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Chapter 15: Navigating with Radar. Range Settings for Recreational Boaters. Radar is an invaluable tool for avoiding collisionsRadar can only see as far as the horizonObjects (
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1. The Weekend Navigator Part II Copyright 2008 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
2. Chapter 15: Navigating with Radar
3. Range Settings for Recreational Boaters Radar is an invaluable tool for avoiding collisions
Radar can only see as far as the horizon
Objects (“targets”) beyond the curve of the earth remain out of view
4. Range improves with height
90% of recreational boaters use radar at ranges < 3 miles
Range Settings for Recreational Boaters
5. Radar Display Produces “fuzzy” or granulated images
Images on a radar screen do not precisely correspond with the size and shape of scanned objects
Center of radar display is “you are here” sign or the center of your boat
6. Radar Display A radar pulse encounters an object and the pulse is reflected back toward the antenna
Echo – returning pulse
Targets – images resulting from echoes
7. Heading Up versus North Up Heading up display – radar reference point aligns with the boat’s bow
Top of the display represents the boat’s heading
Most useful because it represents the world as viewed from the boat
Bearings on the display are relative to the boat
8. Heading Up versus North Up
9. Heading Up versus North Up North up display – radar reference point aligns with north
Radar screen better matches charts
Targets stay put on the screen when you are altering course
Requires interfacing with an electronic (fluxgate) compass
10. Range Rings and Bearing Marks Range rings – equally spaced concentric circles for determining the range of an echo
Bearing marks – short lines arrayed around the perimeter of the display at 10o increments
11. EBL and VRM Electronic bearing line (EBL) – radial line that you can set to any relative direction
Convenient tool for measuring a relative bearing to a particular target
Variable range marker (VRM) – circle of constant range
Can be set at Ľ nm
12. EBL and VRM EBL appears as dashed radial line from the center of the display
VRM appears as a dashed circle
14. Trails Radars scan at roughly 24 sweeps per minute
Target trails may be displayed from previous sweeps
15. Directional Relationships and Relative Motion When you are moving the radar screen is constantly changing
Objects that stand still are other boats that match your speed and direction
Other boats’ direction and speed are relative to yours
16. Directional Relationships and Relative Motion Focus only on movement patterns that represent the risk of collision
Watch out for any boat that closes directly on the center of the display. That is a collision course.
17. Collision Avoidance Collision avoidance is the most important use of radar
Targets that approach your location represent a threat of collision
18. Collision Avoidance If a boat follows the EBL line toward you, a risk of collision exists
Rate of closure is the time it takes for the other boat to reach you
19. Collision Avoidance
20. Effect of Boat Turn or Change of Speed When you turn
all of the objects on the display will rotate relative to you and will appear to move in the opposite direction
If you change speed
other boats will acquire a new motion relative to you
If another boat changes direction or speed, the display will not change
21. Radar Navigation You must be able to recognize and identify what you see on the display
ATONs provide excellent point targets
22. Shorelines and Land-Based Objects on Radar
Echoes are dependent on two features:
Reflectivity to radar signals
Metal is good
Wood is poor
Aspect angle to the radar
Verticals are quite visible
Slants are less visible
Ground is a decent reflector, but water is not
23. Navigating with Radar and GPS GPS receives and radar can communicate using the NMEA 0183 protocol
Radar can display GPS current position, speed, bearing, and distance to waypoint (“lollipops”)
24. Navigating with Radar and GPS
25. Navigating with Radar Alone Radar provides you relative position and is more reliable than GPS
Plotting by range and bearing use the formula MB = RB + MH where,
MB = magnetic bearing
RB = relative bearing
MH = magnetic heading
26. Navigating with Radar Alone By plotting by range and bearing, you can improve your fix by combining your recognition of the shoreline with the echo from a nearby buoy
Plotting by range alone can be used for sections of shoreline where you can clearly measure the range and then draw an arc at that radius
27. Radar Avoidance Techniques Radar can help you safely navigate along shorelines
Set the VRM at the minimum safe distance of approach
Radar can help you set a danger circle
Simply set your VRM at a safe radius
28. Tracking Weather Set the radar to reduce rain clutter
Can help you spot severe squalls
Helps you get a range to the storm
29. Tracking Weather Squall will appear as a large mass on screen
Squall appears as a band of dense echoes moving forward at a steady rate
Rain generally returns as a speckled pattern of random dots