I have a garmin radar mounted on my hardtop. It is mounted directly to the hardtop at this point. From what I read it seems to shoot downward as much as 25 degrees when in operation. Is it safe to have people riding on the bow of the boat when the radar is operating? It’s seems to my by eyeing it that 25 degrees would be way over anyone’s head sitting on the front of the boat. Thoughts?
Maybe I should have mentioned it’s the 18 dome
Pioneer 222sf
250 Yamaha
While looking for info on my G4, I came across this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WL_dLNJvm4
The only reason it stuck in my mind was because what he says in the last few seconds of the video. So…I think I’m good. Don’t know about your radar.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 22 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 18 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
ECFC
Sounds like I may have gone simrad. Almost did but didn’t want to have to change my larger garmin unit as I was adding a smaller unit with the radar. I would rarely use the radar with the family on the boat but if we run to dinner and come back in the dark I would like to use it since I have the kids and wife on the boat. I just don’t want to cook their brains on the front of the boat, which is where they like to ride, so I haven’t been using it.
Pioneer 222sf
250 Yamaha
[quote]Originally posted by Reeldawg
That’s something I have not thought about. I’m in the market for new electronics. Is that the only radar that is “safe”? How about garmin a new line of real time radar? I already own a 6month old 7" garmin that I wanted to use in conjunction with a new setup. If I change to another brand that would suck. Claim, how do you like the simrad radar? Easy to use?
Reeldawg I think any of the solid state radars are safe. Not sure which companies produce them.
Pioneer 222sf
250 Yamaha
quote:
Originally posted by Reeldawg[quote]Originally posted by Reeldawg
That’s something I have not thought about. I’m in the market for new electronics. Is that the only radar that is “safe”? How about garmin a new line of real time radar? I already own a 6month old 7" garmin that I wanted to use in conjunction with a new setup. If I change to another brand that would suck. Claim, how do you like the simrad radar? Easy to use?
I haven’t owned it long enough to really get good with it, but so far it’s been pretty easy to use. Turn it on, zoom in or zoom out. There are settings gain and stuff like birds or surface objects I need to get the hang of.
One of the things I don’t know about is battery drain. We got our boat used and left the VHF on and drained our batteries. I recharged them and went to the jetties and while the family fished, I played with the Simrad Evo2 and the G4 while we listened to the iPod on the boat radio. It wasn’t long before we were bobbing around with 2 dead batteries and had to call Sea Tow for a jump.
The G4 does have On/Off - Standby - Active. I’m going on the notion that if you are off the motor…turn off the radar.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 22 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 18 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
ECFC
Haven’t had any battery problems with my Raython. leve it on while at anchor bottom fishing, never thought about the drain!
Most major manufacturers 4G & 3G radars are solid state & provibalble safe. It’s still like getting a dental x-ray.
The magnatron radars (older) are diffently a different story. Read your owner’s manual. The new doppler/pulse radars are in between solid state & magnatron in the terms of safety.
I know I would not want to be up front “frequently” when the radar is in operation, especially if the dome is flat on the t-top.
Get the Radar Wedge from West Marine. It raises it up enough so the radar beam clears the bow up to typically 25’ boat and makes the radar a level beam when the boat is running at speed (radar is at the correct bean angle). It an expensive piece of plastic but worth it @$55. They have done all the beam calculations & engineering. Well worth it!
Fishing the beaches, Bays & Ocean of Wildwood/Cape May, NJ
Soon a resident of Georgetown, SC