Despite how vast and deep the ocean is, or even how big a lake could be, one of the most important lessons you learn in mariner training is how to be safe when sharing the water with other boats. It’s also crucial to know how to navigate around potentially dangerous objects. For this, marine radars are indispensable. The more you learn about them, the surer you’ll be about having them with you anytime you’re on the water. 

What are Marine Radars and How Do They Work?

Once installed in your boat, a marine radar employs radio waves to detect the boat’s proximity to solid matter in the water, including rocks, buoys, landmasses, other ships, and even birds. Antennas are responsible for sending out the radio waves. When the waves hit an object, they bounce back to the radar device and provide information about its distance from the boat, sometimes by pinpointing its location with a map on the screen. Long antennas are more efficient at judging distance, but shorter ones have a more comprehensive range. Also, most devices utilize two to four kilowatts of power, and the higher the kilowatt level, the more accurately it operates.  

You can get marine radars by themselves, and they’re more than worth the investment. However, some are also equipped with GPS signaling and chart-plotters for additional convenience and safe sailing. Either way, they’re an essential component of mariner training. 

How Do They Benefit Mariners? 

During nighttime sailing and in poor weather, such as fog or heavy rain, marine radars are vital for navigation, as they allow you to avoid dangerous objects that you may otherwise be unable to see. That way, you can avoid collisions, even in areas with low visibility. However, even in clear weather, not all safety hazards are easily observed, and both the waters and skies are known for changing rapidly. In any case, as long as the driver has received proper boater education through mariner training courses, marine radars can act as an additional precaution to prevent damage to the boat or injury to people and animals. 

 
Formal mariner training can help you learn more about how to properly use marine radar devices, which is why it would be a great idea to sign up with the Training Resources Maritime Institute in San Diego, CA. Having offered top-notch professional and recreational mariner courses since 1976, the instructors are more than capable of ensuring that you know how to stay safe on the water. They also provide the option of taking a marine electrician course for those who want to learn about the technical aspects of boats in addition to sailing. For details about their mariner classes and services, call them today at (619) 263-1638 or message them online.