Techno - Talk

Boat/US Magazine, Nov, 2000 by Chuck Husick

To navigate safely, you need to know where you are in relation to everything around you, what pilots call "situational awareness." Navigating when you can see clearly is usually easy. Doing so when you can't see, due to rain, fog or darkness, can be very difficult. Recent advances in radar, sonar and light amplifiers now enable us to "see" well in almost any condition we might encounter. The gear can be used on almost any size boat and you won't have to mortgage the house to buy it.

Once installed only on larger boats, radar is now practical for boats 18 feet and longer. Most recreational boats don't need a high-power, long-range radar. The primary use of radar on even the largest ships is for ranges of six miles or less, with substantial time spent looking for things you might bump into in the fog or dark at ranges of one-half to two miles.

The radar antenna does not have to be high above the water. An antenna mounted at a height of 8-10 feet above the water, on a pole at the stern, on the cabin top or on the tee top of a fishing boat, will let you see targets such as buoys or small boats up to six miles away. You don't need a high-power radar transmitter; the 1.5-2.0 kw pulse power produced by the smallest sets will be sufficient except in tropical downpours that can "blind" even large ship radars. No need to worry about power consumption -- the typical small boat radar will use about as much electrical energy as the boat's running lights. Most small radar displays are compact and waterproof, simplifying installation on open. boats. If you can install a set of running lights or a VHF radio, you can install a small boat radar. Numerous books, videos and simulators you can run on your computer make learning to use radar both quick and enjoyable. Buying a radar need not break the bank; prices start at about $1,000.

Unlike depth sounders or fish finders that show us the depth of water under the boat, a forward-looking scanning sonar can measure the depth of the water 600 to 1,200 feet ahead of the boat, reducing the use of the boat's keel as a sounding pole. Some of these systems can also show the contour of the bottom on both sides of the boat, a great benefit when navigating unmarked channels. Some units will also function as conventional depth sounders/fish finders. Systems are priced from about $600.

Navigating at night is always difficult, even when using the best 7 X 50 binoculars. An electronic light amplifier night vision device can almost turn night into day. For best results, choose one that provides the widest field of view. You want the view through the device to match what you see with your eye; a magnified view is not helpful. Unlike conventional binoculars, where using both eyes is a great advantage, the single-eye view through a night vision monocular will work just fine.

Advertisements for night viewers often refer to their use of Generation I, II or III technology. Gen I units are the least expensive, usually made in the former Soviet Union and although relatively inexpensive, don't work nearly as well as the primarily U.S.-made Gen II and III viewers. Gen III devices will let you see clearly when it is so dark that you can hardly see your hand in front of your face. However, Gen II devices are almost as sensitive and a lot less costly. Prices range from a few hundred dollars for a Gen I device to about $1,900 for a U.S.-made Gen III unit. Gen II viewers at about $1,000 are a super value.

Combine GPS/Loran C, radar, forward-looking sonar, a night viewer and an up-to-date chart and you have all the tools needed to ensure superb situational awareness. Put this gear on board your boat, learn to use it properly and the pucker factor disappears from low- or no-visibility navigation. With a bit of practice, you may find that maneuvering in a pea-soup fog can become an enjoyable test of your navigation skills. Your boating will be fun, even when the sun is not shining on sparkling water.

Chuck Husick is an engineer, pilot, sailor and the former president of Chris Craft Boats.