Radar Love

[Sumner]

Thanks for clearing that up. I have the free version of openCPN and it has no charts in it without internet. I was not aware you could buy charts for it. .

For U.S. waters you don't have to buy charts. You download them free from NOAA....

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/

..... and OpenCPN works with both their RNC and ENC charts (I have both loaded but usually use the RNC ones for a location). You go and download the states you want to have charts for. Their is no charge for OpenCPN or the charts. Now saying that there are some people out there that will sell you a CD with all the charts downloaded onto it and with OpenCPN also loaded. This just saves you the time of doing it yourself but it doesn't take that long to download the charts or the program.

Outside the U.S. if they are available, like the Bahamas, you can buy charts in some cases that will work with OpenCPN and after you install a "plug-in"....

http://opencpn.org/ocpn/downloadplugins

...OpenCPN will display and work with those charts. It is really easier to do than to explain.

Other 'plug-in's' will let you see the AIS targets on the screen and they have a number of others such as the one that allows you to see "google earth" on a split screen and weather and other ones. I only have a few installed but since OpenCPN is an open software and used around the world people are creating new and useful plug-ins all the time so it is an ever expanding chartplotter.

You can use it for trip planning on a larger monitor and download the way points in seconds to about any other chartplotter you might have on board.



I bought a Standard Horizon CPN700i chartplotter...

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Standard-Hor ... Ahm68P8HAQ

.... but will still run OpenCPN on the boat for route planning and backup, downloading routes from it to the Standard Horizon which will be connected to it on the network. The Standard Horizon has a larger 7 inch screen but the OpenCPN is running on a much larger monitor so I can see a lot more of the chart on it than on the Standard Horizon.

..wanted a radio that would transmit my AIS signal but now I am bummed because you said they don't do that. ...

You can still get an AIS transponder it just costs more money ($600-$800). If if was going to take the Mac back to the Bahamas (not going to) or sailing in an area with heavy shipping lane traffic I'd spend the money for one. The Endeavour is much larger so I don't worry quite as much about not being seen by a larger boat on their radar or visually,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[BOAT]

Okay Sumner, thanks - just to make sure I have the important points clear on this - I can run open CPN on a regular laptop? Or are you using a tablet? I have it on an ipad right now.

It sounds like openCPN on a large screen laptop is a great way to go - I really like that - BUT - does the laptop also show the AIS targets on the chart you downloaded? If it does that's even two times better than the chartplotter because the time I really need to see the targets and get a collision alarm is when I am down below, not so much when I am behind the helm looking at the chartplotter and can see the horizon. A laptop is easier to monitor when I am below.

I have been planning to outfit a computer for the boat to do all this stuff for some time now - but struggling with the decision on laptop, tablet, ipad?

I knew the radio had wires on it to send AIS targets to my chartplotter but I was not aware that it could also send AIS targets to a laptop.

I am also running the GARMIN HELM program on my ipad that basically allows me to see and control the chartplotter from my ipad - so that is another option - were you aware of that program?

I'm trying all kinds of stuff to get a better handle on ship traffic - I have already been chased off by a navy carrier that I could not see in a fog bank - it's frustrating because the waters are so much more crowded now than they were 40 years ago.

[Sumner]

Okay Sumner, thanks - just to make sure I have the important points clear on this - I can run open CPN on a regular laptop? Or are you using a tablet? I have it on an ipad right now.....

On the boat I run it on....



... a low power 12 volt computer I built and I'm getting ready to build a new one. I also have it and the charts loaded onto a laptop and a netbook that I have aboard as backup. The computer I made has serial ports on it so that I can wire it to the radio to receive AIS targets and also so that..

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... index.html

...I can connect it to the handheld Garmin to transfer waypoints to it. I'll now use that serial port to transfer routes (waypoints) to the new Standard Horizon.

The laptop and netbook only have USB ports so I have a couple ....



...USB to RS232 serial adapters that will allow me to hook them to the radio and to the other chartplotter or autopilot if needed. You can buy these for not much...

https://www.google.com/search?q=USB+TO+ ... 8&oe=utf-8

If your tablet or ipad doesn't have a USB port which you could connect a USB to serial adapter to not sure you will be able to hard-wire it to the radio to get the AIS signal which is a NMEA 0183 electrical interface and data protocol ?

You would have no problem doing this with a laptop using the adapter. Run a cable from the radio that has a RS-232 plug on the end and plug it into the adapter and configure OpenCPN to see it and you would be good to go. Also download the AIS plugin for OpenCPN and you would see all the AIS targets and info about them on the laptop's screen showing the chart for the area.

It might sound a little complicated but it isn't that hard and just ask if I can help. At home I have OpenCPN and the charts on the computer and can use it for route planning for the future and like to use it when someone talks about a location on one of the sailing boards and I can pull a chart up for the area in a few seconds and see what they are talking about and if I want I can leave notes on the chart for later. When I read Mike's (Chinook's) trip report for the Bahamas I marked his anchorages as best I could figure out on the charts and had them for reference when I got over there. I mark the GPS locations of my anchorages on my trips and others could likewise mark the locations easily while reading the trip logs. I really like the easy of planning routes with it as you have a large screen with a lot of detail and can use the mouse to just click in the waypoints. Even under way I can change a route just as quickly and download it into the handheld or in the future into the Standard Horizon in seconds. I did this a couple times in the Bahamas when I didn't get as far as I hoped in a day and rerouted into a different anchorage at the last minute while underway,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[BOAT]

Yeah, I'm good with the GARMIN HELM program displaying the chartplotter screen on my IPAD but really I sort of like your idea of a laptop wired to radio a little bit better because the laptop has a bigger screen and also can run multiple programs at the same time. I think I will play with those cable combinations you refer to on a laptop to get some ideas. The big laptop sucks lot's of power.

