Plymouth Chandlers Mount Batten Boathouse who are almost next door to Boatshed Plymouth are running a Raymarine Radar and Electronic Navigation Training Course at the Mount Batten Centre in Plymouth on 19th and 20th March. This 2 day course gives a very detailed look at using Raymarine’s radar equipment with loads of tips, advice and information you’d never get from the handbook alone.

The course is lead by Alan Watson who served in the Merchant Navy for over 30 years and now holds a Board of Trade certificate for the maintenance of Radar. Gavin Hearnden of Mount Batten Boathouse explained that they ran a similar course last year and it was so successful he decided to run another. “ We find that customer’s buying radar and electronic navigation equipment do so primarily with safety in mind so learning not only how to use it but how to get the best out of it quickly and efficiently in the comfort of a class room environment gives them the edge when things start to turn nasty out at sea.”

Gavin also points out that being able to use this equipment correctly is so important it has been enshrined in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Rule 7b to be precise:
Proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational, including long-range scanning to obtain early warning of risk of collision and radar plotting or equivalent systematic observation of detected objects.

We have all heard of recent radar assisted collisions in the yachting press but there have been many many more near miss situations. I’m sure some of you reading this can recall instances which make you go cold just thinking of them.

“The course was excellent value, Alan has a wealth of knowledge but manages to convey this in a friendly manner, I feel so much more confident now turning on my radar.”
MW who keeps his Fairline 40 at QAB marina speaking about last year’s course.

The course costs £95 for 2 days which includes tea, coffee and lunch. You will have your own Raymarine E120 multifunction screen to use. Please contact Gavin at Mount Batten Boathouse for more details or to book but the course is limited to 15 places.
Mount Batten Boathouse are also Raymarine main dealers and currently have a special offer on Raymarine equipment, they also stock general chandlery and have great reductions on their range of inflatable tenders as they are clearing stocks ready for new models arriving later in this spring. But the best offer at the moment is a 15% reduction on all makes of antifouling which at this time of year is just when you need it!