Too Small for Radar?

[Agrady208]

While tied up at Town Point for the boat show this summer, a guy noticed my boat (Grady White 208) and commented "That boat's too small to need radar". I smiled to myself knowing my boat fishes the same bay and coastal waters as the big boats, but wondered...maybe other small boats are missing out on a key part of boating safety.

Since having the 2KW Ramarine Radar installed and C80 display, I have been amazed at what I can see on the water... now that I know where to look. At night, it is a whole new world as most boats, shore, pilings, and bouys appear on radar though totally invisible without. Like most, mine can overlay the radar image on the GPS map etc to confirm the target's location, but that is not the point.
I think our small boater community could benefit from your observations of radar and why (or why not ) it could be important to a small boat operator. Let's assume they already know it is important to have GPS and VHF Radio.

What safety use/value have you found with radar that might help a small boat owner decide to (or not to) make the decision to invest in radar?

Charlie
On the "Ms Cait"

[BigJim]

If you have a place to mount one and can afford it, I think it is a useful piece of equipment.

[Bayrunner]

NO Boat is too small if you are going to venture out there!

[timber]

To small for radar??!!!! I got to be the smart a$$ on this one. I wonder if the guy that said that has at the very least ever been out on a boat, forget owning one

[bottom scratcher]

Avoiding a collision one moonless night off Oceanview with a boat without running lights is enough to have made me appreciate it.

[racn35]

If I had the mounting space I'd put one on a canoe !

[pipewrench]

Don't know about you guys, but it is nice being able to see the knuckleheads that run around WFO in the fog. Can make the difference between having a good day/nite or a bad one...MY2CTSW

[MichaelW]

GPS tells you what should be there. Radar tells you what is there! Did everything I could to get run over by three hovercraft one night. Doubt it wil happen now that I know what 60 yellow flashes a minute means and a good radar giving relitive bearings.

[Brandon]

I think if you can afford radar and have a place for it putting it on your boat is an absolute no brainer. I have been trying to figure out how I can get it on my 21 Parker. I think the only way to really make the boat look right is a small t-top and I am considering it. Once you run a boat at night or get caught in the fog and have radar you will never run a boat with out it again.

Brandon

[27 sailfish]

The prices have dropped and the units are much smaller now.RADAR is no longer just for the "big boys".If you can afford it-it's worth every penny.The better units can spot birds :yes: and when trolling it really helps avoid other boats.For night fishing-it's a no brainer.

I've "brought back" four boats once in the fog.They did not have RADAR and did not want to risk crossing the shipping channel.I felt like a mother duck :D but we all got back in safe.At the dock-they all thanked me and were amazed when I told them we passed about a dozen other boats-that they never saw.

No boat is too small-I think the smaller boats get more benefit from it.Easier for a "little" boat to avoid a tug then the tug avoid the small boat without RADAR who bludders into it's path :eek: . Skip

[Windbreaker]

What's a ball-park figure for decent radar for a small boat?
Bob

[27 sailfish]

Figure about $1,500.00. There are some close out type deals for $1,000.00 sometimes.Big thing is the KW.A 2 KW is OK for close in-a 4KW is better and the 6 KW units are best but cost the most.

A 2 KW will work great for small (low) boats since RADAR can only "see" line of sight.Best use is close in-1/4 mile range to avoid "things".We move our screen out to 1-2 miles every now/then just to "see" if anything is close by. Skip

[Agrady208]

Thanks for all the safety comments. Hopefully more folks will be able to work radar into future boat improvements. A couple of folks mentioned concern on how they could get radar to mount given space concerns etc. For me it helped give my boat extra room and even made it more fishable.

The guy that did the work for me came to the marina and did the measurements on the spot for a custom radar arch. The amazing thing for me is that he did the work at roughly 2/3rds the price I had seen at the boat shows (he recently started his own business). About two weeks later he returned with the arch ready to go. He installed it in about 3 hours, but also repositioned my GPS and VHF antennas into the pre-drilled holes he made in the top of the arch. He added two rocket lauchers. one spreader light, and new running light with all the wiring and had everything working before he left. He even ran a steel cable through the arch to the radar plate he built and pre-drilled using the template I gave him... so when the other guy came to install the radar the process was a snap.

The benefit for me was more than radar. My bimini top and curtains still work perfectly and can fold down within the arch. That makes it nice for night fishing on hot nights. The arch freed up the walk-around space since the antennas (had been in the walk around of my CC) were out of the way. He even built flat steps (instead of round tubing) into the side of the arch so you can stand up on either side of the arch when watching/casting for cobia or other surface fish.

He told me, "you describe it and I can do it". Now I am a believer. I was very pleased in how it all turned out and happy in the new space and features it gave my boat.

Charlie
On the "Ms Cait"

[2ntow]

Charlie -

Who did the arch for you? I may need some work done to mine.

Dan

[Agrady208]

Dan,
Ben Dishman did the work 757 478-5070. bendishman@cox.net
I would suggest going to his shop to see the examples of different things he does. He has a book of photos that may give you ideas to meet your need. In example, I saw the flat metal steps in the shop which he built into my arch. His rocket launchers also fit my wreck anchor, nice haveing that thing out of the way! I considered having him build an anchor holder for the bow, but thought it looks better on top.
Other tips:
- Find out what the height limitation is in the dry dock storage/home garage etc so he will know not to exceed that or your storage costs will be higher. 9'6" at Tailors Marine, and I think the same at Ocean Marine. A fold down running light will help get under the height.
- Note any key lines to the boat that you want him to duplicate. I asked him to match the line of the windshield and he did it perfectly so the arch runs parallel with that line and looks good.
- Once the radar is installed bring a rachet wrench that fits the nuts, and a rubber door stopper. Get out on water and away from everything to see if your radar sensitivity is better to the rear or to the front. Find something small, a piling or small float etc. Sliding the rubber door stopper under the radar (as a wedge) gives you an improved angle to match the radar visibility you are looking for. Tighten the bolts and you are ready!

Charlie
On the "Ms Cait"

[bobbys world]

I have a trophy 1903 with a Furuno Radar on it. It came in handy on three seperate occasions while I was striper fishing off the coast last winter. Not only can you get the three mile line but without the radar I would have been going in circles with the GPS in the fog like the years before. Not to mention I could see everythig coming up on me. To small for a radar, nope. The only down thing about them is how much juice they use, so I only use it when the visibility is is poor (Fog or sometimes at night).

Sandman

[jmille8766]

Sandman brings up a good point for small boats with radar. They do use a lot of current when operating. This isn't bad when you are running your engine at greater than idle speed. But if you forget you have the radar on, anchor and stop your engine, then you will find in short time the battery will be near dead.

On my previous boat, a 23 footer, I had two batteries and that saved me on the occasion (or might that be occasions) I forgot I had the radar still on. Just had to switch the battery and I was off and running.

So, my recommendation is to have two batteries if you have a radar. It is only a matter of time before your memory fails you and you forget to turn your radar off.

Joe (Miller Time)

[Persistence2]

As mentioned, always a good idea to have Radar. I got caught in the fog (at night) at the IMG shoals. Had to make it back to LC. Thankfully someone with radar let me follow them but not until I had to cross Balt Channel in pea soup at night...scared is an understatement. When I got my current boat, I fished a season with no radar (many offshore runs) and finally got one...what a nice piece of equipment.

Make sure you run your radar in nice conditions and use it to navigate...so that when it's dark foggy, you will understand what you are looking at...

Also, for 2kw radars (closed array) I agree, keep it set to like 1/2 mile for better target discrimination. I only bump mine out if I'm looking for storms or using it to pick up land when coming in from offshore.

Glenn