hey fellas this site has been a great source of info.i was wondering if i could get a little feed back on how important radar is? i have about 15 yrs experiance in the bay but have recently bought a 30' performance fishing boat and plan on fishing off the va coast this yr for tuna. i have a good gps, df, and vhf but have been considering a radar unit. how important is it to have it or is it just a luxery item?
thanks in advance

When heading offshore in the dark to catch the best bite in the early early morning radar helps alot.It helps you see the buoys,ships and other boats.Once you get out to the fishing grounds that you had planned on and you see no boats and your not catching radar can tell you where the other boats are.you can also pick up flocks of birds.For weather radar can see strong storm cells,rain and fog banks.I have been stuck in the fog with and without radar , with is definately a better plan, fog isnt really a problem if you slow down a bit.The list goes on why radar is a must if you fish offshore.

We started fishing offshore last year. running out in the dark is no fun,I am looking at the raymarine C-80 .going to use my old GPS and fishfinder as backups.
Rick,

well then i guess that settles it. i have been looking at the c-70 unit or the jrc 1800cp. i guess its better to have all the resources you can when your talking about a successful trip or a big waste of gas.any advice on these two units would be appriciated.
thanks again

JRC And Raytheon were in buisness together,not sure about now but I hear they are similar.I have the SL70C Plus its a nice unit,the only negative I could say about it is that it is hard to see in bright light.

Megabite what was the seris of garmin that your running were looking at a new boat and Im going awawy from furno.
the plumber
scooter

I have a 2010C but they just came out with the 3010C it has SST and Radar capabilities.Mine does not.There are some new units out there with 3D Bathyometric seamless charts I would take a look around.Also The Weather Channel has just introduced a SST onboard marine weather unit that is via satellite also.www.weather.com/marine

Yeah I cauaght that weather channle thread on "ship Shape" tv might be a little more than I need we don't stay out generaly more than a day. Did you see the fit up on the 34 pusuit I beleave it was c120. (boat show)
Man you know your right about all the new comers with networked equipment and I have commented on my Nav net being unfreindly. Couldnt surface mount at the wheel so they put it in the overhead box and me being short the sea rolling its hard to make adjustments any way I aint gone ramable .
Thanks for the info
the plumber
scooter

Yea Iam also vertically challenged at 5 9 I put my Sterio reciever up and its hard for me to tune.I also have a hard time putting rods in the rocket launchers.The positive side is that short guys are quicker and dont hit their heads on stuff as much.I looked at that 34 also it was pretty nice but I think I will talk to some Carolina Boat Builders before i spend 180,000 0n an outboard boat.

Man you got me laughing with the hit your head thing .
My mate Brad who as I have said before is the mug in all my pics cannot go into the cooler which is below the rocket launcher without nailing himself in the head on one of those perty gold anodized rod holders.We were pulling a spread up to the fingers one day and I heard him in the cooler and the next thing he's sitting on his as_ with the far away look. Man that crap was made for the movies.
the plumber
scooter