AIS Pros & Cons?

[man7sell]

I and thinking of adding an AIS transceiver or receiver. Being able to add that to your chart plotter and radar seems like a good idea.


Pros and cons anyone? Have you added AIS?

 

[bowball]

Major positive.
It’s really helpful for me to see the ferries and when crossing the shipping lanes into Vancouver for example to see the 20 knot plus vessels well in advance.

Only negative is I turn it off displaying it on the plotter when starting to enter busy harbours as it generates too much clutter from boats that have left it on.

 

[SteveK]

Pro-I can see you
Con-you can see me
No AIS here

 

[SteveK]

Major positive.
It’s really helpful for me to see the ferries and when crossing the shipping lanes into Vancouver for example to see the 20 knot plus vessels well in advance.

Only negative is I turn it off displaying it on the plotter when starting to enter busy harbours as it generates too much clutter from boats that have left it on.

Is that with max zoom?

 

[rslifkin]

Major positive.
It’s really helpful for me to see the ferries and when crossing the shipping lanes into Vancouver for example to see the 20 knot plus vessels well in advance.

Only negative is I turn it off displaying it on the plotter when starting to enter busy harbours as it generates too much clutter from boats that have left it on.

For that second situation, your plotter may have an option to hide targets below a certain speed. So in crowded harbors you could set it to hide anything below 1 - 2 kts to get anchored and docked boats and only show the moving ones.

 

[Comodave]

Absolutely good thing. No downside that I see.

 

[bowball]

Is that with max zoom?

For that second situation, your plotter may have an option to hide targets below a certain speed. So in crowded harbors you could set it to hide anything below 1 - 2 kts to get anchored and docked boats and only show the moving ones.

Thanks for reminding me. I keep meaning to check that which would solve the issue.

However, given the tightness of the space (several marinas) and sometimes narrow channels and how many don’t have AIS I’m not relying - or even considering it or my radar either which I shut off from transmitting not just displaying. Furuno tz3.

 

[bowball]

Is that with max zoom?

Almost max zoom. And when zoomed out more it’s all blue symbols.

 

[SteveK]

I do not watch radar once entering marina or even anchorage. Have it on and glance at it when underway. But if it is on, I leave it on until docked.

Just looked at marine traffic app on phone and see two boats in their berth with AIS on at my marina. Yes that can be a pain when entering a fairway.

 

[Choices]

Depends where you boat. On the ICW in Texas and Louisiana it is sure handy. Tugs can call me and warn me of their manuvers.

Other than that most idiots I encounter don't listen to the radio, and have their speakers blaring. They have no concept of AIS.

 

[MYTraveler]

I was an early adaptor of class A AIS with a Furuno unit. That model has no ability to turn off transmit while keeping receive on, which doesn't bother me even though my boat's primary reason for existing is for fishing, and some guys really hate to show their position with the world. If you are in that camp, be sure to get a unit on which transmit can be separately turned off.

 

[tiltrider1]

Adding a Receiver -
Pro - you will be able to see freighters coming and predict crossings.
Con - I see none

Adding a Transceiver -
Pro- others will see you even in poor visibility
Con - government will use it against you if you wander into a restricted area.

Right now Canada is issuing fines to any AIS target that wanders into a whale zone. No transceiver, no fine.

 

[SteveK]

Adding a Receiver -
Pro - you will be able to see freighters coming and predict crossings.
Con - I see none

Adding a Transceiver -
Pro- others will see you even in poor visibility
Con - government will use it against you if you wander into a restricted area.

Right now Canada is issuing fines to any AIS target that wanders into a whale zone. No transceiver, no fine.

Really, is that fact? Anyone here been fined? So far all I heard was warnings given over the VHF, CG calling boat by name. I asked CG if they have spotters on shore, answer was no, so must be only boats with AIS getting called.
With chartplotter and radar I walk the edge of the line of the whale zones several times over the summer

 

[Bob Cofer]

Pros - it's a useful tool that does add a bit of safety when in busy shipping/traffic areas.
Cons - none unless you are trying to hide.

 

[Bob Cofer]

I have a friend who blew through the zone south of Pender and ignored repeated calls from the CG, he got to pay $500 for his foolishness. The area is clearly marked. Being a responsible boater does have some requirements.

 

[ranger58sb]

Con-you can see me

Why would that be a con?

I like it when ships can "see" us... and don't run over us...

-Chris

 

[Iggy]

For that second situation, your plotter may have an option to hide targets below a certain speed. So in crowded harbors you could set it to hide anything below 1 - 2 kts to get anchored and docked boats and only show the moving ones.

Very true! You can even set it to distance. Well that might depend on the model. But speed, yes.

I would not use phone based AIS apps. They use ground stations to relay boat positions. Case in point. - A boater I was with, was following me on his phone in the fog. We ether hit a blind spot for the ground stations or went to far off shore. He lost me as a target but we where only a mile apart. To add to this, there was a delay in updating the info. If he has AIS, he never would have lost me.

