| You may know what a radar is, but how do you | | | | boat radar can be used to determine range. Targets |
| actually go about using one? Remember that radars | | | | within the area reflect the radar pulse and can be |
| are devices that measure the time and bearing of | | | | traced from the craft to exact nautical miles. |
| surrounded objects. Once these factors are analyzed, | | | | Most boat radars will show a "lollipop" display, which |
| the targets or echoes are calculated and then painted | | | | includes vital information like the range of the display, |
| on your screen. This gives you a bird's eye view of a | | | | land mass, selected waypoint, boat position, heading of |
| local map. However, you are not just limited to large | | | | boating, the boat's bath, fixed range rings and waypoint |
| objects, but also landmasses, weather systems, and | | | | bearing. It will take time memorizing what various blips |
| numerous other very subtle movements. A simple | | | | on the screen represent. It helps to use your boat |
| way of remembering this is that the boat radar shows | | | | radar on clear days so you can teach yourself what |
| you what is around you. The rest is left up to you. | | | | an ordinary day looks like compared to a typical |
| So how do you navigate with a boat radar? When | | | | boating adventure. |
| you set course for a certain area, very often, you | | | | You must plot and track targets manually even if you |
| have to struggle against the wind and the current. | | | | do have a boat radar. When doing this, you basically |
| These factors can shift you off of your course, and if | | | | take a visual bearing on a certain vessel and then |
| you have no boat radar or GPS system, then you | | | | check it a few minutes later to see if its position has |
| could wind up lost before you know it. In order to | | | | changed. Now you are able to plot the target's position. |
| determine your position you could use a Variable | | | | As far as boat radar positioning goes, the bottom line |
| Range Marker and mark a range and bearing to | | | | is that you are taking a defensive, avoidance stance. |
| certain targets. The VRM is a little mark that can be | | | | Try to imagine that any blip on the screen, unless |
| placed over any object on the radar. Once you mark | | | | clearly identified, is a threat to you. Keep track of its |
| it, the radar will let you know how many nautical miles | | | | position until you are sure that it is out of your way. |
| are in between the object and your craft. You can | | | | A radar is a very important tool to take along with you, |
| also take advantage of an echo trail feature, which | | | | as it provides more detailed information regarding |
| shows where a target used to be by way of an | | | | weather patterns and objects in the water. |
| afterglow. The trail time setting is also adjustable. A | | | | |