First I need to get open CPN fixed up so it worked without internet.

[Sumner]

....I am also running the GARMIN HELM program on my ipad that basically allows me to see and control the chartplotter from my ipad - so that is another option - were you aware of that program?

Thanks I wasn't and just looked and it looks like they have something similar for the Standard Horizon chartplotter I bought that will work with my android phone,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[BOAT]

Thanks I wasn't and just looked and it looks like they have something similar for the Standard Horizon chartplotter ]

Yeah, it's pretty cool, for me it's a big deal because sometimes I want my GARMIN chartplotter to be a "touchscreen" but it's not. With that GARMIN HELM program on the ipad it's like turning my chartplotter into a touchscreen. Sort of handy in some situations like scrolling and navigating menus and stuff, but for hard sailing in bumpy water with spray all over the place the buttons work way better because they are not slippery.

I never even considered getting a RADAR for finding other boats, I always thought the reason for RADAR was to see the weather - (weather radar) - I did meet a couple from Arizona at the harbor here in Oceanside and they had RADAR on their X boat but I never asked them why, I guess I should have. Do you run RADAR?

[Sumner]

..Do you run RADAR?

No and don't plan on adding it to either boat. I've been in fog in Florida but just stayed anchored until it lifted. I can see why some run it if they don't have that option,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[BOAT]

Okay, I never really had anyone give me a compelling reason to have RADAR on board - (if that's what this post was all about) - it seems that fog might be one reason.

So be it.
Thanks Sumner
m

[yukonbob]

Same here. If its foggy we stay put, if we're out and get caught in it we hug the shore line stay out of the shipping lanes and go slow. Its a big expense to put radar in and still doesn't guarantee you won't hit a semi submerged debris

[C Buchs]

My boat was used in The South Puget Sound before I got it. It sailed out of Olympia, WA. Apparently fog is really common. Therefore, I've got radar, but I've only played with it a little. I haven't gotten any value out of it yet, but this was my first season.

One fairly cheap addition is a radar reflector. I searched West Marine and they start at $32.99. You can see it on my backstay.

I've never seen myself on radar. So I don't know how well it really works, but when I'm out at night the barge traffic seams to see me.

Gazmn: I haven't forgotten about pictures and measurements. I'm rebuilding the suspension & replacing the cluch on my Mini, making a Captain America hat for my youngest son's holloween costume, and volunteering at my oldest son's homecoming dance on Saturday. I've got my slip until 11/11, but we're flying to San Francisco next weekend. This Sunday is my only chance to pull it out. I should be able to get you pictures then.

Jeff

[BOAT]

Yeah I have radar balls of various shapes and sizes laying around that I collected over the years - some people swear by them - some older sailors who are rather superstitious hang bits of foil and old kitchen utensils off those balls to give them movement (they claim it makes the target more noticeable to RADAR) I dunno. Back in the early 70's we used pie pans. I have hung a whole junkyard from the mast from time to time because there have been too many close calls with big ships at night over here back in the 70's but it seems that lately the radars have gotten better - not sure (at least I have not heard too much about people getting run over like I did back then). Back in the old days if a tanker ran you over it was unlikely they would stop to help you - the tankers we get real often over here will stop for nothing. If they are going to hit you and your not aware of it your screwed.

[Russ]

I remember the run to Block Island back in the 80s' Fog was an expected event. Radar was pricey back then and we didn't have GPS. So compass course, slow going and sounding bells was the way. Fog is a very disorientating phenomenon. We listened intently for the Block Island ferry. Often never really seeing it, but hearing it and it's massive wake that would appear out of the fog soup like a phantom. Creepy stuff.
Today, with GPS and AIS being cheap enough, most folks can afford to be prepared.

I never used radar. My friend had one down at his nav station below.

So Gazmn, does it really pick up pots and stuff in the water? We traveled with a radar reflector because I was told that fiberglass boats don't make a very good radar return.
How do you use it from the helm? Is your display visible outside?

--Russ

[Gazmn]

Absolutely No Rush & No worries - Buchs. Family & life first & second & even third

Radar is not necessary with the type of boating most Macer's do - including me. I had radar from my previous owner. & not a very good one. It takes time, patience & usage to be profficient with it. & I'm a fair weather boatman / paddleboarder so it's more a nicety than a necessity.

I think Sumner brought a up a much more practical & plausible tool for many of us with the AIS & chartplotter integration.

Moderators, it might be good to split off the AIS & chartplotter portion into it's own topic - at your discretion & convenience. Because we should definitely dicuss it as a topic. & thanks Mike & Sandy for commenting on your AIS experiences. Hope you guys are doing well.

Russ-
You can pick up a lot of stuff with radar & even more so in closer proximity & less radiation with the new broadband radar - which is a good & better fit for smaller boats & cruisers, like ours. & fits part of my G.A.S. Jones + a new VHF with AIS & GPS

My mfd is on my pedestal & I can overlay the radar on my chartplotter & I guess iPad.

[Gazmn]

& lastly:

Yeah I have radar balls of various shapes and sizes laying around that I collected over the years ...

... He said balls...


That's a different kind of Radar Love...

[C Buchs]

Gazmn:
Below are some photos. The bottom of the platform that the radar sits on is about 63" above the top of the back rests, where the cleats are and the rail mounts.

Top and bottom mounts

Bottom mount

Top mount


I've got the boat home now, so it will be easy to get any more information if you need it.

Jeff