One of the most important pieces of kit on any sea going vessel in terms of how much safer it makes you is the marine radar system that has been installed.  For any large boat, which will be sailing in areas where there are likely to be other vessels using the area, having a radar system is pretty much essential if you want to avoid any accidents, and have a comprehensive picture of the environment around you.
 
The job of a marine radar system is twofold.  Firstly, it is able to track the relative position of any nearby vessels that are within range of the radar system, and secondly, it is able to provide information about how close you are to land, and whether there is any adverse weather coming by scanning the area around you.
 
A marine radar system is important for both navigation and safety, and the information it provides can be linked with your GPS Data and map reading to make sure that you are in the place where you expect to be.
 
In general, installing a Marine Radar system on your boat is a very straightforward procedure that almost anyone will be able to carry out.  The system usually comes in two main parts with connecting wires.  The antenna must be placed on a level surface as high up as possible to give it the largest possible range.  This must be connected to the power supply of the boat, and then wired into the up to the main radar unit which displays the information.
 
The marine radar system that you need to choose for your boat will be dependent on the size of the vessel.  For very small sailing boats that are not used out of sight of land, radar is unnecessary, however any boat with a crew and which may be used on the open sea in the vicinity of other boats should be equipped.
 
The actual marine radar system that you need to install will depend on a number of factors including the length of the boat, and the actual usage.  A complete installation for a boat between 30 and 65 feet long will typically cost approximately $5,000, but this is good value for the quality of equipment that you get, and the importance of the role that it serves in protecting you and your boat while you are on the water.
 
There are a number of highly respected Marine Radar system brands available on the market, and the products that they offer are of a comparable standard.  When you are looking for the right system for your boat, make sure that it comes with all that you need to get it installed, and do not be afraid to call for assistance.  Getting the job done right is a lot more important than getting it done fast.
 
Brands like Furuno offer the best combination of features, and their high end offerings are some of the best marine radar systems currently available.  When you are choosing the system you want, make sure that you speak to the sales people in order to get their recommendation.  Unlike in many industries, sailing sales people do generally have your best interests at heart, and are very unlikely to put their commission ahead of your wellbeing.
 
When you first use a marine radar system to view the world around you, the images available on the screen can be confusing.  We have all seen radar screens on the television and in films, and the sweeping green field is immediately familiar, however making sense of the information that it reveals can take time, so you will need to familiarize yourself with what objects look like on the radar before you come to rely on it completely.  This is best done with a visual check of the area in conjunction with the radar sweep, which will allow you to associate physical objects with the data on screen.  After a while you will begin to understand the information on the radar display much more quickly, and be able to use it more accurately.
 
Having a marine radar system that works well, provides accurate and timely information about what is around you, and can be relied on will make your sailing experience a great deal safer, and more enjoyable whether you are at sea for leisure or for a living, and the quality of systems currently available means that a high quality marine radar system is within financial reach of practically anyone with a boat.
How Marine Radar Works

When it was first discovered during the 1940s, Radar was initially used as a military tool to protect airfields and other assets from air raids, by providing the early warning necessary when enemy aircraft were in bound.  The first radar systems were land based and required huge amounts of power to maintain them in action, and could only be used for relatively short periods of time, although as they evolved, they became smaller, and more refined until they were able to be carried on board aircraft.

Radar works by a process of transmitting and receiving a radio signal.  The radar system measures the time taken for the signal to be reflected from objects surrounding it, and then processes the information to create a picture of the area.

Depending on the strength of the radio signal that is produced by the radar system, it is possible to get an accurate picture of objects in a surrounding area.  There are some limitations however about what can be “seen” by the radar.  It is only able to spot objects that are within a line of sight.  So for example, Radar is unable to see beyond the horizon.  It can also not see behind anything, so if two objects are in a direct line with each other, you will only be able to see one.

Another limitation of radar is that it paints a constant picture around you, with any surrounding objects rendered in a circular pattern based on the sweep of the transmission.  Depending on the speed with which the device rotates, the picture updates every few seconds, which means that there may be a delay in getting the information, which needs to be taken into account when you are using the Radar to navigate at close range.

There are many things that you can do in order to improve the efficiency of your radar, and get more information from it.  Because the sea is flat, the distance to the horizon is approximately equal in all directions.  At sea level, the horizon is around 3 miles away from the source, but my mounting the radar transmitter higher up, it is possible to increase the distance to the horizon by a large amount.  Taking into account land masses and even other boats, by mounting the radar more than 20 feet above the sea level you will be able to enjoy an effective radar cover of up to 50 miles.  Higher still, and you can see even further, but beware of the signal being very weak at a long distance, and not resolving all objects correctly.

