Blissboat
Guru
In 1982 I sailed from Stuart, Florida to Martha's Vineyard for the first time. When fitting out for the extended trip, experienced boaters insisted that, because of the frequency of fog throughout New England waters, I would regret not having radar. Grudgingly, I bought the most affordable Furuno unit available, my first radar, and on the trip north learned to tune it. Indeed, after a week of northbound sailing offshore, I made a nighttime landfall, and with the help of Mr. Furuno was able to pick my way past Chappaquiddick, round Cape Poge light and anchor up in the Edgartown outer harbor, all under cover of darkness. After a few hours' sleep, I came on deck around mid-morning, feeling smug and salty.
After exploring New England for most of that summer, I observed that nearly every local boat in sight had a radome. I was certainly glad to have one too.
Fast-forward to 2023. A broker in Massachusetts returned my call about a downeast style motorboat whose looks and price had caught my fancy. In most respects it was nicely equipped, but I was surprised to see that its electronics suite lacked any kind of radar. The broker explained that radar is no longer considered essential in New England waters, because the prevalence of fog has diminished over the past twenty years or so. "Climate change," he added, with the brevity typical of the region.
So, okay - I get it that a modern chartplotter would guide me to that anchorage off Edgartown as easily, or more so, than radar did 41 years ago. But is it really true that today radar is no more necessary in New England than in my local Florida waters? And if so, is it true that climate conditions rarely sustain that magical dewpoint where atmospheric humidity becomes visible and sometimes thick enough to slice?
After exploring New England for most of that summer, I observed that nearly every local boat in sight had a radome. I was certainly glad to have one too.
Fast-forward to 2023. A broker in Massachusetts returned my call about a downeast style motorboat whose looks and price had caught my fancy. In most respects it was nicely equipped, but I was surprised to see that its electronics suite lacked any kind of radar. The broker explained that radar is no longer considered essential in New England waters, because the prevalence of fog has diminished over the past twenty years or so. "Climate change," he added, with the brevity typical of the region.
So, okay - I get it that a modern chartplotter would guide me to that anchorage off Edgartown as easily, or more so, than radar did 41 years ago. But is it really true that today radar is no more necessary in New England than in my local Florida waters? And if so, is it true that climate conditions rarely sustain that magical dewpoint where atmospheric humidity becomes visible and sometimes thick enough to slice?