Elderly Panbot writes about the magic of Doppler-assisted solid-state radar
Hello Panbo readers! This is Ben Ellison — sometimes known as the “Other Ben” or the “Old Ben” — and I want to apologize for posting here so infrequently in recent years. It’s not for lack of interest. In fact, I’ve done all or most of the research for several Panbo articles that I hope to complete at some point, and I can still make sentences, as illustrated above.
What’s happening above is me trying to summarize the lessons learned from years of testing modern radars, in this case for Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors‘ annual Boats of the Year publication, which is now freely available in two digital forms:
Online viewer of MBHH 2025 Boats of the Year
Download PDF of MBHH 2025 Boats of the Year
The radar roundup starts on page 22, but you may well enjoy other articles and/or the new boat profiles. Maine boatbuilding has enjoyed a significant renaissance in recent decades, and I feel fortunate to have observed that up close. I’d also enjoy feedback on my radar thoughts. It still takes user effort to get the most out of even the premium Doppler-assisted solid-state radomes now offered by all major brands, but I remain amazed at what they can do.
***************************************************
Meanwhile, there are few valid excuses for my lack of content creation, but this is one: I’m still trying to find a new owner for the wonderful Duffy 37 Gizmo now that Young Ben is Panbo’s primary electronics tester and I yearn for fewer boat responsibilities. Actually, one inducement MBHH offered was a sharp ad in their May/June print issue…
…But this and various Facebook and boat forum ad efforts have not yet attracted a serious offer, even since I lowered the asking price by $50,000 in early July. I do have the interest of some good brokers — and may go that way soon — but maybe Panbo readers have some advice about how to better market this boat?
Are there “boats for sale by owner” sites I’m missing, or something more I should be sharing in the listing photos and docs? Or maybe I wrote too much, or failed to point out the right features?
Duffy 37 Gizmo for sale by owner
Any and all feedback is welcome, while thankfully I still enjoy working to make Gizmo more presentable and functional, especially as I get to do that while on a peaceful moored float in ever-beautiful Camden Inner Harbor. But please help me find a new owner/operator, and I swear I’ll write more on Panbo 😉
Thanks for sharing the article! I just bought a Halo20+ and am excited to try out all the good stuff sailing my cabin catamaran.
Good luck with selling your boat!
Cheers,
Bram
Try Trawler Forum. Your boat and asking price would seemingly fit a lot of what folks say they are interested in on the site. Nice fuel consumption!
Been using/repairing marine and military radar since 1968 . . . primary view in conditions should be radar ONLY. A separate display for chart with overlay should be secondary. Conditions requiring radar are ‘flying on instruments’ situation, don’t waste time or focus looking out the wheelhouse windows.
Somehow I missed the resurfacing of Ben #1, who certainly has been missed — although Ben #2 is doing an excellent job.
If you like the NXT dome, put a six foot DRS-25A-NXT on there so you can see the pole with the small radar reflector and the little foam float next to it when around a lobster trawl. The ARPA function and CPA vectors do take much of the anxiety out of running in fog.