A Guide to Marine Radar Systems
A high-quality marine radar system is a must have for every ocean going boat and ship. Radar makes it easy to plot your course and instantly pinpoint the location of landmasses, other boats and any potential obstacles even during bad weather. For more information on radar systems, contact Portland Marine & Electronics. You can also stop by our location in Clackamas, Oregon, also serving the cities of Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.
How Does Radar Work?
Radar, or Radio Detection and Ranging, works by sending out radio signals to determine the location of other objects relative to the position of your boat. When the radio waves encounter another object, they bounce back to the radar unit and thus provide an estimate of that object’s location. In this way, a radar system can aid in navigation and help prevent collisions by ensuring you know both your location and the location of any boats or other obstacles in the area.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Radar System
The two primary factors to consider in a radar system are the beam angle and transmitter power. The beam angle directly relates to the size of the system’s antenna. Shorter antennae produce a wider beam angle, which increases the radar’s range and lets you scan a larger area. A longer antenna has a narrower beam angle. This decreases the range of the radar, but provides more accurate readings.
In terms of power, most radars are between two and four kilowatts. The more powerful the radar is, the more expensive it is likely to be. Nonetheless, more powerful radars tend to perform far better, especially in bad weather. There are many cases when heavy rains or fogs can render a less powerful radar performing far worse than it normally does.
Other factors you may want to look for include split-screen displays and guard zone alarms. A split-screen display can be a huge help by allowing you to monitor both the area in the direct vicinity of the boat and areas further out in the water at the same time. A guard zone alarm is also a useful function, as it enable you to set a distance that you want to keep away from other objects. If you come closer than the set distance, the alarm automatically sounds to notify you.
Most radar systems allow you to view an echo-trail, which essentially shows you exactly where you are in relation to where you were a few minutes ago. This can be useful in navigating around obstacles and maintaining your bearing. Many radars also come with integrated GPS navigation and chart plotters that help to simplify the task of navigating and make reading the radar display far easier.
Navigating on the ocean or any large body of water can be difficult even when the weather is perfect. The task can become nearly impossible when visibility is low unless your boat has a quality radar system, which makes it something every boat owner should definitely consider buying. Need more information on radar systems? Contact Portland Marine & Electronics today. We are located Clackamas, Oregon and also serve Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.