Picked up the Garmin 740S/Radar bundle and finally floated the boat first time Sunday, just don't tell my back surgeon:). Didn't go much outside Westport River mouth, but back won't take too much pounding yet, but initial thougts are SWEET. I were glasses for distance and I've not yet gone to bifocals, so it the usual on and off again for glasses, but that would be the same for any unit.

Anywho, radar ranges in the fog, I'm curious what ring range most feel comfortable with when running in the fog. I've got a 20 footer, which turns and stops on a dime, so I'm thinking close 1/8 mile or so. Then my other question is about gain, range and looking for birds, any tips on best range, gain and setting all that up. While it will be tough steaming away from working birds this spring, but I assume one of the best ways to learn this is from doing just that and then messing around.

Looking forward to getting out more and playing around once the run is in full gear.

When I run in fog offshore I keep it on 2 miles. I'm constantly zooming in and out. Double checking all marks against known bouys. Getting acurate double and triple checks against the chartplotter. If I see a mark I'll keep zooming in the closer I get to it. Untill I see it or it's passed. Constantly bieng aware where it's going, Where I'm going etc. It's tough to keep it on one set range. Inside the harbor I use 3/4 1/2 &. 1/8
You want to mark something as far away as you can and then range down as it appraoches.
As for finding birds unless you have a very powerfull open array forget it in any kind of seas other than glass. You'd do better with binoculars.

1. Run with it on, often. Helps you get used to the radar vs the 'real-world'
2. Don't stare at it and assume you are seeing everything
3. Other crew 'on-watch' for targets and things missed (i.e. lobster pots!)

My buddy recently took a seminar and was told radar should always be on so you are 100% confident in its use when you really need it. We run ours most of the time at 1/8th mile in a our center console just to see what is in our general boating path. Nice to get used to the sea clutter and rain/snow adjustments over time too,good luck with it.

Also FYI you are "required" at all times underway to have the radar on. I for one don't unless it's night or foggy.
If there is ever an incident Or collision they will want to know why you did not have it on.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

radar should always be on so you are 100% confident in its use when you really need it. .

Best advice in this thread!

I run with mine similar to FF. Keep zooming in and out constantly cross checking with chartplotter. The more you use it the better and more confident you will become. When it is foggy out east which it is most of the time radar is a huge help but even with radar SLOW DOWN. I'm amazed how many knuckleheads bomb around in pea soup fog at 30 knots.

There is no set way to keep range. As Mike said 2 miles is a good starting point when outside. When inside the harbor I keep mine zoomed in.
I'm zooming range in & out during the day, also up and down on the gain when something comes up in my heading.
As others run with it on most of the time.