Radar boat

What is a radar?

RADAR is an acronym invented at the beginning of the Second World War by the US Navy, it means 'Radio Detection and Ranging'. We also speak of maritime radar, naval or marine radar. If this equipment was originally reserved for military purposes, the system is now widely used in the field of aviation or in the nautical sector. The radar works via a transmitter and a receiver emitting electromagnetic waves. The radar transmitter sends out pulses of radio waves that are reflected off surrounding objects and boats. The reflected wave is then picked up by the radar receiver and the system determines the position and speed of the detected objects. The wave is then amplified and transformed into a visible image presented on a screen.

Why use a marine radar?

Ships, drifting objects, icebergs, buoys, rocks... unpredictable obstacles can be numerous, hidden or located under the surface. The radar allows to identify in real time any object, static or moving, near or far, which could be a danger for the ship or the crew. Marine radar is particularly useful in situations where visibility is reduced, such as at night or in fog. With the naked eye, it is not always easy to judge the distances of vessels or to understand the directions they are taking and whether it is necessary to maneuver to avoid them. Radar is a safety system that provides more informed navigation.

How to choose your radar ?

The radar is a complementary equipment to the GPS. This electronic marine device offers various options and features. The radar system includes devices such as an antenna that transmits the waves, a motor that rotates the antenna, a transceiver that generates the waves and receives the signals, a signal processing unit for the components and peripherals, a display that translates the data from the connected sensor into a radar image, and a control unit that operates the system.

To choose your radar, it is interesting to compare the kilowatts of the antenna of the various models on the market, they determine the power of transmission of the radar and its zone of coverage. The beam is another element on which to focus your interest, a narrow beam has the advantage of determining two boats side by side. Other criteria can be chosen according to the options you want: zoom power, screen size, high definition...

LCD radar systems are ideal navigation tools for recreational boaters. Easy to install, they are also economical and consume little power. Combined with other navigation tools such as GPS or electronic compass, the radar information becomes a real navigation terminal and offers safe navigation.

Simrad Halo Doppler models, Furuno radar, Garmin GMR Fantom, radome, rotating beam, radar from Raymarine, Simrad, Lowrance... choose the radar you like from the Comptoir nautique selection. And don't forget to service your equipment after each season!