Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
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


Only you can answer the first question. As for uses ..... any collision
avoidance situation, be it collision course or just wanting to figure
how far you'll miss by, and what's the most dangerous target.
Navigation ..... eyeball and exact, has many uses, plus docking in fog,
maintaining a quick anchor watch .... too numerous.
Problem you might have will be with power, to make as much use of it as
you potentially could.