How Radar Works and What It Can Do for You

A radar scanner is one of the instruments most used by boaters and yachting fans. It is very reliable, easy to use, and is pretty reasonably priced. Of course, the better the radar, the more it will cost. But a higher price is easier to pay when you know that your boat will be safer, and safety is always number one when out on the water.

Most people have a vague idea how radar works, but if you aren’t exactly sure here is a basic rundown. The radar antenna sends out sound waves in a complete circle around the watercraft. When the sound wave, or ping, comes into contact with an object, it bounces back at the antenna. The amount of time it took for the ping to return to the antenna determines how far away the object is. The computer does the math for you and shows you where the object is and about how big it is.

You have probably seen radar in the movies, especially in military movies. The image that keeps popping into my head is of a guy with headphones on sitting in front of a submarine’s radar screen. The screen is all black with green lights for the display. This is completely understandable because that is pretty much all a radar scanner used to be. These days though, radar scanners are much different.

Modern radar units for yachting enthusiasts and serious boaters are much more than green lights on a black background. Many radar scanners use a full color display and are made to be used in the full light of the sun. On top of this, they often interface perfectly with other safety instruments like marine cameras and chart plotters. The readouts from these other instruments will appear on the radar’s display so that you don’t have to look at several different readouts.

One of the greatest features that some radar scanners have has to do with Automatic Identification Systems. Some radar units have AIS systems built into them, which is great because a radar’s ping can’t see on the opposite side of a large object. An AIS system will be able to read other boats with AIS transmitters even if they are on the opposite side of an island. The combination of all these instruments creates a wonderful blend that optimizes safety. After all, no one instrument can help prevent an accident.

However, buying a radar scanner can seem a little overwhelming because the prices seem so high. A lower end model will still cost a little over $1000, and the prices can jump up to over $5000. But when you take into consideration how much it will help you avoid an accident and how much an accident would cost you, it doesn’t seem as expensive. Of course, you don’t need the highest priced radar out there. Just find the one that makes sense for your particular boat size and fits your needs.