Gps vs radar

[Grneyedloki]

Sorry fo my ignorance on the matter but what's the big difference between Gps and radar? Why would I need radar on a 23 openfish? Isn't a gps good enough? Just curious as I am setting up my seacraft

[NoBones]

Ugh, I'm speechless.....

Radar is for locating the clouds, birds and other vessels.
GPS is for where on the earth you are at!

I would stongly suggest either a Power Squadron or
Coast Gaurd class for a litte more boating safety.

See ya, NoBones

[Rainmaker]

These are 2 seperate things that do seperate tasks. GPS will tell you where you are while a Radar will tell you where other things are. (IE. land masses, buoys, birds, clouds) I will not go offshore without my GPS. If I do, I will not be able to take a very direct route home as easily. I run a GPS with a chart plotter so I can see where I am on a map as I am sure most do. I do not currently run Radar but have plans on adding it. I will use it more for seeing birds while chasing Tuna and other offshore fish than I will for navigation.

Hope that helps...

[BigLew]

Welcome to the forum.

GPS vs. Radar

Two entirely different animals.

GPS- It provides you location (lat/lon) and speed and bearing. Add a plotter function and it provides charts of what is shown on charts/maps along with a lot of navigational detail- channels, buoys, shoals, etc.,etc.

Radar- (the world of what is happening NOW!) At night, in fog, during blissfully clear days it scans the horizon and beyond for all things present at the moment- boats, buoys, rain clouds, shore lines, etc.,etc.
It does not neccessarily give you speed information though some will calculate relavant movements of other targets and determine if and how long until a likely collision unless avoidance maneuvers are taken.

Charts do not show current traffic, radar does. Radar does not show channels, shoals, reefs, etc.,etc., Chart plotters do.

You really need to do your homework and come to understand the value of both and which or both are needed for for your purposes.

Good luck. Check back with us and ask any questions you'd like.

[workinpr0gress]

Hmmmmm....where to start...

[Spidercrab]

mr loki

wat U been smokin. i gots a questin fer U. look at me boat pic.
do u think i cood mount a rear view miror abov the moter or puts a radar on da hood? thanks fer u avise
ps: U lik my new rod holder
sam

[BigLew]

Mr. Spidey,

Only you can come up with such pictures! Only YOU!



what the hell is that supposed to be, the first draft edition of the original "houseboat"?

Gotta love it!

[MasterBaiter]

That must be a first generation Amphibian.
I think there are still some bugs to be worked out.

[KenB]

Maybe the question was: do you need a separate radar and GSP? Or can you use a combo unit?

A separate radar and GPS means that if one blows up you still have the other.

Combined can give you overlay (GPS and Radar on same screen), and if your console space is limited, only having one screen is a plus. Also, combined is cheaper.

I will probably go with a combo unit, yankee parsimony and all. Offshore you need the radar to find tankers and other big ships. You should not need a GPS to get home...

[bigeasy1]

Spidey,Now that's some funny stuff right there.

Grneyedloki,
AS for the radar and GPS difference.everyone explained it pretty well.The first day you get locked into pea soup fog,you'll realize how valuable Radar is.
We got stuck in some nasty fog last year,so thick that visibility was virtually non existent.
I knew there were a lot of freighters lurking out there.That scares the hell out of me.I'm absolutely petrified of the fog

The GPS will tell you where to go,and and if it's a chartplotter it will show the landmass and your location,but it won't show that 800 foot ship bearing down on you.

My next purchase is Radar.