Radar Training for Power and Sail

Radar is a versatile navigation tool that can be used for position determination, storm avoidance and most important, collision avoidance. In poor visibility it is the tried and true device used by the navigator to predict potential collisions, and it is then used to assist in making appropriate avoidance maneuvers.

This class is designed to enable the boat owner and crew to understand the principles of radar, operation of modern radar units, and to learn techniques using radar for coastal navigation as well as collision avoidance.

Principles and operation will include choosing radar for small craft, installation considerations, how a radar works, factors affecting performance, range accuracy, bearing accuracy, false targets, radar interference, controls, and guard zones.

Some of the topics covered dealing with coastal navigation include identifying echoes from buoys, land masses, breakwaters, and vessels, relative vs. true bearings, fixes by bearing and range, fixed and moving targets, and target speed and track made good.

Collision avoidance topics will include range, bearing, and time plotting methods, rapid radar plotting, and relative motion radar plotting. Rules of the road as they apply to radar observations will be discussed. It is well established that most skippers that have radar don't know how to use it correctly for collision avoidance. The correct usage is required by the Navigation Rules. You should know that when a vessel is only visible on radar you are to turn to the right for vessels forward of your beam and turn away from any vessels aft of your beam.

A realistic computer based radar simulator in conjunction with a computer projection device will be used to illustrate most of the above content. In addition, a digital video camera attached to an actual radar screen will illustrate radar adjustments and actual radar targets from the local waters of the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay.

This three session class is intended for the beginning and intermediate radar student. Basic navigation skills, although not a prerequisite for this class, will be helpful. If student applause given at the end of this class is any indication, you will be pleased with this class.

Course Number: CSM-1004
Cost: $55
Date: 4/6, 4/13 & 4/20 2010
Time: Tuesdays; 7:00pm-9:00pm

Call the LifeLong Learning Office for more information on upcoming dates at (989)686-9444 or e-mail us at lifelonglearning@delta.edu.