What Is the Difference Between AIS and Radar? Should I Have Both on My Boat?

[@luxorbill269]

It took ONE trip coming back out of ocean in total fog on Oregon Coast for us to get a tower and radar- 4G Broadband. Blue bird day when we left and all of a sudden, couldn't see one bit of the coastline. Luckily we had trails turned on otherwise we would have had to wait, it was that bad. One poor boat's electronics failed and he had no trails. Had to follow us all the way thru the bar to the Newport Bridge.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing Luxor. It's scary to be stuck in a fog bank, glad I have radar on my boat too.

[@nateanderson7140]

Jeff, I love your videos for their knowledge and your clear, technical descriptions. Great work! As a deep sea mariner, I cringe a bit on hinting that AIS can be relied upon for collision avoidance (in the absence of a radar to back up the return). I would maintain a healthy degree of skepticism that other's AIS information is either incorrect or incomplete. Bad input from Speed log, compass heading, GPS, etc. all cause the system to broadcast incorrect position or heading. Also military and commercial ships may choose not to broadcast AIS or can manipulate the data manually. Assuming you have an integrated Radar and AIS display, you should be looking for a radar return aligned with the AIS vector PLUS looking out for any radar returns that are not broadcasting AIS. You are spot on about the importance of prioritizing radar despite it's higher cost.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Nate for sharing. Thorough and clear explanation on the pitfalls of relying on one thing, like AIS, too much.

[@cornelisvanderbent2092]

It's also possible to receive AIS information over the internet. This involves a central service that gathers AIS data streams that ships and ground station send to it.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Absolutely, lots of apps that share AIS traffic info via the internet.

[@funda298]

Thanks for the video. We ended up buying both for our new little 28ft Parker 790 explorer! 🙂

[@PacificYachtSystems]

That is awesome!

[@rovicsteelydan1415]

Hi, thanks for the information. But i wanted to know if radar and ais make the same? They have the same funtions of detect and track objects? Thanks

[@Rockabuy2002]

I am purchasing new electronics for my 42 foot cruiser with flybridge. Very pricey project with 4 12 inch chartplotters, radar, and autopilot. Have selected Garmin but I am becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Garmin cartography and have fallen in love with Navionics on my ipad. Are others having similar thoughts? Any scuttlebutt on Garmin going to Navionics?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Have you seen the latest Garmin Charts? About a 1 - 2 years ago, Garmin bought Navionics and incorporated lots of the richer chart details from Navionics into Garmin Bluecharts.

[@americanhobo190]

All my life jackets have AIS working with man overboard. That was the big plus for me.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Smart, did the same with our the lifejackets for our two dogs.

[@borysnijinski331]

I have Raymarine Axiom MFD. For RADAR do I need to stick with Raymarine RADARs or can I use others like Furuno or other?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hi Borys, at this moment, the only radar that works with the Axiom is the Raymarine radar.

[@cyberkatis]

Hey Jeff, WILL AIS and or Radar systems that are integrated via NMEA 2000 networks be able to send this data to say Raymarine Autopilots to make course corrections based on input from Radar/AIS systems. I know they will alarm in case of course collision but it would be amazing to alarm and avoid!? Thoughts and answers?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

no they can't do that

[@rhondae6358]

Hi Jeff.. great videos...thank you.. I have a question about battery monitor gauges ...what would you recommend for a 35 foot motor boat ? I have 2 D8 batteries now ... Xantrex ??

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Well we recommend battery monitors for your deep cycle batteries. Here are some recommendations: Xantrex Linklite, Victron BMV, and Blueseas M2 SOC. For engine batteries, a voltmeter is good enough.

[@aphrodite3216]

High Jeff! My question is... do I need to fuse the wire coming from my alternator at the alternator, I'm thinking yes but I have yet to see a boat with one at the alternator... So I thought I'd ask in case there is some reason not to... Thanks Steve

[@koffibanan3099]

You should fuse the wire, but not at the alternator, fuse it as close to the battery as you can (less than 15cm away from the + post). The alternator is never going to magically put out more amperage than what it's rated at and the wire should of course be sized to easily handle the alternator current. The battery however can provide an enormous amount of current. If you fused right at the alternator and the wire rubbed through midway and hit the grounded engine, you'd have an unfused short and a potentially dangerous situation.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Koffi!!! Well said.

[@koffibanan3099]

@@PacificYachtSystems Just repeating what I've learned from you, so you don't have to! :) Can I ask which software you use to create schematics? Just finished one for a friend with KiCad; it looks like this: i.imgur.com/GsE3XER.png

[@kirkwick100]

I have Garmin MFD and Radar. It seems like I am receiving AIS info but not transmitting. Is that possible?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

AIS info can come from either a blackbox AIS Transponder & Receiver or it AIS info can come from a VHF/AIS radio that only receives and doesn't transmit. Based on your info, suggest you look at your VHF radio, might have a built-in AIS receiver.

[@hayatel2557]

There is no pros and cons. Both are a must for ocean Crossing

[@javierbetancourt9388]

💯

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Javier!

[@javierbetancourt9388]

@@PacificYachtSystems u are welcome great content