Smallest radar

[Chinook92]

I'm looking for a radar for my boat. I feel kind of rediculous admitting I want radar on my Cal-20, but the fact of the matter is that this time of year in the San Juan Islands, we have alot of super thick fog, and alot of boat traffic, so, it's kind of a requirement in my mind. I've run boats with, and without radar, but i see it as a piece of safety equipment, and would like to look into it.

Years ago I used to have a Lowrance HDS5 when it first came out and i liked how you could just plug and play a radar dome via nmea 2000.

What's the smallest cheapest radar setup you can think of?

My main concern is identifying large ferry boats and larger yachts, and doubt I need a range of 12 or more miles

I would just feel better having it for running in the fog and at night, as a GPS can only do so much

[River Cruiser]

Check out the furuno 1715 and the new Si-Tex radar - http://www.imarineusa.com/si-text-76...cGYaAnqw8P8HAQ


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[a64pilot]

See what you can find used, you "need" only a couple of miles I would think. I really Liked My Garmin HD

[Cheechako]

On a 20 footer weight aloft will matter. So yeah, get something with a small radome .

[a64pilot]

Smallest is 18"? Put it on a "stick"
bet it would work well on a Bimini, one on my Center Console worked great on the T-top

20' boat with a Radar is going to look unusual though.

[deblen]

Don't apologize for a radar. It is the primary safety eqpt. in dense fog areas.

Those that don't travel in dense fog have the mis-guided opinion that plotters & AIS are more important,& some even believe that AIS/Plotters, & a horn replace radars.

Try to get at least a 15" dome. The 12" ones smear targets badly due to excess beamwidth- but they are better than nothing.

Cheers/ Len

REAL FOG

[J Clark H356]

Here is some fog on the Tenn-Tom waterway.

This is real fog!!! Running on pure radar for this part.

Get the radar. It is well worth the money if fog is a probability.


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[deblen]

Originally Posted by J Clark H356

Here is some fog on the Tenn-Tom waterway. Attachment 128710

This is real fog!!! Running on pure radar for this part.

Get the radar. It is well worth the money if fog is a probability.


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Beautiful fog!! Gulf of Maine/Fundy quality there!!

Up here,if you can see 1/4 mi. by eye,it's considered (almost) clear.
I bet you know what I'm saying.

It's really fun after dark,with nav lights reflecting back in your eyes.

Keep a deck watch-yeah-right.

Blow your horn so those big diesel fish trawlers with dry exhausts can hear you-yeah.....

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Chinook92

I'm looking for a radar for my boat. I feel kind of rediculous admitting I want radar on my Cal-20, but the fact of the matter is that this time of year in the San Juan Islands, we have alot of super thick fog, and alot of boat traffic, so, it's kind of a requirement in my mind. I've run boats with, and without radar, but i see it as a piece of safety equipment, and would like to look into it.

Years ago I used to have a Lowrance HDS5 when it first came out and i liked how you could just plug and play a radar dome via nmea 2000.

What's the smallest cheapest radar setup you can think of?

My main concern is identifying large ferry boats and larger yachts, and doubt I need a range of 12 or more miles

I would just feel better having it for running in the fog and at night, as a GPS can only do so much

There are 2 that I know of less than 18" dia.

15": Furuno 1623 About $1300. 4.6kg, 36watts
http://www.furunousa.com/ProductDocu...0%203-3-11.pdf

12": JRC Radar 1000 MKII. About $1100. 4kg. 30 watts
http://www.emforensics.com/library/M...n%20Manual.pdf


The JRC looks to be out of production and I can't tell from their website if they are still offering maintenance support. With the smaller and lighter scanner also comes smaller power draw.

Don Dodds has a very good discussion about radar mounting height towards the end of his book "Modern Seamanship". The up shot is you want to be mounted at least 12' above the deck and not more than about 32' above the water. That mean mounting on a pole at the back of the boat or on the mast.
With a Cal20 you have the option of mounting just above the jumper strut which could be used as part of a platform. That high I would want the lightest scanner possible.

Also Don makes a good arguement that 24nm range is a waste for physical reasons unless you want to see weather coming in, 16nm is just fine and probably most of the time you will be using it for fairly short ranges on the order of 1nm or less.

Where do you sail your Cal20 out of? I am a former Seattleite and hope to be again.

[Paul Elliott]

In the San Juan islands, all the ferries and most large yachts carry AIS transponders. AIS is no replacement for radar, but for the boats you mention, a simple AIS receiver may do the job. Of course, AIS won't show rocks, etc.