For safety’s sake there is no excuse for not having the proper electronics when you’re out on the water. A chart plotter with a screen that’s easy to read is a must. Coupled with your paper charts this set-up offers you the best chance of navigating safely in your home waters.
A properly mounted depth finder is also crucial. I prefer a thru hull mounted transponder as opposed to stern mounted. This way you avoid the prop turbulence that sometimes caused wierd readings or no reading at all.
There’s a lot of argument as to whether radar is necessary. I’m of the school that says every little bit helps because you never know what you’ll encounter on the water.
I must agree with you on your comments pertaining to safety equipment. But i have recently purchased and installed a radar and feel it is a necessary tool/safety equipment. I have been caught one to many times in the fog and navigating in strange waters in the dark having the radar sure takes the edge off. Don’t get me wrong Radar is not fool proof it takes a lot of time learning to use this piece of equipment.
I’m with you Cuz.
I got radar after getting caught in that storm on the Chesapeake Bay. I sure wish I had seen it coming. I’m still new at using radar though, so any tips you can give will be appreciated.
How does radar help you in the fog. What do bouys look like on the radar screen. All of this is interesting stuff.
Hey BayBay’s Kid (T), I’m not an expert on Radar, but I have used it enough during the day, and one time on a foggy day when heading out of Oyster Harbor heading to St. Michael’s. The best way to start learning is to get out there on a clear day when you can get a visual with your eye on things, and then see how they appear on your radar screen. See what a passing boat looks like, or what a larger boat looks like, a cargo boat, etc. Look at those buoys and channel markers, and even birds sitting on the water’s surface can give you an image. Things look the same in fog or at night (as far as I know), at least they did that day when I was in that fog. And let me say this, DON’T EVEN MESS AROUND IN FOGGG IF YOU DON’T HAVE TOO!! Stay in port and have another beer.
The best safety advice I can give is to take a Boating Safely cource either through a power squadren or through the Aux Coast Guard.. They are some of the best teachers of safety.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU SALT ON THAT ONE I TOOK A BOATERS SAFTY CLASS AND THE THINGS THAT YOU LEARN ARE WORTH EVERY MINUTE OF YOUR TIME AND EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND ON TAKING THE CLASS,BUT SALT MAYBE ONE DAY YOU CAN TEACH ME ABOUT HOW TO READ AND USE THE CHARTS BECAUSE AFTER HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT THEM I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TO MANY TOOLS TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE!
Ice bergs! Where!!! Though I gotta tell you I have never been colder than the times I have spoent in Detroit and Chicago. Man!! colse second is Syracuse New York -34 actual temperatur with a -54 wind chill.
Every winter that I take my boat out of the water I go for the last cruise of the season. Usually in December. It’s about 40 degrees but with the wind on the Bay it feels a lot colder. See around here it doesn’t really gat cold And I know it’s not vcold in Dallas. We should be able to read charts year round in Dallas.
Ice bergs! Where!!! Though I gotta tell you I have never been colder than the times I have spoent in Detroit and Chicago. Man!! colse second is Syracuse New York -34 actual temperatur with a -54 wind chill.
Every winter that I take my boat out of the water I go for the last cruise of the season. Usually in December. It’s about 40 degrees but with the wind on the Bay it feels a lot colder. See around here it doesn’t really gat cold And I know it’s not vcold in Dallas. We should be able to read charts year round in Dallas.
YOU ARE RIGHT IT DOESN’T GET REAL COLD IN DALLAS BUT I FIGURED SINCE I WAS ASKING SALT AKA (ICEBURG) TO TEACH ME I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP NORTH
I can’t stand the 90’s either. We get a lot of that here. That’s why I spend as much time as I can on the ay. That breeze blowing in through the cockpit is the only thing that saves me from that hot muggy weather. get with it Big fifty., I’m betting that’s why yoou gat a go fast. 80 miles an hour and no top keeps you cool .
I can’t stand the 90’s either. We get a lot of that here. That’s why I spend as much time as I can on the ay. That breeze blowing in through the cockpit is the only thing that saves me from that hot muggy weather. get with it Big fifty., I’m betting that’s why yoou gat a go fast. 80 miles an hour and no top keeps you cool .
NO I JUST CRANK UP THE GEN AND TURN ON THE AIR AND GO DOWN IN THE CABIN
LOL I have 3 air conditioning systems on my boat. One up in the front cabin, one in the main salon, and one in the aft cabin and they all have reverse heat for those occasional chilly nights.
I DONT HAVE BUT ONE UNIT BUT IT DOES HAVE AIR AND HEAT AS WELL AND IF IT GETS TO COLD I JUST RUN ON IN A LITTLE FASTER THAN MOST AND GET TO THE DOCK AT MY HOUSE AND GO IN TO SOME REAL HEAT.
I’ve got air and reverse heat as well. Works wonders on cool nights. But it gets so hot here that a cool night without air is a welcome experience. But, Three air conditioners!!! Salt that sounds like a hotel! Can we get a room
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