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Radar vs GPS/Sounder
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 17:48:11 +0000, Jack Dale wrote:
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 09:07:50 -0800, "Lloyd Sumpter" wrote: Hi, Thinking of getting radar for Far Cove, mainly for this planned trip to WCVI, which has lots of fog. Now, I've survived 20+ years of sailing Georgia Strait, etc. without radar. If it's really foggy, I just stay put. If I venture out, I use several nav aids including GPS to determine my position, blow my horn and listen. I'm thinking that, even WITH radar, I wouldn't venture out in unfamiliar waters in dense fog. And if I was out and the fog rolled in on me, I would think that GPS, sounder and a good chart would be better to find that anchorage than radar, assuming I could see at least 100 ft or so. Comments? I agree that a GPS, sounder and good charts are necessary. But given a choice between a chart plotter and radar, I would go with radar. The major reason is that radar will provide an indication of what is around me, mainly other vessels. In Juan de Fuca, that is a big consideration. Once you spend some time with radar you can interpret the screen quite easily. This would permit you to find the anchorage. Additionally, the racon buoys permit an great radar fix. Thanks for the input! I didn't mean an either/or scenario - it's more like: if I have GPS/sounder/charts, what extra does radar give me? And of course, it DOES show vessels, etc., but I'm thinking that's mainly a consideration in fog, and I'm wondering if I would venture out even if I HAD radar (after all, what if the radar quits?). So is radar worth it for the 1 day a year I MIGHT venture out in fog? Or, to put it differently, what ELSE is radar good for? Can I use it to determine if a freighter 10 miles away is on a collision course with me? Do others normally run with radar on, even if it's clear? Why? Lloyd Sumpter "Far Cove" Catalina 36 |
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