Marine Radar and Electrical Courses Online

We are pleased to recommend these unique online training courses for boat owners, yacht skippers, and crew, produced by Dave Punch at MECO.

Enhance your Radar skills and boat electrical knowledge from the comfort of your own home.

Radar Masterclass

Learn how to get the most out of your radar, an up to the minute self paced course aimed at owners, skippers, and crew.

• Fully online self paced course teaches you step by step all the skills and technical knowledge the operator of a small craft (less than 24m) radar needs to know.
• Covers more than the traditional ‘pulsed ‘radar courses, with a detailed look at the benefits and limitations of cutting edge Broadband Radar too.
• Learn how to systematically observe targets, plot, and resolve a targets relative motion into true motion, with step by step lessons on each specific element, this is an area many students struggle with in the classroom!

Dave has been teaching radar in both a classroom and onboard environment for over 15 years, and he provides all the support too, and aims to respond within the hour.

Who is the course for?

Boat & yacht owners
who would like to get the most out of their equipment, or who are considering the addition of a radar system and would like to learn more about the subject.

Recreational Yacht Skippers and Crew
who would like to build their Radar skills to deal with restricted visibility, improve situational awareness and incorporate the use of radar into their existing navigational and pilotage skills.

Trainee skippers
who are preparing for their RYA or IYT Yachtmaster exams, there will be radar questions on your exam!

Commercial Yacht delivery skippers
who would like to ensure their radar knowledge is comprehensive enough to cover the variety of technology they will encounter on the various yachts they sail on, and deal confidently with restricted visibility situations

Yachtmaster instructors / Cruising instructors
who wish to improve not only their own radar skills but their radar teaching skills too.

Trainee Cruising Instructors
who would like to ensure they have all the required fully comprehensive knowledge of Radar to deal with any situations, real or otherwise, they may face in this highly challenging course.

SYLLABUS

Introduction

Brief Overview
Ranges (pulsed radar), Pulse timings / length, Pulse repetition frequency, Pulse repetition Interval, Range discrimination, Ranges (Broadband Radar), FMCW process, Bandwidth, Frequency comparison, Effective range discrimination, Limitations

Bearings
Horizontal beam width, Bearing discrimination, Measuring bearings, Correcting bearing distortion

Gain Control
Signal amplification, Automation, Manually adjusting the gain, The dangers of poorly adjusted gain

Sea Clutter Control
Causes of sea clutter, Signal attenuation process, How to apply sea clutter control, Dangers of incorrect use

Rain Clutter Control
Types of rain clutter, Signal attenuation processes, How to apply Rain clutter control, Dangers of incorrect use

Radar Horizon & Range
Limitations of radars ranges, Horizon calculations, Known Target range calculations

Modes of operation
Head up mode, North up mode, Course up mode, Hardware requirements for stabilised modes

RACONs
How the RACON functions, Limitations of RACONS- all radars, Limitations of RACONS Broadband radars, How to read RACON Targets, Developing technology, E-Racons

Basic Radar tools
EBL’s, Ascertain collision risk with EBL, VRM’s, Radar Cursor

Plotting Sheet Guide
How to fill in the information, How to use the speed-distance-time table

Plotting Stage 1
Transferring targets to a paper plotting sheet, Systematic observation of target, Plotting the O / A line, Relative motion, Plotting relative vectors, Working out the CPA

Plotting Stage 2
Rules of the stationary object, Understanding of ‘Our Motion’, Plotting the O / W line

Plotting Stage 3
Completing the plot, Plotting a Targets true motion, Plotting the W / A line, Measuring targets heading, Measuring targets speed, Working out targets aspect at different ranges, Plotting a true vector

MARPA
Correlation of traditional plotting techniques to automated systems, How to acquire targets, Reading Relative Vectors, Reading True Vectors, Thorough understanding of the difference between RV and TV, MARPA symbols, Hardware requirements of MARPA, Limitations of MARPA

If you’re short on time, the course can be completed in one long day, but it’s best to take your time, and allow the knowledge from each section to mature before proceeding onto the next. The elements of the course all tie in together, so you have to complete one section, and its associated questions before proceeding to the next.

Dave has been teaching Yachtmasters for 15 years, as a full Yachtmaster instructor, during this time he also teaches Radar in the classroom, so – he’s here for you if you get stuck, your questions help him to fine tune the course, so please fire away any questions as they pop up. He’s more than happy to help.

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Boat & Yacht Electrical Course Level 1 (Beginners)

About this course.

Start off from the very basics of the DC system and progress through to some of the finer points.

Learn how systems work, how they can fail, and how to find and fix faults.

The course takes you step by step through all the skills you need to be able to understand, maintain, and repair some basic simple faults on the vessels DC electrical system.

We are pleased to recommend and supply MECO’s online boat electrical course.

Now available as a stand alone online course for yacht owners, skippers, and crew wishing to develop their onboard electrical knowledge.

An ideal platform to improve your onboard electrical skills.

This course will show you how to:

• Maintain your electrical system
• Use basic test equipment
• Find & Fix faults

Duration:

You can complete the course and assessment at your own pace and in the comfort of your home or office.

• 16 to 25 Total hours study time 
• 2 Hour final online exam (optional)

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SYLLABUS

• Voltage Current and resistance
• Power
• Testing
• Batteries
• Alternators
• Starter motors
• Engine Gauges
• Multiple Bank Charging methods
• Busbars
• Cable sizing (ABYC and ISO 10133)
• Switches and relays
• Circuit protection
• Metering onboard – shunts, ammeters, voltmeters.
• Practical skills, professional crimping methods. 
• and more content updated weekly
• Lifetime access
• 16 to 25 Total hours study time +
• 2 Hour final online exam (optional)
• 30 day money back guarantee

Boat & Yacht Electrical Course Level 2 (Intermediate)

About this course.

A seamless progression from level 1 covering complex equipment you’d find on a self sufficient ocean going yacht.

The long awaited level 2 course is here! This is a seamless progression from the level 1 course, and completion of level 1 pre course requirement before enrolling on the level2. It’s best to enrol in the 1 and 2 courses as a bundle if you’re just starting out.

We are pleased to recommend and supply MECO’s Level 2 (Intermediate) online boat electrical course.

Duration:

You can complete the course and assessment at your own pace and in the comfort of your home or office.

• 16 to 25 Total hours study time 
• 2 Hour final online exam (optional)

SYLLABUS
Introduction
Batteries, Battery Types, Battery Charging, DC Circuit Protection, Alternator, External Regulators, Multiple Alternators, Solar Power, Wind Turbines, AC Shore power, Electrical Essentials, AC Circuit Protection, Inverters, Generators, Galvanic Action & Cathodic Protection, Isolation Transformers, Electrolytic Corrosion, Refrigeration, Water Makers, VHF Radio

• 30 day money back guarantee

Boat & yacht Electrical Combined Level 1 & 2

Boat & yacht Electrical Course Level 1 & Level 2. Save 25% by enrolling in both.

Fully comprehensive electrical training package aimed at Owners, Skippers & Crew of well equipped ocean going vessels, small commercial vessels, and workboats.

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With the combined course you will start off from the very basics of voltage, current, and resistance, often misunderstood but forms the basis of simple fault finding, prevention, and repairs. You will build your skills step by step right through to testing VHF antennas, diagnosing complex charging issues with multiple alternators and much more!