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PBMarinetraining VHF course

MARINE RADAR/ PLOTTER COURSE

    Radar is mainly used for collision-avoidance and thus contributes towards safety at sea. However, it only brings benefits to skippers who are familiar with the principles, functions and its limitations.

    This one-day course is very practical-orientated - we use proper Multi-Function Display Units, the Raymarine 12" Axioms and Raymarine E120´s. All participants have the opportunity to go through all the important functions themselves.

      The course is ideal:
    • For those wanting to know how Radar can contribute towards safety and collision-avoidance
    • For boat-owners thinking of buying a Radar, but needing support in their decision-making.
    • For yachtsmen who already have Radar on board, but are not familiar with all the functions.
      Our Instructor, Peter G. Boot, has combined his many years as Radio Officer at sea in the South African, Canadian and British merchant navy, together with 25 years in the radar industry, to present a realistic and easily understood radar course.
      If any of the course dates or venues are unsuitable for you, then please contact us.
      We can also offer you the following:
    • A course in your vicinity, on a date that suits you
    • A course in your sailing club
    • A one-to-one Radar training session on your own boat.

    Our Radar courses are supported by:

    Raymarine, Germany
    Yachtech, Switzerland

A video-projector is used to present the following subjects during the theoretical parts of the course:

  • The different Radar-technologies on the Market:
    - Magnetron; Pulse-Compression; Broadband
  • Basic principles:
    - Principles of function; typical terms; Wave propagation
  • Resolution: Features that influence the picture:
    - Horizontal beamwidth, Pulse-length, etc.
  • Targets:
    - Target-characteristics; reflectors; RACONs; RTE (Radar Target Enhancer).
  • Display modes:
    - Head-up; North-up; Course-up; Off-centre; True motion.
  • Navigation:
    - Plotting your position using only Radar and paper charts (e.g. when GPS is unreliable)
  • Collision Avoidance:
    - Course and speed of a target; CPA, TCPA, ; MARPA; Guard Zones
  • The Radar-relevant IRPCS rules
    - For example: Rules in dense fog; Lookout; Safe speed; Risk of Collision, etc.


    • During the practical part of the course, numerous Raymarine Axiom and E120 display units (see pictures below) will be available, where participants can practice the following:

  • Switching on: The main controls; picture-interpretation; other useful controls; optimising the picture.
  • Navigation: Position plotting, using only Radar (VRM/EBL) and paper charts
  • Collision avoidance: Doppler; MARPA; Guard Zones; CPA/TCPA, course and speed of a vessel; practical use of the Coll-Regs (IRPCS)
  • Additional Radar functions: Cursor; Auto Gain/Tuning; Wake; Evaluating Data Boxes; timed transmit; etc.
  • Additional displays: Plotter, Radar-Overlay, AIS, GPS, Echo-sounder, etc.


    And finally - would you know the answers to the following:



  • You are in dense fog. There is another vessel in your vicinity that you can only see on your radar screen. Who has right of way now, (according to the Coll-Regs?).
  • Could the radar picture (below) be optimised? 
On the radar course you can try it yourself.
  • How would you know if the blob on the screen is a buoy or a ship?
  • How can you make your yacht more visible for other vessels?
  • How do you calculate CPA, TCPA and speed of another vessel?
 Can Radar do this automatically?
  • Which controls must be treated with extreme caution?
  • Which IRPCS rules are radar-relevant?

    All these subjects – and many more, are dealt with during the course.

    • FOR FEES AND APPLICATION:
    PRESS ON A LOCATION/DATE

    SWITZERLAND

    GERMANY

    COURSE PHOTOS

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