gjb Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Just getting a furuno 1623 radar for my boat has anyone had any knowledge of it i am told its ok for a small boat graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Graham, Try to attend the May club meeting. We will be having a session on using Radars. Furuno have a pretty good reputation, so it should be ok. BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 High Performance Radar with daylight Readable screen! Small in size, the 1623 is big on power, clarity and advanced radar features. The waterproof slim-line monochrome LCD display and lightweight radome antenna make it ideal for power or sail boats as small as 17 feet. This 2.2kW radar has a 16 nautical mile range, yet will zoom down to 1/8 nautical mile for tight navigation in harbors and inlets. The 1623 radar lets you readily identify objects, thanks to a high definition 6" Silver Bright monochrome LCD screen that clearly separates targets. Plus, the four-tone target display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution lets you easily differentiate between stronger and weaker echoes, helping to alert you of any danger. The watch mode utilizes guard zone technology letting you know if a target enters or leaves a specified area. With 2 NMEA data input ports the radar features a lightweight 9.9 lb. radome antenna, auto tune, gain and STC controls, echo plotting, 10 presettable ranges from .125 to 16 NM, EBL, VRM, guard zone, watch mode and zoom. Display measures 7.4" H x 7.2"W x 3.1" D. Compact antenna measures 15" diameter x 9.4" H. Package includes the display unit, radome antenna, 10' power cable, 15' antenna cable and installation materials/guide. [bF - screen resolution looks a little low and it's B&W rather than color, but it's a good price so you shouldn't expect more, I guess] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 Graham How are you intending to mount the antenna? You need to get it pretty high for it to be effective. Not sure how you are going to do that on an Orkney 520. If it's too low you will get too much sea clutter on your screen. BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Thankyou for your info bob a lot to learn about radar i am having a top screen + canopy fitted soon waiting for orkney, i think i will have to fit a s/s arch cheers graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Graham, Do you really need it? Not being rude, but in a 16' boat I just wonder how likey you are to need it? Do you regulary fish in shipping channels, in all weathers? Personally, I find that I could have used a radar about 3 times a year out of say 60 trips, so about 5%. Unless you have got it for a mega cheap price, I would suggest the room on the boat could be better used. A radar reflector is a cheap, efficiant way of making your boat better seen and takes up next to no room. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 i hope to do more night fishing and might be an extra safety factor graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Graham, Yes, I agree for night fishing could be helpful, however in a small boat the MK1 eyeball can be just as effective. Do you have a plotter on the boat? If so, I would say this is much more essential - if you do have a plotter AND room for the radar then a good move IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 adam yes i have a garmin 182c plotter i just want to get the boat up to cover any type of fishing that i will do graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 (edited) Hi Graham, The chaps have offered a few different views on the need for radar on a small angling boat. I've recently been trained by the RNLI as a SEA Safety Advisor (along with two other club members), and I asked them at a recent regional meeting why they don't have radar on their priority list of equipment for small boats. Their answer was surprisingly sensible and pragmatic. They recognise that there is a lot of safety equipment needed on an angling boat, even for fishing a few miles off the coast. From a safety and from a financial basis, it makes more sense to get the other items of equipment first, and backups to them where necessary. The priorities are very much into problem avoidance, by means of careful checks and sensible precautions, the safety equipment you need should the worst happen, and appropriate means of summoning assistance, depending on circumstances. I wouldn't dream of suggesting radar has no value to you (I "inherited" it myself on my current boat), but as some of the chaps have suggested, it might be less effective than you expect, and there are other things that might be better to get first from a safety perspective. You might also need to consider power consumption, a twin battery installation, onboard battery charging, and other matters if you would still like to go ahead with radar. You say that you "just want to get the boat up". It sounds that you're really keen on getting the safety equipment that is appropriate for your type of boating. Could I therefore ask you to contact me directly (PM) if you would like a SEA Safety Check in the Poole area, or read the separate comments about SEA Safety checks on the "Safety" Forum on here. Depending on where you live (or fish), someone from the RNLI should be able to help you out in the very near future. Mike Edited March 31, 2007 by Mike Fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted March 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 mike thankyou for your comments i would like to have the boat looked at some time . last year i passed rya powerboat 2 , on the boat i carry main vhf with dsc ,h/h vhf ,flares , 2 anchors , ropes , plotter ,fishfinder ,4hp backup ,lifejackets , i have been messing around boats for 30 years and the times it's been said if i had that foxyfisher is my pride & joy so i think i am just spoiling myself cheers graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Hi Graham, The RNLI SEA Safety Check is both personal and confidential, typically taking an hour or so with no "pass or fail", and is designed so that all boat owners (irrespective of experience) have a chance to discuss their own personal type of boating with an independent safety advisor. As such, it would be inappropriate for me to comment online about your safety kit, or whether it is suitable for all of your needs. Night fishing from a 16 footer might warrant additional equipment and safety procedures, for example. If you would like to book a check now, instead of "sometime", one of the club's own RNLI SEA Safety advisors, or another member of the RNLI SEA Safety Team would be more than happy to help. Cheers, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Graham, I can well advise it - the safety check ( and to any others who are thinking of doing this sometime. ). Opened my eyes to some possible improvements. Mike is itching to do them, so I think we should oblige and keep him busy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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