When most boaters think about electronics, they picture fishfinders, chartplotters, or VHF radios. But if you spend time on the water in low visibility, offshore, or in busy coastal areas, there’s one type of gear that can make a huge difference in safety and awareness — marine radars.
What Marine Radars Do
Marine radars use radio waves to detect and display objects around your boat. This can include other vessels, shorelines, buoys, markers, and even approaching weather. They give you a real-time picture of what’s nearby, even when visibility is poor.
When Marine Radars Prove Their Worth
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Fog or low light – When visibility drops, radars give you a clear view of what’s ahead.
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Night cruising – Navigating after dark is easier and safer when you can see other boats and hazards on your screen.
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Offshore trips – Without familiar landmarks, radars help you stay oriented and avoid trouble.
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Busy waterways – In heavy boat traffic, radars make it easier to track and avoid other vessels.
Marine Radars vs. AIS
AIS (Automatic Identification System) shows the location of vessels broadcasting their position. Marine radars show everything — even boats without AIS, as well as kayaks, floating logs, and markers. Ideally, you’d have both, but if you’re choosing one for visibility, radars cover more situations.
Choosing the Right Marine Radar
Modern marine radars come in two main styles:
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Dome radars – Compact, easier to install, and well-suited for most recreational boats.
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Open-array radars – Greater range and sharper detail, ideal for larger boats, offshore cruising, and tracking distant weather.
Features worth looking for include Doppler tracking to highlight moving targets, low power draw, solid-state technology for instant start-up, and easy integration with multifunction displays like Simrad or Lowrance.
Our Take
At The Harbour Chandler, we stock marine radars that pair seamlessly with Simrad NSS, NSX, and GO series displays. Whether you’re fishing close to home or running long-range offshore, we can help you choose the right system for your boat.
Bottom Line
You don’t need to be crossing oceans to benefit from marine radars. If you head out in fog, cruise at night, or spend time in busy waterways, having one on board can make your time on the water safer and less stressful.
Have questions? Come by the store, shoot us an email at TimW@harbourchandler.ca, or check out our full range of radar units [here].
