Should I install a VHF AIS radio on my 28-foot coastal cruiser?

[Grace_L]

I’m trying to decide if I should install a new VHF radio with built-in AIS receiver on my 28-foot coastal cruiser. I like the idea of having that extra collision awareness on the screen, but I’m not sure if the added cost is justified for the bay and near-shore sailing I mostly do.

[LoganWM]

I installed a radio with a built in AIS receiver on my 28 foot coastal cruiser last season and it did change how I read traffic; targets pop up on screen in busy bays and I get a heads up before someone cuts across.

[TimothyQR]

Do you actually see enough AIS targets in your typical bay to justify the extra cost?

[Daniel.M]

I priced it out, tried a budget unit, and ended up returning it because the display clutter and occasional false positives drove me nuts.

[Mia.P]

I thought it would replace listening to hails, but I still end up turning it off in rough wind because I can't focus on the chat and the screen at once.

[Mia99]

Sometimes I worry the problem isn't traffic but how we use the info; I left it on all day once and saw a lot of ghost icons near the marina and it stressed me.

[Isabella_R]

A buddy reminded me that if you rely on it too much you forget to listen for wind and other boats; maybe the real problem is our habits, not the gadget.