Which radar, and why?

[psubill78]

I'm getting ready to outfit our new to us '98 310 DA with Radar.

I'm focusing on the Garmin 4000 or 5000 series. And when I look to the radar, I see I've got dome and open array options, and with those, different sizing.

Our boat is on Lake Michican, is there a strong reason to do with the open array? In between the domes, why would I want the 24" vs the 18" - then you have the whole HD argument.Any suggestions or words of wisdom?

 

[CV-23]

It seems Sea Ray likes Raytheon/Raymarine. Analog domes are limited to 2 to 36 miles and open array's go out to 72 miles or more. The height of your arch/mounting platform will play a part in the total distance you can see. I'm not familiar with the Garmin radar system but do like my Garmin 531s chartplotter/gps......their radar and other newer systems are out of my price range for now. Furino analog systems seem to be supported well by their factory service and is the route I'm going probably. I would not use radar enough to justify a new system, Mike.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Garmin broadband... no worries about radiation, you can see and count the boats in a marina docked all around you. Low power consumption...

 

[psubill78]

Garmin broadband... no worries about radiation, you can see and count the boats in a marina docked all around you. Low power consumption...

That is the GMR18 HD or the 24HD right? What would help me make the decision between those two?

 

[Gofirstclass]

Don't let a schlock salesman sell you on the idea of a 36-mile or 72 mile radar. Your boat, with a radar mounted about 11' above the water level will only see targets at water level about 10-11 miles away. That's due to the curvature of the earth. If the target is taller you'll be able to see it further away, but I doubt you'd be able to see an ocean liner 72 miles away. And if you could, why would you want to?

A radar is to protect you from being hit or hitting other things (if you don't count its use as a navigation aid). Something 36 miles away is not going to hurt you. GoAweigh's comment about the broadband radar is a valid point. Do some reading about broadband radar and its ability to separate targets that are close together (it's called "target discrimination") and you'll see what the advantages are.

That being said, I'm looking at radar units and I'm not sure I really need to be able to distinguish between two boats rafted up 5 miles ahead.

What I would recommend is a closed array (think "dome") radar unless you need the testosterone boost an open array gives you, go with a 4 watt radar (instead of a 2 watt) and get the brightest screen you can buy. Your ability to read the radar screen in bright daylight is much more important than being able to distinguish a large blob on the screen that's 20 miles away.

Also, the ability to overlay the radar image on top of your GPS image is VERY important. Here's a shot of my Simrad MFD I had on my last boat. The radar images show up in purple (my choice of colors because it's easy to see in daylight and after dark). It's offset a bit from the shoreline because the boat is moving forward. You can see the boat in the middle of the screen. The straight line running out from the bow of the boat is the "lubber line" (think "centerline" of the boat) and the shorter line that's angled shows my course over the ground. It's not aligned with the lubber line because I was in a current from my stbd side and the boat was crabbing some to the port side. I'm about to enter the opening that's shown on the MFD and I'm moving toward it at 2.2kts.

BTW, the day I took these photos, the fog was so thick that I couldn't see the opening until I was almost in it. I took this photo at the same time I took that photo of the MFD. If you look VERY carefully in this photo you can see a tree that's on the bank. I'm only about 50' off the bank and if it weren't for the radar I'd never have made it into the

Buying a new electronics setup for your boat is a big deal. Take your time, do a lot of reading, talk to a lot of sales people about it, and THEN make your choices.

 

[Lady Ashley SR560]

Great advise gofirstclass .. the overlay feature is really great. I would go with what networks best with your GPS. If you dont get the same brand as your GPS be sure they communicate all info back and forth.

 

[sbw1]

I would not be so quick to rule out a 72 mile open array radar. If you do any cruising on Lake Michigan, the extended range of the 72 mile unit is helpful with weather. There have been many times we have watched and tracked thunder storms moving across the lake from Wisconsin, and used the info to press on or take shelter in a port well ahead of the weather reaching us. We've had different brands of radar and I settled on Raymarine with this boat because the units are so easy to use and more intuitive than some others.

 

[CSR_Admin]

A radar on your boat is going to be used for navigation likely at a 3/4 mile range. So any dome will do. They are all HD now. It is not Garmin that has the Broadband radar, it is Lowrance and Simrad. Broadband is the best in class for short range stuff which is what you need. I would suggest a Simrad NSS8 or NSE8, a Broadband 3G radar, and with the money you save over the newer 4G radar buy the WM-2 Sirius weather module which will show you long range weather better than any radar.

