USING RADAR FOR COLLISION AVOIDANCE

■ Periodically cycle through the ranges and don’t leave it just on long range.■ Leave the sensitivity and clutter settings on auto. Modern radars handle them well.■ If you want to look through a rain cloud, alter ‘rain clutter’ control very briefly, then revert it to automatic every time.■ Use a split screen with radar on dual range, or radar and chartplotter lined up alongside, or radar ‘overlaid’ on the chartplotter. Experiment with this before you hit fog.■ Consider setting up an alarm zone to help you detect contacts.■ If your radar display is below decks, have a tested system for communicating to the helm. Some yachts use a private VHF channel.■ Stay clear of busy ferry routes