AIS Do I Need It?

[mjcook]

Do cruiser need AIS and if so what should I get?

[El Pinguino]

Depends where you sail....

Vesper and AMEC make good stuff....

[model 10]

Yes you do. I think the ICOM might be the least $$, maybe. With no doubt, it is a cool gadget.

[travellerw]

Thats a question only you can answer.. For me, the answer was yes.

I choose a Vesper device and have not regretted it.

[El Pinguino]

Interesting... last time I looked ICOM was pretty pricey...now not so bad
Amazon.com : ICOM IC-MA-500TR KIT Icom IC-MA-500TR KIT Class B AIS Transponder with GPS Receiver : Commercial Trucking Gps Units : GPS & Navigation

That compares well with Vesper
WatchMate 850 AIS Transponder | Vesper Marine

The AMEC is cheaper but you still have to spring for a display...mine can feed straight into my PC and on to its display but I also bought a Vesper display recently ... adds to convenience.. also adds to cost

AMEC CAMINO-108 Class B AIS transponder

Buying in Oz introduces a lot of pricing issues esp re the possible reduction of GST free import values below $1000....

[El Pinguino]

Vesper site lets you add the region its going to to get a better idea of pricing into Oz...http://www.vespermarine.com/transpon...tx.html/?_s=au

[Kenomac]

It's nice to be able to receive ais, but radar is still a more useful and effective tool.

[Kenomac]

Many people place way too much faith in AIS, not all ships use it and very few rocks seem to have it.

[jwcolby54]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Many people place way too much faith in AIS, not all ships use it and very few rocks seem to have it.

Yes but AIS (receive) is built in to modern VHF radios. Radar not so much.

It's just another tool after all.

[FamilyVan]

No you don't "need" it, it didn't even exist 15 years ago. I have a receive only unit, its nice to have in cruddy visibility or passage making after dark. Day sailing in good conditions, its mostly a toy.

Sent from my XP7700 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[a64pilot]

Radar has to be monitored, or at least I get a lot of false alarms with the guard zone when sailing. Radar isn't a set it and forget it like AIS is.
My belief is that AIS out is at least as important as AIS in, is. It's like having your running lights on at night, does nothing for you, but does allow you to be seen by others.
I haven't had both for that long, but its my belief that they complement each other, one does not replace the other, AIS info is much more detailed and complete, Radar tells me something is there, AIS tells me who it is, their dimensions, course and speed, but of course AIS only "sees" other AIS transmitters.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Many people place way too much faith in AIS, not all ships use it and very few rocks seem to have it.

100% agree.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by FamilyVan

No you don't "need" it, it didn't even exist 15 years ago. I have a receive only unit, its nice to have in cruddy visibility or passage making after dark. Day sailing in good conditions, its mostly a toy.

Exactly the way I look at it. Do you "need" it? As you say, 15 years ago it didn't exist. To go cruising all you really "need" is a boat and charts. Everything else is just to make it easier, more convenient and to add to the safety margin.

So, if you are cruising in areas with other traffic and can afford it, AIS is good to have. But if budget forced me to choose between AIS and radar I would start with radar.

[jwcolby54]

Originally Posted by FamilyVan

No you don't "need" it, it didn't even exist 15 years ago. I have a receive only unit, its nice to have in cruddy visibility or passage making after dark. Day sailing in good conditions, its mostly a toy.

Sent from my XP7700 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Using that logic even the sextant and clock isn't "needed" as it didn't exist before 1730.

[jwcolby54]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Exactly the way I look at it. Do you "need" it? As you say, 15 years ago it didn't exist. To go cruising all you really "need" is a boat and charts. Everything else is just to make it easier, more convenient and to add to the safety margin.

So, if you are cruising in areas with other traffic and can afford it, AIS is good to have. But if budget forced me to choose between AIS and radar I would start with radar.

LOL, even charts didn't exist before... don't really "need" them either.