Radar question

[Bruce Moore]

I second Jorge's observations. We certainly don't keep our heads glued to the radar return, under any conditions. But, even on the clearest of days, spotting and acquiring targets takes a good deal of tension and guesswork out of anticipating other boats heading, speed, and time to nearest point/collision.

It actually gives us more bandwidth for surface lookout, tracking engine parameters, and dealing with those helmsmen who don't know, or care about, the difference between stand-on and give-way.

When we were waiting for our first boat to be built we took 13 weeks of USPS classes. On the last night of our piloting class our instructor congratulated us on what we had learned, then he cautioned, "just remember, more than 1/2 the boaters you encounter on the water won't know, or care. Act accordingly."

cheers,

Bruce

 

[walldog]

I first noticed the difference radar reflectors make when I compared a friends boat without one to the markers on the ICW that had them. The markers showed up on my radar considerable larger than the boat which was much larger than the marker. I have not seen my boat on someone else's radar, but I am sure it shows up as well as the ICW markers. Putting the radar reflectors on our boats is a very positive action by Ranger Tugs.

 

[Todd]

Longbranch Loui

There is a way to center your boat on the screen. My boat is on the hard and I don't have my books but it can be done. The garmin has options for boat position.

As for your second question I don't know. I do not like radar overlay. I prefer to use a split screen display as there is less chance of missing a radar target against a blank black screen than one with all the other stuff displayed.