On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 21:42:50 -0500, "Jeff Morris"
wrote:


This is a point I've wondered about: it seems that vessels with active radar
appear on my radar with a large arc centered on the vessel's blip. I've assumed
this is an interaction between their radar and mine. Does this also mean that
my radar also enhances my picture on their screen?

My understanding is that this is reliant on the radar band in which
they are operating their active radar, and/or whether they have a
receiver that goes ping (or whatever) when glanced by "yachtie" radar.

R.

wrote in message
...
...
Also, to a lesser extent, you become visible to other shipping in a
way that a horn can't: precisely.


This is a point I've wondered about: it seems that vessels with active radar
appear on my radar with a large arc centered on the vessel's blip. I've assumed
this is an interaction between their radar and mine. Does this also mean that
my radar also enhances my picture on their screen?

-jeff

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.

Under ideal conditions, you are correct. The benefit of radar,
however, is that you can see what you can't hear, i.e. other shipping
that has no intention of letting a little fog screw with the
schedule...

Also, to a lesser extent, you become visible to other shipping in a
way that a horn can't: precisely.

Finally, you can use a radar to get bearings on shore objects at night
if the GPS conks out and it's too cloudy to use celestial...which I
notice you didn't mention...G

I would say radar, sensibly used, complements but doesn't replace
paper, GPS, depth sounders, horns and good old seamanship. While it is
possible to get swamped with "too much information", particularly if
it doesn't agree, too little information is often what proves fatal to
the boat.

Comments?

Also, if I mount the radome on a post at the stern like most seem to, doesn't
the mast and sail interfere with it looking forward?

Yes, but barely, or at least not as much as you'd think. You can
offset the radome on a pole and gimbal off a stern quarter if you
wish, and then the "blind spot" would be 10 deg. port or starboard
looking forward.

I agree, a gimbal mount at the cross-trees is probably ideal, however,
but it's easier to get at stuff on a pole. Probably the nicest option
is an arch with the radar offset and a way to lash the boom, hang
bimini canvas, affix a GPS, VHF, etc., and yet keep all within easy
reach.

R.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
...
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?

Also, if I mount the radome on a post at the stern like most seem to,
doesn't
the mast and sail interfere with it looking forward?

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36


You may not plan to venture out there if its foggy but what if you are
already in transit or need to get from A to B?

There is a fellow in my Nanaimo marina who spent all year fitting out his
36' Seabird to sail it down to Mexico this Fall. This is the second time
he's tried. Last year they got into a vicious storm off Washington and
turned back. This year they set out from Victoria and got into pea soup fog
somewhere West. Had no radar and decided they couldn't risk colliding with
shipping. Turned back again. Maybe having radar would save a lot of
planned trips as well as make trips-in-progress safer.
Darned expensive though compared to a chart plotter, especially if you go
high-tech for the radome mount and pay someone else to install it all. I
have the radar but I'm still saving for the mount.

As for pole mounts, there does not seem to be an issue with blind spots.
Aside from simplifying the installation I've been told that a malfunctioning
radar often results from problems in the radome so a pole or backstay mount
simplifys removing this unit for servicing. I've also been advised to use a
2" diameter pole to reduce vibration and not to go too high for the same
reason.
Gord

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 18:41:14 GMT, "Gordon Wedman"
wrote:
I've also been advised to use a
2" diameter pole to reduce vibration and not to go too high for the same
reason.

Just go higher than six feet or so or the button on your cap gets
overly warm G.

Of course, cooking is a breeze when you hold a weenie on a stick in
front of the radome G

R.

In article ,
wrote:

Just go higher than six feet or so or the button on your cap gets
overly warm G.

Of course, cooking is a breeze when you hold a weenie on a stick in
front of the radome G

R.

Bull****!!!!

Me

In article ,
wrote:

Just go higher than six feet or so or the button on your cap gets
overly warm G.

Of course, cooking is a breeze when you hold a weenie on a stick in
front of the radome G

R.

Bull****!!!!

Me

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 18:41:14 GMT, "Gordon Wedman"
wrote:
I've also been advised to use a
2" diameter pole to reduce vibration and not to go too high for the same
reason.

Just go higher than six feet or so or the button on your cap gets
overly warm G.

Of course, cooking is a breeze when you hold a weenie on a stick in
front of the radome G

R.

"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
...
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?

Also, if I mount the radome on a post at the stern like most seem to,
doesn't
the mast and sail interfere with it looking forward?

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36


You may not plan to venture out there if its foggy but what if you are
already in transit or need to get from A to B?

There is a fellow in my Nanaimo marina who spent all year fitting out his
36' Seabird to sail it down to Mexico this Fall. This is the second time
he's tried. Last year they got into a vicious storm off Washington and
turned back. This year they set out from Victoria and got into pea soup fog
somewhere West. Had no radar and decided they couldn't risk colliding with
shipping. Turned back again. Maybe having radar would save a lot of
planned trips as well as make trips-in-progress safer.
Darned expensive though compared to a chart plotter, especially if you go
high-tech for the radome mount and pay someone else to install it all. I
have the radar but I'm still saving for the mount.

As for pole mounts, there does not seem to be an issue with blind spots.
Aside from simplifying the installation I've been told that a malfunctioning
radar often results from problems in the radome so a pole or backstay mount
simplifys removing this unit for servicing. I've also been advised to use a
2" diameter pole to reduce vibration and not to go too high for the same
reason.
Gord