Andy135 Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 I've never had radar fitted to any of my boats. As a recreational angler I have only been caught out by fog once and I was able to follow my track back home safely. Given that I'm only able to get out perhaps 2-3 times per month at best, what do the Outlaws think about the return on investment for radar on a recreational angling boat? It seems a lot of money for something that may not get used much at all. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Radar is a waste of money until you need it. An example is, we were fishing on a glorious day some 30 miles from home and 20 miles offshore. Vis in the morning was brilliant come pm it was not very good at all with an estimated vis of about 10 metres. Coming home in pea souper without radar is not nice we would have been steaming at 5 or 6 knots taking us 6 hours maybe less if it cleared closer inshore. Being that far offshore there is very little chance of coming across small craft so radar we were able to cruise at 15+ knots without any worry. As we got closer in I knew there maybe some dive boats on a particular wreck and being able to see them on the screen and able to give them a wide berth was great. To be truthful we probably only use it in anger in fog, after dark or when trying to pinch marks (very useful for that lol). Whether its worth it I would say depends on the type of boating you do, how far you go offshore and how geeky you are but for me its worth it Hope that helps........a little mick, Saintly Fish, headlight and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 15 minutes ago, Maverick said: how geeky you are You have just sold it to him Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 Just now, Saintly Fish said: You have just sold it to him Martin. You know me too well Neil. My inner geek is already writing the cheque but my sceptical side is weighing up the pros and cons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 7 minutes ago, Andy135 said: You know me too well Neil. My inner geek is already writing the cheque but my sceptical side is weighing up the pros and cons. Pros, you have new shiny kit, you can travel safer when needed, you get to play with a new toy. cons, you have to write the cheque Geoff and MegaByte 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headlight Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 I have had radar for about 10 years now. I think that I have used it twice. I think it does really depend on your type of boating usage as mentioned by Maverick. GPSguru 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 If you are serious about going offshore then yes it’s very useful... but only if you use it and know how to use it. First of all get a good radar reflector. Echo max are the best. There is no point in looking if others can’t see you. I would consider AIS if you don’t want to go the full Radar route, but not everyone uses it. It was foggy in the haven yesterday, with AIS and Radar I was happy to run at 18knots in the haven and 20+ once on open coast. Without Radar I’d be 8-10knots. It’s a tool, but make sure you can use it before you get waste money on a toy... Maverick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Saintly Fish said: You have just sold it to him Martin. I know good aren't I Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 It’s also important that as part of the col regs you should use all available means of collision avoidance. If you have radar you’re expected to know to use it abs have it running..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captin slows old outlaw Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 i dont havea boat big anouf for radar. i dont go that far out anyway. andy remember you have to maintain it. i wunder if there is going to be any room for more bling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 I have been caught out in fog enough times to think it’s worth having. I haven’t got round to fitting my new one yet, but when my old one started failing I did miss it. I didn’t want to spend the money on whole new system so I bought a stand alone unit, but if you have a decent MFD then your half way there. Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Also it’s not just when you’re underway that it’s useful, anchoring in fog or dark too. Modern radars have guard zones that set off an alarm. My new one makes my phone vibrate. it is a very worrying thing hearing boat engines coming towards you in the fog. Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 This is an AIS transponder.... youll need a splitter, and extenal gps antenna but for £50 it’s a cheap AIS setup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 10 minutes ago, Odyssey said: This is an AIS transponder.... As it happens Luke that brings me onto another question. Is there much point only having an AIS receiver? Surely it must be smarter to have a transponder so we can be seen as well as see? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 11 minutes ago, Andy135 said: As it happens Luke that brings me onto another question. Is there much point only having an AIS receiver? Surely it must be smarter to have a transponder so we can be seen as well as see? I opted for ais instead of radar. Purely because I don’t go “offshore” enough to warrant it. Ais was a good compromise in my opinion. Transmit and receive of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 53 minutes ago, Andy135 said: As it happens Luke that brings me onto another question. Is there much point only having an AIS receiver? Surely it must be smarter to have a transponder so we can be seen as well as see? Transponder is useful but not everyone has one. Radar you pick up a lot of boats and obstacles. id prefer radar but AIS is useful too.... depends on budget and where you fish. I do a lot of miles anf a lot of offshore work too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Saintly Fish said: I opted for ais instead of radar. Purely because I don’t go “offshore” enough to warrant it. Ais was a good compromise in my opinion. Transmit and receive of course. In my view that's the wrong choice. Inshore a minority of boats have ais offshore the majority of boats/ships have ais (ships by law have ais) so if you're inshore in fog ais is not much help but every boat no matter what size is a target for Radar. Inshore ais is just a toy as its not a lot of help in the fog, that said I had ais and radar on my old boat and it is a useful plaything Edited November 27, 2020 by Maverick JonC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 4 minutes ago, Maverick said: In my view that's the wrong choice. Inshore a minority of boats have ais offshore the majority of boats/ships have ais (ships by law have ais) so if you're inshore in fog ais is not much help but every boat no matter what size is a target for Radar. Inshore ais is just a toy as its not a lot of help in the fog, that said I had ais and radar on my old boat and it is a useful plaything If I get caught in fog thick enough to not be able to see 100yards in front then I’d just drop anchor and wait it out. rather be late than crash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Perfect you could play with the Ais JonC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 5 minutes ago, Maverick said: Perfect you could play with the Ais Or go fishing some more. Maverick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 38 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: If I get caught in fog thick enough to not be able to see 100yards in front then I’d just drop anchor and wait it out. rather be late than crash. How long are you going to wait for? It gets dark about 4.30 now, so you’ll be out all night with that strategy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Just now, JonC said: How long are you going to wait for? It gets dark about 4.30 now, so you’ll be out all night with that strategy I have cushions, blankets, a fridge, tv and heating. It’s no panic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Just now, Saintly Fish said: I have cushions, blankets, a fridge, tv and heating. It’s no panic. What’s in the fridge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 4 hours ago, Odyssey said: If you are serious about going offshore then yes it’s very useful... but only if you use it and know how to use it. First of all get a good radar reflector. Echo max are the best. There is no point in looking if others can’t see you. I would consider AIS if you don’t want to go the full Radar route, but not everyone uses it. It was foggy in the haven yesterday, with AIS and Radar I was happy to run at 18knots in the haven and 20+ once on open coast. Without Radar I’d be 8-10knots. It’s a tool, but make sure you can use it before you get waste money on a toy... I haven’t got a reflector, something I will buy soon. There is the bracket for one of the thin tube type ones on my arch but how would I mount a decent one? I think it would obstruct my radar . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 1 minute ago, JonC said: I haven’t got a reflector, something I will buy soon. There is the bracket for one of the thin tube type ones on my arch but how would I mount a decent one? I think it would obstruct my radar . Get an echomax mini and mount it just above the outlaws sticker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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