radar

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by xort

This is funny! I just ordered the 3210 after having the chat with garmin. I just hope they stick with the $80 upgrade policy.

Did you get Explorer charts for the Bahamas with your 3210? That wasn't clear on the website.

No, I didn't check out charts for the Bahamas. I'm in California down in San Diego, and I was more interested in updates for the west coast and Baja California.

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

Side note: NMEA 2000 is what you want to look for, if you are investing in electronics today or considering such in a new system purchase or upgrading a system. Why? You want to have the best possible device independence from vendors (meaning you can swap vendors and not have the entire system based strictly on a single one) and be able to take advantage of replacement alternatives in later years. Not that one can not now still purchase NMEA 0183 devices - but this year begins the phasing out of NMEA devices that support only NMEA 0183.

I think it's going to be a little while before it's all phased out, but if I was buying now I'd get the 4000...but I don't like the on screen buttons...or whatever you call them.

[xort]

Originally Posted by bestfriend

I will rule the world!

Xort - Whats the difference between the 4000 series and the 3000 series? Anything major, or is it the same but better? I am reading the site right now.

The difference was $1375 vs. $2200!

[buckeyesailor]

$825 vs. 1000.......who's quibbling????

[sailaway21]

Originally Posted by Stillraining

IMHO:
I would rather have the Chartplotter at the helm and no radar at all if I had to make that choice...My cruising waters here in the PNW and BC waters is riddled with tricky slots and passes to navigate...myriads of submerged rocks and narrow cuts make for some interesting cruising...

My GPS/Plotter is truly a God send around here..The depth contours are so darn accurate I would almost.. choose it over a depth sounder if I had to make that choice... My Radar will only keep me off visible land and help avoid other boats in the fog...both of which I can pretty much avoid by simply staying anchored in a cove when its foggy..I dont sail at night..

I might be a bit of a contrarian but I take the opposite view towards my navigating. If I'm relying on either a GPS or a chartplotter to keep myself off the rocks or transit a narrow passage, something is wrong. I don't feel safe without more spatial awareness than what is provided by GPS/chartplotter and radar can give that to me in the absence of visual indicators. I don't ever want to be in a situation where I have to rely on GPS for safe navigating. In my view, as long as I treat it the same way that I would a celestial fix, ie...where all I need to know is my position within a couple of miles, I think the GPS is worthwhile and being used properly. Absent radar, anchoring is a delightful option!

[bestfriend]

The Cosco Bosun left the dock without radar, relying on GPS, and hit the bridge with 300 foot visibility.

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by bestfriend

The Cosco Bosun left the dock without radar, relying on GPS, and hit the bridge with 300 foot visibility.

GPS and radar are tools that should be used together in those conditions, since they didn't have both they should have stayed put.