Radar for Navigation and Collision Avoidance – Part 2 by Mark Bunzel

Radar is one of the most versatile systems of all of the marine electronics on your boat. Most boat owners only know how to use about 10% of the capabilities of their marine radar. This becomes more challenging when there are multiple targets approaching from various directions and speeds in restricted visability. The manuals that come with a radar system tell you what the buttons do, but not how to confidently use radar for both collision avoidance and navigation.

This program continues from Radar – Part 1 with a review of the capabilities of the new digital radar systems now available and the additional information integrated in the new radar systems including AIS. The program will show examples of radar displays in practical situations with an emphasis on the decision making based on the information presented. We will start with one target and then build to the multi-target scenarios now faced in some of the crowded waters we now have. This is further complicated by vessel traffic lanes and VTS requirements.

In addition to learning the basics of radar operation participants will also learn:

• The new digital radar technologies now available with many new capabilities
• We will show how to use your digital marine radar system while underway
• How to interpret the screen display and how to correlate it to navigational charts, the surrounding area, and other vessels around you. integrating AIS information and full overlay of the chartplotter

With this course you will have a new appreciation and competency with the digital radar system on your boat.