Unless you just *want* to spend the cash on another impressive boating
doo-dad.... use the radar and the whiskey compass....

want isn't exactly teh right word -- having the wife (or someone else) at the
helm and "do you see the taget on teh radar?" if the gps is showing course up;
but we're moving so slow that course up isn't true; then the answer is usually
"no"

If you have RADAR, I don't see the utility of AIS. *Everything* will
show up on RADAR, while only the commercials (and the odd non-required
vessel) will show up on AIS.

Not really true -- if you have gain up to avoid rain & high seas; it can mask a
tug... when they're pulling a double log boom -- it can get a bit nervous.

Why equip the vessel with expen$ive equipment, as if it was over 300
tons, when you don't have to?

Part of this is "traning" -- our boat is used for lessons (I do n't teach it;
just get the free lessons) and for when we move onto a sailboat -- not really
needed; but while we have income, sometimes it's nice to "try" things and learn
1st hand what you don't need....

If the satelites are masked for whatever reason (sa, war, very heavy fog/storm)
ais may give us info still...