The kind of radar screens that you see in old war films, where the information is confusing and mixed are pretty much a thing of the past.  Modern radar arrays are able to process the signal that reflects off surrounding objects, and use high tech image processing software in order to resolve the information into a much more revealing and easy to understand picture.

You will never be able to see incredible amounts of detail on a radar screen, but the idea behind it is to protect you from running into other boats and landmasses, close by, and unless you are traveling at a very high speed, as long as you are able to have a decent range between the source and the target, you will have plenty of time to take appropriate action.

A good marine radar system will be able to provide you with information about nearby ships, landmasses that tie into the navigation charts that you use, and even give you early warning about any weather systems that are incoming towards you.  A Radar system that is properly installed and reliable has become an essential part of any mariner’s kit.  Because of the increasingly busy sea lanes around the world, having an early warning of any approaching vessels before they get too close, as well as giving you a reliable second line of information with regard to your navigation system to keep you where you want to be.

Correctly installed and properly maintained marine radar systems will make your sea trips much more pleasant and enjoyable, giving you the chance to relax and enjoy your surroundings, safe in the knowledge that they will not surprise you when you least expect it.
Leading Marine Radio Systems Manufacturers

There are many manufacturers who provide and install marine radio systems for boats of all sizes, but making sure that you get the right system for your particular boat is often a more complex process than simply buying the most expensive model and hoping for the best.  Leading manufacturers are constantly striving to improve their offerings, and increasing the features available on their systems to ensure that they continue to provide a more comprehensive and effective navigation system for your boat.

Some of the best known marine radar systems manufacturers include Furuno, Sitex, Simrad, and Northstar.  When purchasing your marine radar system, it is important to choose one from a name that you can trust, as better makes will be more reliable and better made in the long run.  Although you may pay more for a top name radar system, when you consider the protection that it offers for your boat, it remains excellent value for money.

You can mix and match components from different manufacturers, although it is best to confirm with the retailer whether a particular system is compatible with the equipment from another maker.  For example, if you want to combine a radar dome from Northstar with a display from Sitex, this should be OK, but different models have different input requirements, and will need to be individually set up.

Because a complete Radar system can run to thousands of dollars, getting the right one can be an expensive process, and you should take extreme care in making sure that what you have works well.  It is a good idea to get the recommendations of other sailors to find out what kind of system they think works well.

People who use a particular system will have more of an idea of how reliable it is in the long term than a salesman, and if you chat to a few people around the marina or sailing club, you will be able to take advantage of their experience in order to choose the right equipment for your boat.

If you require a marine radar system that is accurate, and hard wearing enough to deal with whatever the elements can throw at it, it is a good idea to opt for a fully enclosed radar dome, as this will weather a storm much better than an exposed array, so if you need to be out in high seas and full force winds, you will have one less thing to worry about as you fight the sea.

Northstar radar domes are some of the best made and most reliable models on the market, and have been extremely popular with users for many years thanks to their high build quality, and the use of the latest technology in their construction.  Northstar offer a range of different radar domes to suit all markets from weekend sailors through to commercial ships, and all stages in between.

For most usage requirements, a 4KW system will generally tick all the boxes, and provide plenty of range for you when you are out at sea.  4KW is a mid range device, and for a larger boat you may need to invest in a 6KW system, particularly if you need a wider range of sight when you are out at sea.

The next component to consider when purchasing your marine radar system is the in cabin display unit.  It may seem as thought here are as many different units available as there are boats, but on the whole they fall into a few categories.  Good, bad, and ineffective.  It makes sense to buy a good display or plotter at the start, rather than risk getting a poor quality system with all the attendant risks,

Simrad make some of the best radar plotters on the market including the RA31, which offers a large colorful display that is capable of showing you the surrounding area in fantastic detail.  They do combined systems that can accurately provide radar information over an area of more than 36 nautical miles, as well as providing you with plenty of additional tools and user friendly tweaks, such as providing a special night display that reverses the colors of the screen at night in order to improve the contrast, making it a particularly good choice for anyone who sails at all times.

Ultimate Marine Radar System

If you are looking for the ultimate marine radar system to act as your eyes and ears when out at sea, then you should consider looking at the fantastic Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System.  This world class navigation system has been designed with domination of the radar market in mind.  It provides world class technology and state of the art workmanship to ensure that when you are out on the water you will be able to rely on the system to provide you with timely and informative information about all the events that are going on around you.

The Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System offers a wide range of functions that have been created with complete efficiency and reliability in mind.  Despite its price of more than $9,300, it still represents incredible value for money, thanks to the huge number of cutting edge technologies that it includes in its construction.    The Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System is intended for use on top end boats where owners want to enjoy the best quality protection for their investment.

The first thing that you notice about the main unit of the Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System is the large format screen that it has built in to it.   The 15” screen is one of the largest available on the market, and is approximately the same size as the display that you would expect on a standard laptop computer.  This means that the Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System is able to show a fantastic amount of information on screen at one time without compromising on detail and this is where the device really stands out against its rivals. 

