an alarm to such a low threshole and not get false trigger from
the just a slight chop.

Your radar has better sensitivity than mine.. I would be happy if I could
see a mooring bouy when coming into an anchorage at night.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Even if your radar will pick up such a low profile object, how would you be
able to set an alarm to such a low threshole and not get false trigger from
the just a slight chop.

Your radar has better sensitivity than mine.. I would be happy if I could
see a mooring bouy when coming into an anchorage at night.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Subject: Technique for avoiding collision with floating debris......
From: "Tom Dacon"

This hasn't been my experience. In calm inner waters, such as the inland
passage along the west coast of Canada, radar when set to short range can
commonly pick up a log or the top of a deadhead if it breaks the water's
surface, and it will routinely pick up a seagull standing on top of it. In
fact, I've even seen it pick up the riffles from a tidal rip.

Well, as long as you stay in "calm waters" it looks like you'll be OK. :-)

Capt. Bill

Subject: Technique for avoiding collision with floating debris......
From: "Tom Dacon"

This hasn't been my experience. In calm inner waters, such as the inland
passage along the west coast of Canada, radar when set to short range can
commonly pick up a log or the top of a deadhead if it breaks the water's
surface, and it will routinely pick up a seagull standing on top of it. In
fact, I've even seen it pick up the riffles from a tidal rip.

Well, as long as you stay in "calm waters" it looks like you'll be OK. :-)

Capt. Bill

The stuff is so low in the water that it can't be picked up by radar. A
debris object would have to be nearly as large as your boat to set off any
radar collision alarm..


This hasn't been my experience. In calm inner waters, such as the inland
passage along the west coast of Canada, radar when set to short range can
commonly pick up a log or the top of a deadhead if it breaks the water's
surface, and it will routinely pick up a seagull standing on top of it. In
fact, I've even seen it pick up the riffles from a tidal rip.

Tom Dacon

I'm afraid the human eye ball is about the only thing that can keep you from
running into floating debris..

The stuff is so low in the water that it can't be picked up by radar. A
debris object would have to be nearly as large as your boat to set off any
radar collision alarm..

Keep a good watch and have a stout boat.. Failing that, have a collision mat
in the emergency locker (along with a plan on how to use it).


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Avoidance strategies might reduce the odds of collision somewhat, but not enough to
consider the risk eliminated. Radar, for instance, might work in some conditions, but not
all.

This leaves two approaches: one, which has been discussed, is preparing to handle the
damage efficiently. I'd be curious what percentage of collision damages event can be
handled with a collision mat, and how many required abandoning ship. Clearly, when the
damage is too severe, most vessels will sink like the proverbial stone, but there are
certain levels of damage where a mat will save the day.

The third approach is to reduce the odds of the vessel sinking, with positive floatation
and/or collision bulkheads. Multihulls have an advantage, since they don't have the dead
weight of the keel, and the hulls are shaped to facilitate flotation chambers. But any
relatively light vessel can be made reasonably unsinkable. One can make a case that
floatation bags are a better investment than a liferaft.

--
-jeff www.sv-loki.com
"The sea was angry that day, my friend. Like an old man trying to send back soup at the
deli."




"Courtney Thomas" wrote in message
...
Is there an electronic strategy with alarms to avoid collision with
floating objects while sailing ?

A full description would be appreciated.

Thank you.
--
Courtney Thomas
s/v Mutiny
lying Oriental, NC
WDB5619