Pro and con of radar for my Sea Pro C2100

[Joy Hansen]

Hi Pards,

I have a Sea Pro C2100 with a T top by Smith of Greenvile and need recommendations both pro and con regarding a radar. I will do December at Kiptopeke on Chesapeake, but do Kerr reservoir most of the year. Frequently get caught in blinding rain and night on the water where limited sight is possible for navigation. I have an Lowrance HDS8 sonar/GPS that I think is compatible with the broadband Lowrance radar.

Is it practical to install/use radar on my boat size/use? I think the base radar is $1600 and there might needs be other networking apparatus? I also intend to add the side scan option to my HDS8 when it's easily available.

Sure appreciate any recommendations as to where to purchase and if necessary get professional installation near my residence (Scottsburg, VA).

Thanks,

JTB

[1987-cobb]

Hi Pards,

I have a Sea Pro C2100 with a T top by Smith of Greenvile and need recommendations both pro and con regarding a radar. I will do December at Kiptopeke on Chesapeake, but do Kerr reservoir most of the year. Frequently get caught in blinding rain and night on the water where limited sight is possible for navigation. I have an Lowrance HDS8 sonar/GPS that I think is compatible with the broadband Lowrance radar.

Is it practical to install/use radar on my boat size/use? I think the base radar is $1600 and there might needs be other networking apparatus? I also intend to add the side scan option to my HDS8 when it's easily available.

Sure appreciate any recommendations as to where to purchase and if necessary get professional installation near my residence (Scottsburg, VA).

Thanks,

JTB

I have a 4KW radar on a 22FT boat. No problems at all to install/use a radar on a boat
your size. The Broadband radar is the way to go, uses very little power and works with
any HDS. If I didn't already have radar, that's the one I would want.

[Fish_Fear_Us]

Going through the same question myself as I install a stand alone radar on a 24' Wellcraft WA. In my opinion for the money, the Furuno 1623 gets at it. If you've got the bucks go for the Furuno 1720. The Furuno 1623 model beats the Raymarine C-70 if cost is an issue. And I'd add given my experience with Lowrance customer service on my 525C DF, I'd stay away from their LCX 111C.

[Grady23]

Radar is a great addition to any boat ---- Just remember to use it during the day when conditions are good so you can really learn what the blips on the screen REALLY mean. A large ship coming straight at you will present a completely different signiture then when it is 90 degrees to you. The time to learn how it works is in clear weather -- not after the fog socks you in.
BTW--- The Coast Guard regulation stipify that if you have radar, it MUST be in operation at all times when under way. Yes -- I realize most small boaters DON'T do that. However, if your in a collision and have radar on the boat, that's the first question the CG will ask --- Was the radar in operation and being attended.

[Fish_Fear_Us]

Great point about the radar being in operation. I would also offer that I just recently moved a 38' sailboat from CT to Little Creek and while coming through the CBBT, lots of those 20'-26' CC and WA's fishing the islands were very hard to pick up out of the background clutter unless they were separate from the structure by any distance. Indispensable at night!