While other models are able to show one piece of information, such as the surface radar information at a time, the Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System can display a variety of information simultaneously, meaning that users are able to be completely informed about the surrounding environment. 

The Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System can combine a radar display with satellite photos, 3D bathymetrics (a detailed picture of the sea bed to indicate the depth of the water), and a map connected to satellite GPS systems.

By using the Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System as the heart of your onboard navigation suite, you will be able to call upon a huge variety of data practically instantly, and then immediately act upon it. 

It does not matter what reason you are at sea, with the Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System you will be able to combine information from a variety of sources at the same time to plan and act in order to get ahead of the people you need to beat.

If you are a yachtsman who needs information about where the best winds are likely to be, then the system offers you the chance to query satellite weather data online, and tie this into knowledge of currents and sea floor data to pick the best route.  Commercial fishermen will be able to use the bathymetric data about the seafloor to plan the best areas in which to fish. 

Even casual sailors will be able to benefit massively from having the Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System on board their boat.  It is able to raise the standard of onboard information that a sailor has access to at any level, and allow them to get access to everything they need.

When combined with a good quality 6KW radar dome or an appropriate array, the Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System will immediately start paying back the investment that you have made in it. Whether this repayment comes in the form of increased catches for a fisherman, a better race time in a yacht racing event, or simply the satisfaction that you get from knowing that you are safer than ever when you take to the water, investing your money in the ultimate on board marine radar system, the Northstar 972 Chart Plotter Navigation System, you will see it benefit you enormously.

While it may appear expensive at around $9,300 on offer, this particular system remains incredibly popular thanks to the sheer value it represents.  It truly is one of the best marine radar systems on the market, offering a solution that is simply streets ahead of the nearest rivals, and which is practically guaranteed to improve your time on the water wherever the currents take you.


Tracking other vessels with Marine Radar Systems

Whether you are at sea on a relaxing sailing holiday, engaged in a commercial fishing trip hundreds of miles off shore, or carrying freight from one location to another, keeping track of any other objects such as other boats and larger ships in the area is essential if you want to maximize your safety on the water.  By using one of the latest generation of marine radar systems, you will be able to take advantage of a number of technologies that make tracking other vessels easier than ever, and even mark their positions and routes on the screen.

The sea can be a cruel mistress, and a change in conditions can come on pretty much instantly.  One minute you can be scudding along over practically smooth water, the next, a fog can come down obscuring the world around you, and you can be battling against thirty foot waves and high winds.

This ever changing nature of the ocean means that as conditions change you can face different challenges that can impinge upon your safety.  The key to ensuring that you remain as safe as possible is to remove as many of the factors that can change from the overall picture.

Other vessels are often the biggest threat any seaman can face.  Smaller boats in particular are often not picked up by the radar systems of large container ships and cruise liners, and this can make things quite dangerous.  It is incumbent upon all sailors to keep a check on the sea conditions around them in order to stay safe from other vessels.

Thankfully, even the fastest ships do not usually move at more than about 25 knots, which means that if you have a radar that covers 50 nautical miles, you will have roughly 30 minutes from the moment when you first make contact with another vessel until the time when you would meet, which should give you plenty of time to react and plan your navigation accordingly.

If you package together a high-speed antenna with a large format radar screen, you will be able to get a very detailed picture of what events are going on around you.  A modern radar array like the Furuno 1932MK2 will allow you to enjoy a 10” screen that provides plenty of scope to see what is happening.  The whole Furuno range are well known for the high quality of their equipment, and the regularly updated range boasts the latest technology, and is always at the cutting edge of marine radar systems.

One of the great things about modern marine radar systems like the Furuno is that they plot the relative position of other ships over time.  Rather than being just abstract dots on the screen which convey little information, other vessels appear as a track through the area.  Their movements are shown in clear detail, allowing you to easily gauge which other vessels pose a threat to you and take appropriate action.

When you are at sea and out of sight of land, your safety should always be your priority, so rather than leaving your own safety up to the actions of other people, you can keep yourself safest by having a marine radar system that works, and make your course corrections based on the up to date information that it provides.

By learning to read the information provided by your marine radar system, you will be able to make informed decisions about how to navigate, in order to best avoid trouble at sea.  Knowing what is approaching you and what is happening beyond your visual range will allow you to be certain that you are safe, and also able to react in a timely manner to anything that happens, whether it is a weather system, a super tanker, or even a wave..

It is important to know what other vessels are doing, but it is also important to keep tabs on what you are doing.  By tracking your own progress across the ocean, and taking the time to do the same for other boats by using a marine radar plotter like the Furuno 1932MK2, which has a 10 inch screen, you will be able to protect your boat, crew and passengers in the most effective way possible.