Next message: izibizicat: "[world-cruising] Re: power gen [was: radar & power [was: Chart Plotter]]"
We used to sail in the Narragansett and radar was a MUST, wouldn't be
without it. Now, in the Caribbean, it is pretty much an option - no fog
down here. It would be nice for shipping at night, but I still think it
is better to use your eyes. AIS is also a good option.
I just bought a (used) C-120 (Raymarine) and the Gold+ card ($179) that
covers the entire Caribbean. We have not added radar yet, but it plugs
right into the c-120 if we decide to.
Fair Winds,
Mark Parker
wrote:
>
>
> JMHO, but I would forget about the chartplotter, or at least put the idea
> on the back burner, and make radar -- a good one -- a top priority.
> Black-and-white is fine, color isnīt necessary. But as has been advised in
> another post, get the greatest power and range you can afford. I like
> Furuno but there are several other very good brands as well.
>
> A chart plotter is a Nice-to-Have, a luxury; you can, after all, navigate
> with the traditional techniques (paper chart, dividers, parallel rules,
> etc.) and basic GPS (and/or sextant) and, dare I say it, your own eyes and
> ears. Radar is a Gotta-Have, a safety essential. It gives you a way to see
> when otherwise impossible with physical faculties. If I were caught in a
> sudden, dense fog on my way into a harbor or wherever, I would trust a
> radar image a whole lot more than I would trust a chartplotter. And at
> sea, a chartplotter ainīt gonna tell you where the big dogs are, whose way
> you want to stay out of.
>
> As I say, just my humble opinion.
>
> Phil
> s/v Cynosure
> Balboa, Rep. of Panama
>
> > At this point, I do not have plans for radar. However, that may change
> > after I spend we get out. I will look at my battery charging and power
> > requirements once we see what we use.
> > All this information helps as sometimes the sales people confuse me.
>
>