 

[SHASA III]

Adding a Receiver -
Pro - you will be able to see freighters coming and predict crossings.
Con - I see none

Adding a Transceiver -
Pro- others will see you even in poor visibility
Con - government will use it against you if you wander into a restricted area.

Right now Canada is issuing fines to any AIS target that wanders into a whale zone. No transceiver, no fine.

Simple answer...don't wander into restricted areas that are identified on the ENC charts! I think AIS should be mandatory.

 

[bowball]

I have a friend who blew through the zone south of Pender and ignored repeated calls from the CG, he got to pay $500 for his foolishness. The area is clearly marked. Being a responsible boater does have some requirements.

Almost each time I go by that zone someone is inside of it and the CG calls them nicely.

 

[ranger58sb]

Only negative is I turn it off displaying it on the plotter when starting to enter busy harbours as it generates too much clutter from boats that have left it on.

Ours has a setting for target speeds; less than X usually weeds out all the docked vessels.

-Chris

 

[Portage_Bay]

That has been my experience as well. CG will call repeatedly until contact is finally made. Sometimes it takes many attempts. Then the offender is firmly but politely reminded of the exclusion zone.


1197188]Really, is that fact? Anyone here been fined? So far all I heard was warnings given over the VHF, CG calling boat by name. I asked CG if they have spotters on shore, answer was no, so must be only boats with AIS getting called.
With chartplotter and radar I walk the edge of the line of the whale zones several times over the summer[/QUOTE]

Almost each time I go by that zone someone is inside of it and the CG calls them nicely.

 

[CaptTom]

If I inadvertently wander into a restricted area, I'd count it as a "pro" if someone could hail me and let me know. So far that's happened exactly once. It was a newly declared zone, where there was some wind farm construction beginning. The contractor's patrol boat was able to hail me by name, saving us both the hassle of them chasing me down.

Cons? No. Any more information I and others around me can get at the helm is a good thing.

Yes, it's annoying when people leave their AIS transmitting in marinas. But coming into an unfamiliar marina, I'd rarely be looking at my chartplotter anyway. I only wish there were a "+" and "-" button for the CPA alarm. I tend to keep mine at a very small distance so it doesn't distract me when I come into a busy port. It would be nice to "zoom it out" when I got offshore, but I rarely go through the hassle.

 

[ofer]

any down site to transmit AIS can be remedy by a toggle switch.

 

[O C Diver]

Mine has been on since April. See no downside.

Pros:
You now know the name of the ship that may not see you.
The ship now knows your name to save your life.
Invaluable in heavy commercial traffic like New York city.
A better warning system at night in an anchorage than an anchor light.
Best boat locator when you're in trouble and need help.
Tremendous asset for collision avoidance when you can't be seen.
Takes a lot of guess work out of intersecting courses with other AIS vessels.

Ted

 

[BDofMSP]

I would not use phone based AIS apps. They use ground stations to relay boat positions.

I would clarify and say don't ONLY use phone based apps. When I was crossing Lake Superior (in total fog) this summer, I would check the phone app from time to time too. It enabled me to see ships positions long before I actually received their signal on my AIS. Just provided better situational awareness (and possibly prevented a heart attack when they actually did pop up!).

BD

 

[SteveK]

Why would that be a con?

I like it when ships can "see" us... and don't run over us...

-Chris

Ships do not run over me, I see with my eyes what is all around. I am long out of SAR but have not stopped scanning around, being aware.

 

[SteveK]

I have a friend who blew through the zone south of Pender and ignored repeated calls from the CG, he got to pay $500 for his foolishness. The area is clearly marked. Being a responsible boater does have some requirements.

Bob, sounds like they had AIS on but ignored vhf or it was off (sailboater). Also was it the first time? Can you find out where the bill came from, our coast guard is not enforcement so it would be another department. Would like to know.

 

[jgwinks]

Pros - it's a useful tool that does add a bit of safety when in busy shipping/traffic areas.
Cons - none unless you are trying to hide.

The only con I've heard of is the Somali pirates were using it to track their prey. I don't think that's an issue for most of us. I don't have a transponder but I do receive, very handy here on the rivers where there might be a 20 barge tow around the next bend. Transponder's on the wish list.

 

[tiltrider1]

Really, is that fact? Anyone here been fined? So far all I heard was warnings given over the VHF, CG calling boat by name. I asked CG if they have spotters on shore, answer was no, so must be only boats with AIS getting called.
With chartplotter and radar I walk the edge of the line of the whale zones several times over the summer

Yes, several USA boats received fines this summer.

 

[tiltrider1]

Simple answer...don't wander into restricted areas that are identified on the ENC charts! I think AIS should be mandatory.

OP asked for the cons. I gave him the only con I know.

The USA also issued a speeding ticket on the East coast for a boat traveling in excess of 10 kts between the Grand Bank and the shore.

Expect this to become a bigger Con over time.