Radar...can you read it or not??

[bud37]

Does anyone know a good resource for helping someone decipher a radar screen ( Furuno dome, model 1622, not the colour display ). I have tried running it in daylight ,auto, etc and it just seems like a guy would have to take a course or spend a huge amount of time before comprehension kicks in.. ...comments anyone.....

[PJHoffnet]

I wasn't sure if you mean technical issues with being able to read the display, or understanding what you're seeing.

On the former, I'm no help. But on the later I can think of nothing better to share with you than this link ... ahhh MoBoards, the love of my life. A grease pencil, your fingers as divders and index finger as a rudimentary parallel ruler keep the boats I drove on and under the high seas safe and sound for 27 years.

http://sliderulemuseum.com/Manuals/Pub1 ... Manual.pdf

[bud37]

Radar works great from what I can tell, it is just the operator that can't decipher all the blobs, Have had many boats over the years just never had radar and would like to read and understand this thing just in case...thanks for the link will check it out.......

[waybomb]

Avoid the blobs. Usually boats. The rings and the range you are in tell you how far away they are.
Get the Furuno manual for your radar and study it.

[RGrew176]

I had radar on my last boat. The way I learned to read the blobs was to go out in daytime where I could see everything. Learn exactly how each blip read compare it to what I see. Then if I was out in fog or at night I pretty much knew what was out there.

Heck, one time I was coming back from somewhere and I picked up a big mass on the radar that should not have been there. When I got closer to shore I was picking up a massive fishfly hatch. I also used mine to pick up storms. It depends on how you set the gain if I remember correctly.

[waybomb]

Was heading north from Chicago to port Washington.
Saw a ping about 72 miles out. Pretty soon it was 36 miles out.
Wtf? This thing is cruising. Quick calculations showed it at over 120 mph!
I was out in a northerly and the waves were 4-6.
This thing seemed to be coming right at me.
1 mile out and it's still coming. I'm scanning the lake and all of a sudden a passenger jet pops out of the clouds, obviously landing at Mitchell MKE.

[bud37]

Thanks guys, now this is the kind of real world stuff that helps......I have been thru the manual, maybe just more time......

[feeez]

Last seasonWe were heading home during the day and the Georgian bay fog rolled. Not really bad but enough to disorient us. My MFD has the ability to overlay the radar on the chart. I found this to be very helpful in that situation.

Cheers
Fraser

[nightsky]

One trick that you would do well to remember is the use of the EBL (electronic bearing line). You can move the EBL to place it on a radar target to determine if you are on a collision course (assuming both you and the target are not in the process of altering course and/or speed). If the target stays on the bearing line but it is getting closer to your position, then you are on a collision course. If the target moves off the line, then you are not, although you could still end up too close for comfort. If you determine you are on a collision course or you will end up too close to each other, then you should alter course. You should always alter course to YOUR starboard (provided you have sufficient sea room or draught) for a target that is forward of your beam (in other words, never alter to port for a vessel forward of your beam). If you do not have sea room then slowing down will have the same effect. I have made an assumption here: 1) that you are in a condition of restricted visibility and therefore both vessels are required to alter course ie: no stand on or give-way vessel).

[bud37]

Source of the post Last seasonWe were heading home during the day and the Georgian bay fog rolled. Not really bad but enough to disorient us. My MFD has the ability to overlay the radar on the chart. I found this to be very helpful in that situation.

Cheers
Fraser

That is one thing I have to get connected if possible, not sure if I can go from the furuno to raymarine chartplotter.....some of this electronic stuff , as much as I like it baffles the heck out of me......