Next message: Rick Emerson: "Re: radar"
On Mon, 14 Oct 1996 22:18:11 -0700 Judy & Bob Bales <jfbales-atnet.net>
writes:
>We have a 40 foot trawler with an old, old radar unit (the kind you
>stick your face in the viewer) that we need to update. I guess
>what I'm asking is, "Is the higher price of the stronger unit and the
open
>array antenna really worth it or really necessary?"
>
Bob & Judy,
One of the boats I run, (Norseman 535), has a Furuno 32 mile radar. I
seldom use this on any range greater than 16 miles, and usually much
less. On our own boat, I installed the Raytheon RL-9, a 16 mile LCD
Radar. Again, I seldom use it on the greatest range. Few Radars will
provide excellent returns in heavy rain, other than the rain. The
larger Radar will have the ability to discriminate two targets, which are close together, while the smaller radars may only paint them as one.
If money is no object, and current consumption is not a consideration,
then by all means step up a bit. One can get carried away though. I
once delivered an Ocean 60', on which the new owner had installed a
brand new 72 mile Furuno radar. Other than having to run the generator
whenever the radar was on, (large current drain), it was virtually
useless beyond the 12-16 mile range. The curvature of the planet we
sail upon eliminates any returns much beyond this range, (other than
mountains and rainstorms).
A good 2 kw Radar would probably suffice for you. The Open Array might
have a slightly better ability to discriminate targets at a distance,
and the down side is, it has a lower high wind rating. So depends upon
what kind of weather you expect to be in. Good Sailing.
