A newly available technology (for those of us who boat in areas where
there is a lot of commercial traffic and where visibility may not
always be optimal) will allow us to be aware of just where all the
commercial vessels are, in real time.

Vessels over 65-feet are now required to carry a transponder that
continuously broadcasts the vessel position, speed, heading, and vessel
ID information. An AIS (automatic identification system) receiver can
be installed by any boater and all of the information broadcast by the
larger vessels will be digitally converted to icons on a plotter
screen.

The technology is not expensive. The Nobeltec version sells for $499,
(although it needs the basic Nobeltec Visual Navigation Suite to
function and that would be sold separately).

The technology offers some advantages over radar. When a target appears
on radar, there is no associated information about the type of vessel,
its size, its speed, or its heading.
The system certainly doesn't replace radar, but does offer some
additional details.

For those who want to make sure their vessel is seen *by* the big
commercial boats, it is legal for any vessel to carry the same
transponder. At this point, the downside to fitting one of the
transponders to a boat will be the cost of the hardware....said to be
about $3000.