How important is RADAR?

magstang1

magstang1

Active Member
May 30, 2010
1,338
Lake St.Clair
Boat Info
1998 31 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Twin 350 Marine Power
I am in the process of replacing all my electronics and would like opinions about the necessity of radar. I have an old, but functioning, open array I will be removing to install a new chart plotter in the helm. There's not enough room for both and the old won't integrate with the new.

I'm wondering how important radar really is. I could install a new radar for about $1100 right now if I buy a combo pack with my plotter. It will cost $1600 if I decide to add it down the road. I've never had radar before and I don't really want to spend the extra if it's unnecessary.

This boat is primarily a weekend cruiser with little to no fishing and limited night time driving.


Any advice is appreciated.
 
I think it is very important. But if you install it, you have the take the time and really dig in, both on the water and the manuals to use it properly. Otherwise, it's not worth much.
 
We ALL like spending other people's money, but if I were in your shoes and, knowing what I know about Lake St. Clair and the surrounding lakes, I would not hesitate. You will never regret it and when you sell your boat to get a bigger one it will be easier to sell because of the upgraded electronics.
 
I'm not worried much about resale. The way I'm spending money on this one, I'll have to own it long after the new gizmos are well outdated. I told the wife I'm starting with this one how I want it. The last three boats, I pinched pennies and held off on upgrades only to sell shortly after I got things how I wanted. I intend to set this one up right from the start.

I'm wrestling with ideas in my mind. I know this lake fairly well and seldom venture away from home. A solid chart plotter has served me well for quite some time. Radar would be a nearly redundant system for me as far as navigation goes. I'll likely see obstacles with my eyes before the radar as almost all of my boating is done during the day. I completely understand the advantages of radar in reduced visibility, I just seldom encounter those conditions.
 
How Important it Radar - It all depends upon how and when you use the boat but it shouldn't be the replacement for other navigation tools and rational judgement. For example two weeks ago coming back from the Abaco and entering Sebastian Inlet (in Florida) it was post dusk. Sebastian is always a bit of a challenge due to currents, obstructions, and other vessels. The radar as well as the other tools on the boat were important to safely navigate the inlet. With that said the radar is a supplementary device to aid safe navigation. Could have I navigated the inlet without it? Absolutely. I use the radar to confirm what I already know and to alert me of possible hazards. For day trips, overnighters, weekend trips and the like where navigating the boat in fair weather is the norm then radar is completely optional; radar doesn't replace good judgement, it is a supplemental device to aid. What is not known is if your system overlays charts on the radar to enable spacial reference; if not, your system simply reveals something somewhere and then again it comes down to knowledge and good judgement. A year ago I upgraded the boat's navigation equipment which included a Garmin MFD and xHD2 radar and wow, welcome to surround sound, heck welcome to stereo..... The difference in resolution, object definition, and clarity from the old Raytheon mono color is indescribable. OK so what does all this mean as a recommendation to your situation; my take - your radar is optional as it should be. Get the MFD you want and have fun with the boat. If you decide later to add a new radar system then add it; it will be modern, a more reliable system, integrated with the most recent charts, and a better tool to help the decision process.

Oh, and as far as what I would rather have as a tool? Radar or large screen MFD? The large screen MFD; hands down.
 
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Better to have it available if you do need it I think. Besides, having radar might change your boating, you might feel different about some new adventures farther from home. I can hear the North Channel calling you:smt001
 
Thanks for the very thoughtful replies. Certainly some food for thought here.

I was originally going to leave the old radar and install a smaller chart plotter. The thought losing a functioning radar seemed counter productive, but the more I considered, it seemed wrong to let 18 year old electronics influence my decision to buy new.

The old Ray CRT screen for the radar will be coming out and a new Garmin 7610xsv will be going in. That will give me a very nice plotter and sounder with the option to add radar with overlay down the line.

We do Intend to travel a bit with this boat. That's what drove the jump from our 290DA. Our first week is scheduled at the end of July for PIB and cedar point.
 
Like Scott, if my boat is underway, the radar is running, always. I was born and raised by Lake St. Clair and boated that lake all the time until I had to move over to Lake Michigan. I would not boat on Lake St. Clair with out a radar.
 
I just upgraded from my old RayMarine radar to a garmin 18 X HD radar.

The difference is amazing and the ability to see the radar overlay on the GPS is nothing short of spectacular.

Spend a little extra now and it will be well worth it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Fog and nighttime are the typical reasons to buy radar, but much more often, I use mine to track weather cells and boat traffic. Weather data can be up to 10 minutes old and even then not completely reliable. I can't tell you how many times I've buttoned up canvas because a "green" cell is coming our way on my phone, but in reality, a drop never falls because it's dissipating high above us. Radar however, can be tuned to look at falling rain in real-time. I can lift the canvas at the last second or steer around the cell while tracking it in real-time.