You do not need an open array on a small boat like that. If you were fishing and wanted to pick out birds 6 miles away then maybe, but not for a cruising boat trying to find boats/buoys/jettys etc.

Garmin has the easiest to use units available and their HD radars are very good for your purposes. The 24 will be able to pick things apart from a little further away than the 18, but they will both see them whixh is all you really care about. Again, I'd recommend the 18 for you and use the money you save to buy the GDL40 XM weather receiver.

 

[psubill78]

Lots of great detail in here... Gofirstclass really solidified alot of the things I was thinking about... SBW has a good point on the weather... I guess right now we are still so 'new' to all of this, our trips are short, only with great weather, etc. longer term, I could see us getting caught in fog/etc, where the radar is needed. Right now, I have zero need for radar...

Jim, I'll check out the Simrad...

I just wish it were easier to see/touch all these. west Marine's selection sucks to see (not that I would buy there), but it's difficult to shop online for this.

Right now my gut is feeling the 4208 and GMR18HD... At least that is in my price range..

 

[sbw1]

Jim, I'll check out the Simrad...

I just wish it were easier to see/touch all these. west Marine's selection sucks to see (not that I would buy there), but it's difficult to shop online for this.

Right now my gut is feeling the 4208 and GMR18HD... At least that is in my price range..

If you get the chance, go boating with a friend who has a good radar and play around with it. There are many features that are useful on the Great Lakes that guys who are just interested in finding their way back to port may not appreciate. Shipping lanes on Lake Michigan see lots of freighter traffic and these lanes are many times the best way to get somewhere. The Manitou Passage comes to mind. With a good radar, you can track a freighter from 15 miles out and see which way he is headed, how long it will take to reach his location, and how close you will pass each other. Without this knowledge, you will be surprised at how close you might come and how difficult it can be to get out of his way. We track multiple targets in certain areas, overlay the data on our chart plotter and track weather all at the same time. This information, along with a good autopilot significantly reduces fatigue and makes travel more enjoyable.

 

[floriduramax1]

Listen to Jim! I have and love the Garmin I got from him. The 740s and 18" dome works great and easy to use. Or you can go this route....lol Jim is helping me create a "monster"....

Sirius Weather connected...

 

[kkalsch]

Listen to Jim! I have and love the Garmin I got from him. The 740s and 18" dome works great and easy to use. Or you can go this route....lol Jim is helping me create a "monster"....

I have the 740s combo also....but have not mounted the dome yet ...Floriduramax: what does your dome sit on? The touch screen GPS is awesome!!! and very easy to use

 

[psubill78]

So why the 740s vs the 4000 series?

 

[CSR_Admin]

The 700 series is good for single helm installations. Touch screen makes it very easy to use. The unit is also very fast and bright. The 4000 series is good of you want a bigger screen, want buttons instead of touchscreen, and want to possibly add multiple networked displays (so you can view the radar on any of them). If you want a bigger screen and touchscreen there is the 5000 and 7000 series. For most boats the 700 series is all you'll need. Garmin, Simrad and Raymarine all offer touchscreens in this size. And all offer radar domes.

 

[psubill78]

There is no radar overlay with the 700 series though, correct?

Also, in looking at oodles of videos on YouTube about these units, with my engine (circa 1998 - MEFI-1) - I'm guessing that all those cool dashboard views of RPMs, tilts, etc - all that is out of reach with my configuration?

 

[CSR_Admin]

It is not out of reach but you will really need to break out your wallet to make all the appropriate connections. Then all you'll end up with is redundant data which you already have on your analog gauges, and now you reduced room on the screen for the important stuff like the chartplotter. The 740S does do radar overlay.

 

[psubill78]

So I mocked up 2 paper templates, one for the 740s, and one for the 4008. It seems like a HUGE difference in screen size... the screen on the 4008 is nearly as big as the 740s casing!

I'm indifferent between touch screen and buttons. And I am single helm. Is the 4008 an older unit than the 740? You mentioned the 740 was faster. I also read in another forum that the 4000 series may be discontinued in 2012?

 

[susanandlance]

Listen to Jim! I have and love the Garmin I got from him. The 740s and 18" dome works great and easy to use. Or you can go this route....lol Jim is helping me create a "monster"....

Sirius Weather connected...

Looking good Donnie!!!