How fast is safe at night.

Gooday "pops'. So have you a $75 USD plastic sextant or what ???

As I see my personal needs - in a quick sailing tri - at night - in SE Asian very busy sea-ways - - as I'd like a 48 mile range - color radar c/w AIS - send/recieve + variable rings - alarms & all the whistles, buzzers , buttons & lights & etc's ect. - Now a 48 mile radar is not all that much of an extra safety margin as some might think.

Lets say my yachts is travelling at 6 to 8 kts - - the approaching tankers - 6 of them - are coming at me at say 30 kts (& that's only their 'cruising speed') - it's blowing across my intended course - the current is adverse as well as it's raining 'wheely-bins' & I'm located in a - collision course with 2 or 3 of the approaching vessels - - that is there are closing on me at 36 kts & I need to get the hell out of harms way. That's gives me a total time to be into 'safety' of only just one hour - all systems being at top ready-set-go.


So - not all that much error room. A system like that here in OZ is approx $8.5 K AUD but down around $4 K AUD (& that's fitted & 'proof' run) in Singapore - so that's where I'm going to buy my radar. Lots of people in here will have better - cheaper - smarter - ideas - but I'll - bet my life - on a really 'top-shelf' good unit - as I dn't think saving a K or 2 is worth me loosing my life, boat, friends ! ! !

Back to you P-eye' - what say you ??? or others with experience in these waters ??? Ciao, james

 

If they are approaching at 36kts and they will take an hour to get to you then they are 36 miles away,---- you wouldnt be able to see them.

Oh and neither will a 40 mile radar unless you can find 40 miles of flat earth.

Id rather have night vision than a radar.

These ere ships have got lights on don't they, so why do you need a picture of it.

Normally ships of that size stay in lanes --ive never see 6 of them side by side but if that were to be,-- you would need to turn 90- degrees to the shortest distance out of thier way and call on 16.

On the other hand go in between them but you say this is at night ide start flashing some lights.

That is truely a horrible scenario but I have had 2 ships coming at me in Malacca at night. I went between them with about 100 meters gap.

 

Hey Frosty.

I've been using Radar since a decky on North Sea Trawlers.
Including $40k units and $40k+ Sonar..for the nets.

Don't know about these modern Digital ones. But I've had a coupla 6 in Furuno's
on my Yacht cockpits.
Bigger boats can take bigger. More powerful units. Finer Horizontal beams.
But 32 to 40 ft. The little Furuno 18nm..Once you've tuned it.
is as good as any other in it's range. 6 miles Practically.. unless you looking at ships or land.. You need more scanner height for more range..
and they very good close up.
You have to learn to read them first too. That makes all the difference.

Major plus with them. I think.
Is the radius alarm. Set for vessels IN. Your set anchor radius. Then just put on alert\sleep timer.
Pitch Black. It senses them coming..
My little petrol Genny ran for 7 hrs on a coupla ltrs.
Gave me a good safe kip when needed..and full battery's.

I think they more important than a GPS for coastal work. GPS tells you where you (Maybe) are.
Radar tells you where everything solid is. above the water. Including Shoals. Reefs and flocks of birds when fishing.. what bearing and range from. plus ships trail so you know what direction they travelling.

On a smaller boat moreso. that and a coupla instant release. Proper anchors.and a Danforth stern anchor.. are you insurance....
I use a leadline for shallow water readings. More accurate. Instantly.
It Even identifies the Port\Stbd tops on Unlit channel markers for you.
Triangle is smaller reflection than Sq.. Much better than mate on foredeck at 2 in morn with a spotlight..Bin ther. dun that too.

ALl I'm saying is. Even if it's a basic small unit. They better than nothing.
and about the best. Safely item you can have on your boat. Alongside your jacket and anchors.

Even if you in deep water. and disabled. drifting towards shoals. Coast.
Anything but vertical coral.
Drop your anchor and all it's rode. It'll hopefully snag on something b4 you bump...

A 48miler or anything big. Will only still give you the 5 to 8 miles. Unless up a big mast. Just better definition t'ween the hard things.
And a modern boat with all these electronic items. ain't worth **** when your battery's, or electronics drop out.
Always have the basics on your boat. and KNOW how to read\use them.
Most probably couldn't even plot a rhumb line course on a chart nowadays. An RDF will give you airports plus local weather.

Regards
Macka

 

Gooday Macka. Great post & very informative. I'll get back to you in a day or so - to learn more details about - what exactly you are suggesting. Fab advice also. Thanks, ciao, james