MARPA is awesome too. The southern passage below the Erie islands is a high traffic area that includes ferries. When I have even the slighted doubt that I may be on a collision course with a ferry, I select it as MARPA target and the radar calculates the risk. I can then alter course way ahead of time. (the "risk" is shown by the Garmin as a red course-line ending with a shipwreck icon at the possible collision point)

Proximity alarms are also useful. I need to get into a better habit of configuring them. The radar can do periodic sweeps and sound an alarm if something is approaching you while at anchor.
 
This thread seems like you're looking for support / justification not to buy the radar.

Sorry I can't...

I have a 14" Chartplotter in a trunnion mount and fit the radar that way, if you need the room...

If you get in inclement weather or run at night, you should strongly consider it.
 
Marpa Is a great tool.

i also like guard zones. I can create up to 2 different sized zones that will sound an alarm if a vessel or object enters it. Especially helpful when the admiral is driving.
 
Will never be without it.

I don't plan boating during fog, heavy storms, or night - but sometimes it happens. Conditions change and you can get caught.

Always run the radar as soon as I clear an inlet. If you don't use it a lot, you don't develop the adeptness at reading the screen. We do lots of longer runs, 60-100NM in a day. For example following Hawks channel down through the Keys. You can be in great conditions, but a morning or afternoon glare from the sun in front of you - sometimes it hard to pick out a small boat running across your path from a 10 or 2 o'clock position. Great weather - radar is that extra help to avoid a problem.

Mark
 
Well I can offer my two cents.

I have radar and if faced with the choice of upgrading/replacing it vs spending money on some other gadgets I'd skip the radar. Particularly if I were planning on keeping the boat for a long time. It is a selling point but for me that's about it (currently).

I don't take long trips. I boat relatively close to my marina. If the weather is going to be questionable we generally hit the pool instead of the lake. I boat at night only a handful of times per year and do so in well marked areas.

Things I find more useful than radar for the style of boating I do include 1.) the very affordable Garmin Blue Charts app on my iPad, 2.) The Active Captain app that goes along with Blue Charts, 3.) A Ram-Mount for both my iPad and iPhone at the helm that enables easy access to weather apps and tunes and 4.) gas and beer for the summer.

Someday I hope to win the lottery, buy a much larger boat and start cruising the great lakes proper. I bet a radar will be a must-have at that point. Right now my focus is on ferrying kids and swim toys around our local waterways on sunny days. My stereo setup is the highest priority electrical system only behind required safety/engine systems...ha.
 
After way too much deliberation (as usual) I decided to pass on radar for the moment.

I will be removing the current Raytheon R11 open array and installing a new Garmin 7610xsv. I decided to get the plotter I really wanted and not let the old electronics sway the decision. Omitting radar was strictly financial. I can add it later if I decide to do so.

I had to draw the line somewhere and the discount in the package price was more like $100 I found out. After a huge stereo upgrade, a new starboard engine and a chart plotter, I'm going to give the wallet a break for a moment.

Anyone think an old functioning open array has much value?

Do CSR members get a discount at BOE?

Thanks for the discussion guys. It has helped a lot.
 
I sold my entire original Ratheon nav. suite and radar for $500; it all worked and they were ecstatic.
Also, I purchased the Garmin electronics from BOE; that was the GPSMAP 7612xsv, xHD2-4 open array radar, two GMI-20 MFD's, and the Garmin Reactor Autopilot with smart pump.
One word of note is that Garmin sets pricing for the vendors so there are no "breaks" vendor to vendor.
 
I forgot to mention I bought two fox marine engine gateways too. I decided that after my recent engine trouble, keeping a close eye on things was more important than radar for the moment.

I noticed that pricing on the chart plotter was the same everywhere. The accessories had some variation though. I picked up a HD vision card for almost $100 less than West from BOE.

If that's the case with the old radar... Anyone in the market?
 
magstang1 said:
I forgot to mention I bought two fox marine engine gateways too. I decided that after my recent engine trouble, keeping a close eye on things was more important than radar for the moment.

I noticed that pricing on the chart plotter was the same everywhere. The accessories had some variation though. I picked up a HD vision card for almost $100 less than West from BOE.

If that's the case with the old radar... Anyone in the market?
Click to expand...
I thought the same and got a couple of Noland RS11 converters; now the engine and transmission parameters are on the NMEA 2000 Canbus network and display on the Garmin instruments.
 
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