Radar and GPS/Sounder Equipment

M

MIKE MANNELL

New member
I recently bought a new C-Dory and have sat at the C-Brat Pub a few times. A really nice bunch of folks. Anyway, I plan on checking in with Dusty on Radar equipment for sure, but thought I would solicit your opinions as well.
I'm thinking of putting a Furuno 1623 mono LCD screen type radar (16NM) unit in mine, along wih a Garmin 178C or 188C GPS/Map/Sounder . Also, an Icom 502 or 602 VHF radio with a Comrad 8 foot antenna. I would rather have a Radar unit at $1200 with basic collision avoidance in mind than nothing at all. I know there are better and more expensive units out there, but a basic unit is all I feel I need. Does a person need more than that to get the basic job done of avoiding a collision when caught in bad weather,etc.
Thanks in advance for you insight and knowledge.

Mike

"Son of A Sailor"
 
Hey Mike,

Absolutely nothing wrong with a 16 mile radar and color radar just isn't a requirement. Nice, yep. If you live in the fog like we do, then the more exotic units are worth the extra loot, but surely not a requirement. (Les Jr. sez I'm in a fog all of the tiime whether in a boat or not... probably right!)

Jon (of fiish and C-Lou fame) gets along very well with an old commercial fishing radar that should be in an antique store and sometimes doubles as a guest house -- good unit, and it gets foggy indeed where he operates. I've used and sold the little Furuno radars and they are darned good units.

There are lots of skippers here in the pub who use the 188C and can give you lots if info. I like it.

Dusty
 
Mike, we've got the Garmin 182C (the color really is great) along with the depth sounder module that allows split screen. Plan to add a simple radar, probably not color this summer, one that has the ability to display waypoints (the NEMA interface) for the ability to see stuff that's not on the charts. Radios are radios but the new ones that have the ability to put your position out in the event of an emergency are neat. I've got ham radio on my boat, HF, VHF and UHF and can do most anything. I've also got the normal Marine Band VHF, which no boater should be without.

Keep asking questions, this is a great place to bide your time, have a brew and get a little smarter....

Son of a son of a sailor and 32 years as a Navy surface warfare officer!!
 
Mike,

One thing to keep in mind when buying a small radar -- they don't have enough power to be effective in heavy rain. Fog and drizzle okay, but even the 1.5 KW units stutter and stammer when the rain gets heavy... bigger is better for the nasty stuff -- not for the miles, and can't imagine who cares what the radar can see over 16 miles, but for weather penetration the extra power helps. With TyBoo Mike's deep pockets I'd have a 48" open scanner monster. :smile

Dusty (who should be in an antique store along with Jon's radar)
 
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