Raymarine Cyclone 55W 6ft Open Array Radar (15m Cable)

The Raymarine Cyclone is the pinnacle of the brand’s marine radar technology – a state-of-the-art solid-state open array radar engineered to meet the demands of the most discerning captains. With its 6-foot (1.83 m) aerodynamic array inspired by aircraft wings, the Cyclone features an ultra-low profile (only 13.1″ tall) that allows greater flexibility in installation on a wide range of vessels. The rugged design is built for extremes, boasting a wind rating up to 100 knots and compliance with commercial IEC 62388 standards, ensuring reliable operation even in gale-force conditions on the open ocean.

At the heart of the Cyclone is its advanced radar technology. It employs CHIRP pulse compression and Raymarine’s beam sharpening innovations to deliver superior target resolution and clarity at both short and long ranges. The 55-watt solid-state transmitter achieves performance on par with a traditional 6 kW magnetron radar – effectively providing detection ranges out to 72 nautical miles – while also dramatically improving close-range visibility thanks to a minimal blind zone of approximately 18 feet (6 m). In practice, this means the Cyclone paints a crisp picture of everything from nearby skiffs or channel markers to distant ships and squalls on the horizon.

Enhanced situational awareness: The Cyclone radar is packed with cutting-edge features to keep you safe and informed. Its built-in Doppler moving target tracking instantly highlights moving contacts – potential threats approaching your vessel are colored red, while those moving away are colored green – allowing you to immediately distinguish dangerous targets from safe ones even in congested waterways. The system also supports professional-grade ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid), automatically tracking up to 100 targets simultaneously. This automatic target tracking, utilizing the same technology trusted by the U.S. Coast Guard, gives you a confident overview of traffic around you, which is crucial in poor visibility or high-traffic areas.

Another standout capability is Raymarine’s RangeFusion™ technology, which the Cyclone uses to combine short and long pulse returns into a single, crystal-clear radar image. Essentially, the radar can display targets that are very near to your boat and very far away at the same time on one screen. There’s no need to switch range scales to understand the full picture – whether it’s a crab pot 50 meters ahead or a storm cell 50 miles out, both will be visible together. This allows for quick, informed decision-making on the bridge, as you maintain awareness of hazards in your immediate vicinity and strategic knowledge of weather or vessel traffic at long range.

For avid fishermen, the Cyclone offers an invaluable tool: Bird Mode. This specialized radar mode is tuned to detect flocks of seabirds, which typically congregate over schools of baitfish or other marine life. Using CHIRP pulse compression and intelligent gain control, Cyclone’s enhanced Bird Mode can reveal the subtle radar echoes from distant bird flocks against the background clutter of waves and weather. In effect, the radar becomes a fish-finding ally – letting you pinpoint feeding activity from afar and head to the most promising fishing grounds quickly.

All these advanced features operate with impressive speed. The Cyclone’s scanner supports rotation speeds up to 60 RPM, refreshing the radar picture up to twice per second at close ranges. This ultra-fast update rate means even fast-moving vessels or quick maneuvers are tracked in real time, which is especially valuable when navigating at high speeds or negotiating tight waterways. Rapid scanning also improves tracking of severe weather cells or rain squalls, as the system can update their movement and development almost instantaneously.

Use cases and vessel recommendations: The Raymarine Cyclone 55W with a 6-foot array is ideally suited for larger motor yachts, offshore sportfishing vessels, and even light commercial craft that demand top-tier radar performance. The broad 6ft antenna provides the sharpest beam and highest gain, which translates into exceptional long-distance target discrimination – perfect for bluewater passagemakers who need to pick up far-off ships or storm fronts early, or tournament anglers searching for birds and bait over a vast area. At the same time, the unit’s low-profile design and concealed cable routing through the pedestal give installers flexibility to mount Cyclone on hardtops, radar arches, or tuna towers without compromising a vessel’s aesthetics or aerodynamics.

In summary, the Raymarine Cyclone 6ft 55W radar delivers a professional-grade solution that combines long range, high detail, and fast response. Whether you’re battling rough seas offshore, tracking birds to find fish, or entering a crowded harbor in the dead of night, this radar equips you with the information and confidence to navigate safely. It is the ultimate expression of design and performance in marine radar, giving you unmatched situational awareness in every condition.