The Weekend Navigator

Part II

Copyright 2008 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Chapter 15: Navigating with

Radar

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

Range Settings for Recreational

Boaters
Range improves with height
90% of recreational boaters use radar at
ranges < 3 miles

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

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

Heading Up versus North Up

Heading up display radar reference point
aligns with the boats bow
Top of the display represents the boats heading
Most useful because it represents the world as
viewed from the boat
Bearings on the display are relative to the boat

Heading Up versus North Up

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

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

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 nm

EBL and VRM

EBL appears as dashed radial line from the
center of the display
VRM appears as a dashed circle

EBL and VRM

Trails
Radars scan at roughly 24 sweeps per
minute
Target trails may be displayed from
previous sweeps

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

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.

Collision Avoidance
Collision avoidance is the most important
use of radar
Targets that approach your location
represent a threat of collision

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

Collision Avoidance

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

Radar Navigation
You must be able to recognize and identify
what you see on the display
ATONs provide excellent point targets

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

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)

Navigating with Radar and GPS

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

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

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

Tracking Weather
Set the radar to reduce rain clutter
Can help you spot severe squalls
Helps you get a range to the storm

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