Understand the picture
Recognise real targets, clutter, false echoes, side lobes and the limitations of what the radar can actually resolve.
Radar Course Online
Learn how to use your radar online
Build radar confidence with this beginner-friendly operators course.
Including: Radar system setup and interpretation, Gain, Sea & Rain Clutter, EBL/VRM, MARPA & ARPA, True & Relative Motion, plotting, pilotage and more — through interactive, self-paced training.
Ability After The Training
Use a small craft Radar effectively for both pilotage and collision avoidance.
Understand the functional and operational differences of both 'Broadband' and 'Pulsed' radar.
Easily execute key radar skills such as systematic target observation, radar plotting, pilotage, radar horizon and target ranging calculation.
Fully understand the effective operation and limitations of the radar features such as sea & rain clutter, gain, tuning, EBL's,, VRMs, MARPA, ARPA, true and relative vectors.
Know how the International Rules of Prevention of Collisions at Sea applies when vessels are operating in reduced visibility.
Try it right here!
Here's one of the interactive elements below:
MECO Sample Interactive Element
Sea Clutter Control
Sea clutter is caused by radar energy reflecting from waves close to the vessel. Increase the sea-clutter control to suppress these unwanted returns — but be careful: excessive suppression can remove genuine nearby targets as well.
Select sea-clutter mode
Manual mode gives the operator direct control of sea-clutter suppression.
Sea-clutter suppression
Manual setting
40%
None
Useful
Excessive
What happens to the picture?
Reduced
Close-range sea clutter
Visible
Weak nearby targets
Teaching point
Enough suppression has been applied to reduce the close-range wave echoes, while genuine nearby targets are still visible.
Do not judge sea clutter only by how clean the screen looks.
An over-suppressed display may look excellent while genuine small or weak targets
close to the vessel have been removed with the unwanted sea returns.
What's Included
MECO Small Craft Radar Course
See the bigger picture.
Learn how to set up, interpret and use a modern marine radar properly — from the fundamentals of echoes and target discrimination through to EBL, VRM, MARPA, vectors, collision risk and traditional plotting.
RYA / IYT Yachtmaster preparation
Small-craft focused
Modern + traditional radar
Practical interactive learning
Set the radar correctly
Use Gain, Sea Clutter, Rain Clutter and other controls without accidentally suppressing genuine targets.
Measure targets
Use the cursor, EBL and VRM to obtain bearing and range information and assess developing situations.
Assess collision risk
Recognise constant bearing and decreasing range, calculate CPA and understand the information MARPA provides.
Interpret vectors
Build a clear understanding of True and Relative vectors rather than simply accepting what the display shows.
Work without GNSS
Use radar ranges and bearings for position fixing and understand how radar can support navigation when other systems fail.
What you’ll cover
A practical progression from basic radar principles through to the skills expected of a competent small-craft radar operator.
EBL & VRM
Range, bearing and collision-risk assessment.
Refining the picture
Gain, sea clutter, rain clutter, FTC, IR and more.
Modes of operation
Head Up, North Up and presentation limitations.
Target discrimination
Range and bearing resolution explained.
Radar horizon
Calculate detection range and understand height effects.
Position fixing
Using radar when GNSS is unavailable or suspect.
Broadband vs Pulsed
Strengths, weaknesses and technology differences.
MARPA / ARPA
Target acquisition, CPA, TCPA and tracking limitations.
Risk of collision
Constant bearing, decreasing range and CPA.
Traditional plotting
Course, speed, aspect and the plotting triangle.
Target vectors
True and Relative vectors made understandable.
Radar responders
SARTs, RTEs, RACONs and interacting equipment.
Radar-assisted collision
Common mistakes, overconfidence and poor interpretation.
Radar plotting
Systematic observation and small-craft limitations.
Practical interpretation
Turn the radar picture into useful navigational decisions.
Operator judgement
Know when to trust the display — and when to question it.
Small Craft Radar Course — online and on demand
Built to develop understanding, not simply teach which buttons to press.
£125 · $149
