Best Radar with large screen dash mount for open Rib

David B · 15 October 2004, 17:16

Have new 9mt on order curious to see other poeples viewpoints on the best system for a open Rib. I would like to have a Large full colour screen with possibilty of chart overlay etc.

Have a very large electronics consul so space is endless.

Menu systmes and ease of use most important

previous Radar systems from raymarine C21 and furuno GD180 plotter
Cost not sensitive

Look forward to the comments

codprawn · 15 October 2004, 17:25

What ever you get make sure the radome is mounted high up - microwaves don't do the old grey matter any good!!! Have also seen some people using a tilting mount so that the radar is still level when on the plane.

A few of my mates are using Raymarine stuff - very good and actually British!!!

http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/

They link into almost everything so you can have all sorts of overlays etc.

marknj · 15 October 2004, 18:53

Have a look at the Furuno Navnet range, M1833, 10.4" Display, Radar overlay on chart, can also have sounder, weather fax/navtex, CCTV display to monitor engine space and lots more.....tea maker etc. Mark II version out in the new year if you can wait that long.

Cheers
Mark

Brian · 16 October 2004, 09:21

Agree with Codprawn on Raymarine stuff.
However, this thing about getting your brains fried?
Not so sure. Someone here said the microwaves were very weak and have no effect at all.
If they were dangerous, wouldnt the health police have banned them by now or at least would we not have read about someone who had been damaged in the papers/on thetele/over the internet?

Pete7 · 16 October 2004, 10:17

Agree with Brian, one of the yachting magazines ran some serious test a few years back. Conclusion was that the radiation from a small radar mast 1 metre away was less than that of a mobile phone next to your ear.

Pete

David Hickman · 16 October 2004, 10:25

I often think about the radar beams when on a flybridge cruiser. Your head is almost exactly in line with the beam when helming from up top!
If there was really that much of a problem I do not think that boat builder would be allowed to fit them there as I would have thought there would some Euro directive to stop it.
I do not think that my brain has been "microwaved" I hope!!!!

David B · 16 October 2004, 10:28

Thank you for the constructive responses. especially the issue of Microwave
energy. Our radome will be mounted at a sufficient height to be out of the line of sight to the crew on board even whilst standing up.Also mounted on the central A frame it negates the rear squat effect when cruising to some degree.On my Rib I will be fortunate to have two A frames one aft and one above consul Previous sets have included the best from Raymarine in the form of the C120 although a very good set some menu functions which are essential can be tedious. I was interested to see the various sets you Ribsters are using right now , and was looking for more feedback before i make a very expensive mistake.If you wanted to see this twin A frame set up on one of our clients boats view www.parkerribs.com and go to Baltic 7.5 here the set up can be seen in action.

My shortlist of sets are as follows Raymarine and Furuno although if there are others I should consider please advise.

Whilst on the subject of Radars and I wonder also what individuals views are on DSC/VHfs my last set on Platypus was a Icom 601 which was a very good unit with no problems . Any thoughts on the VHF market too ?

thanking you all

David

SimpleSimon · 16 October 2004, 10:31

Raymarine c series C120 combined unit is IMHO the best but expensive .

SS

JCW · 16 October 2004, 10:36

Brian,
You raise an interesting point about fried brains. The previous owner of 'LA Bamba' had a JRC radar fitted and used it as neccessary. He was a retired Pilot from BA and appeared to have a good knowlege of radar. He said the effect to the brain was the same as a mobile phone. However the manual clearly states not to use the equipment unless you are more than 'La Bamba' hull length away!! We have not used the radar as we are not be sure it is safe.

Seb · 16 October 2004, 11:07

The Furuno 10.4" radar/plotter/sounder in the navnet series is a lovely unit. Its also more of a commercial hard wearing design IMHO and is thus more suitable for a RIB or similar.

Its simple to use and easy to read although this does come with a price tag!

Cheers

David B · 16 October 2004, 11:44

Hi there ,

Thank you for the reply, can I ask what exactly makes it a more robust commercial set. Is it the casing , waterproofing etc. and finally how much is this set.

thanking you

codprawn · 16 October 2004, 11:47

I just can't believe the people who liken boat radar systems to mobile phones - of course the frequencies are similar but what about POWER - a few milliwatts for a phone - RADAR has peak power of about 1.5kw - yes that's right - just like a microwave oven - same technology - a magnetron and waveguide - would YOU open the door of your microwave and use it - I wouldn't!!!

Microwave ovens came about because RAF pilots noticed their sandwiches getting hot in the lockers near the Radomes.

Of course with the inverse square law the power drops off exponetialy with distance but even so - I certainly wouldn't risk it.

There are plenty of documented cases of Yank Police getting testicular cancer from their radar guns - keeping them switched on in their laps whilst waiting for speeding motorists!!!

Pete7 · 16 October 2004, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I just can't believe the people who liken boat radar systems to mobile phones

Why not, the yachtie magazine was trying to put things into perspective for those of us that don't have an hons degree in Physics.

Quote:

Of course with the inverse square law the power drops off exponetialy with distance

yes this was their point, mobile touching your ear or radar 1 metre away.

Quote:

I certainly wouldn't risk it

oh I would, caught out in fog or rain especially at night time I would have no hessitation in turning the radar on. Bit of an over kill for a jolly around the Solent on a sunny day, but having been caught in fog on a number of occasions its very easy to become disorientated. The problem with radar is interpriting what you are looking at, at that takes practise.

Pete

Seb · 16 October 2004, 14:41

Hi

The Furuno radar isnt on my boat but is fitted to i commercial boat that i sometimes work aboard.

Price wise, i heard talk of a couple of 'k' although dont quote me as it was fitted with a number of other items so im not sure of the exact cost. All i know is that it was quite pricey!

Id give a dealer a call and check it out...

As for quality, its in a wheel house so hasnt been subject to water but the whole unit seems very chunky and well made compared to its competitiors. I just personally feel that it comes across as being a very well made, heavy duty set that is built for work and will take some punishment - and of course it does all three essentials in one with overlay!! Echo/plotter/radar which saves valuable space!

Do a search, there was a thread a while back which compared Furuno and Ray kit.

Cheers

Seb · 16 October 2004, 14:54

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....ghlight=furuno

Andre · 16 October 2004, 16:46

David

why not go for the Raymarine C120 . The same unit which you so enjoyed operating during our sea voyage to Poland. Also the 750 Baltic which you so refered to is also fitted with the C120. Why change to something different, it is a very good system and you know how it works

The Jackeens · 16 October 2004, 16:51

Liked the big screen in your Cabin RIB Andre. Was that Raymarine?

Us

Brian · 16 October 2004, 17:16

Codprawn
Go here:
http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/P...ResourceID=101

It definately says power output is in low watts not KW.

ashbypower · 16 October 2004, 17:21

Sorry to disagree but I read it as 2KW peak output power. Power consumption is low watts.

Brian

JCW · 16 October 2004, 17:24

Brian,
I believe the output power is 2KW. However I found this on the site.
Question
---- 08/02/2001 11:22 PM ---------------------------------------------
Please discuss the biological radiation hazard of a generic marine radar. I see a lot of questions on my listserv on this subject and most of the answers offerred are somewhat surreal and appear totally overly cautious. If possible I would like a technical answer so that I could pass your reply to my shipmates with some credibility.

Answer
At 08/03/2001 12:12 PM we wrote - Due to the relatively low power of leisure radar, concerns over harmful transmissions are generally not considered to be a problem as long as people are a few feet from the scanner unit (about 3 feet) and the scanner is positioned above eye level.

The following is an excerpt from our Radar handbooks discussing Radar safety.