Best Radar with large screen dash mount for open Rib

[David B]

Have new 9mt on order curious to see other poeples viewpoints on the best system for a open Rib. I would like to have a Large full colour screen with possibilty of chart overlay etc.

Have a very large electronics consul so space is endless.

Menu systmes and ease of use most important

previous Radar systems from raymarine C21 and furuno GD180 plotter
Cost not sensitive

Look forward to the comments

[codprawn]

What ever you get make sure the radome is mounted high up - microwaves don't do the old grey matter any good!!! Have also seen some people using a tilting mount so that the radar is still level when on the plane.

A few of my mates are using Raymarine stuff - very good and actually British!!!

http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/

They link into almost everything so you can have all sorts of overlays etc.

[marknj]

Have a look at the Furuno Navnet range, M1833, 10.4" Display, Radar overlay on chart, can also have sounder, weather fax/navtex, CCTV display to monitor engine space and lots more.....tea maker etc. Mark II version out in the new year if you can wait that long.

Cheers
Mark

[Brian]

Agree with Codprawn on Raymarine stuff.
However, this thing about getting your brains fried?
Not so sure. Someone here said the microwaves were very weak and have no effect at all.
If they were dangerous, wouldnt the health police have banned them by now or at least would we not have read about someone who had been damaged in the papers/on thetele/over the internet?

[Pete7]

Agree with Brian, one of the yachting magazines ran some serious test a few years back. Conclusion was that the radiation from a small radar mast 1 metre away was less than that of a mobile phone next to your ear.

Pete

[David Hickman]

I often think about the radar beams when on a flybridge cruiser. Your head is almost exactly in line with the beam when helming from up top!
If there was really that much of a problem I do not think that boat builder would be allowed to fit them there as I would have thought there would some Euro directive to stop it.
I do not think that my brain has been "microwaved" I hope!!!!

[David B]

Thank you for the constructive responses. especially the issue of Microwave
energy. Our radome will be mounted at a sufficient height to be out of the line of sight to the crew on board even whilst standing up.Also mounted on the central A frame it negates the rear squat effect when cruising to some degree.On my Rib I will be fortunate to have two A frames one aft and one above consul Previous sets have included the best from Raymarine in the form of the C120 although a very good set some menu functions which are essential can be tedious. I was interested to see the various sets you Ribsters are using right now , and was looking for more feedback before i make a very expensive mistake.If you wanted to see this twin A frame set up on one of our clients boats view www.parkerribs.com and go to Baltic 7.5 here the set up can be seen in action.

My shortlist of sets are as follows Raymarine and Furuno although if there are others I should consider please advise.

Whilst on the subject of Radars and I wonder also what individuals views are on DSC/VHfs my last set on Platypus was a Icom 601 which was a very good unit with no problems . Any thoughts on the VHF market too ?

thanking you all

David

[SimpleSimon]

Raymarine c series C120 combined unit is IMHO the best but expensive .

SS

[JCW]

Brian,
You raise an interesting point about fried brains. The previous owner of 'LA Bamba' had a JRC radar fitted and used it as neccessary. He was a retired Pilot from BA and appeared to have a good knowlege of radar. He said the effect to the brain was the same as a mobile phone. However the manual clearly states not to use the equipment unless you are more than 'La Bamba' hull length away!! We have not used the radar as we are not be sure it is safe.

[Seb]

The Furuno 10.4" radar/plotter/sounder in the navnet series is a lovely unit. Its also more of a commercial hard wearing design IMHO and is thus more suitable for a RIB or similar.

Its simple to use and easy to read although this does come with a price tag!

Cheers