Looking to up grade electronics, add radar for coastal / off shore cruising.
Thoughts on range options, Quantum Doppler with 24Nm v 48Nm HD radome
I like the idea of 48Nm for weather storms, with the understanding of the "over the horizon" limits
Quantum will give better short range targets.
What do you have, what works ?
This is actually a tough question. I think if you really think you need a radar on a yacht I would suggest 24 miles with a small dome scanner. I was a radar operator [and sonar operator] flying in navy Grumman Trackers for 13 years. When I left the navy I went professional fishing and my first boat I had built and fitted out with all the best electronic stuff available. I had a Furuno 72 mile radar with a 4 foot open scanner. This was the best radar about at the time and was actually far superior to the radars I used flying in the Tracker. It was excellent for navigation, this is just before GPS, and I could easily keep track of my competitors! The 4 foot scanner gave excellent bearing accuracy and I could home in on my trap marker buoys in the dark by simply having a couple of crushed up aluminium drink cans taped to the pole on the buoys.
GPS came along and with it came the advantage of driving the autopilot with the GPS. GPS plotters allowed you to store all your secrets and make your own underwater reef charts.
When I upgraded to a larger fishing vessel I did not install a radar. Instead I relied on computer chart plotters and the mark one eyeball.
I had radar on the boat I sailed around NZ. We always used it short range, to see markers and channels, to avoid running into things like rocks and other boats. One time we were playing follow the leader to find our way into Auckland in heavy fog at night. The boat we were following disappeared into the murk. Radar saved us because we could still see where they were to follow. We relied on weather reports for bad weather.
