As they are right on the water and could easily be mistaken for sea clutter... or wave returns. But if somehow you do see them, that is quite a system. Obviously they are quite dense, and wet, which might be why they reflect, where as wooden boats don't. But why would birds? And why wouldn't the hull of a wooden boat right at the water line give you a similar return as deadheads?

Anything with enough flat metal, such as the reflectors on the nets should give a nice return.

Now as to the reason broadband may be better... it uses a wider range of frequencies in the RF signal sent out for objects to reflect, so it should give a return based on a wider variety of density and metal content. A broader spectrum of RF can offer a wider range of returns off of various objects. Imagine pulse radar as a single color high intensity narrow light looking into the dark, and broadband as closer to flood type white light (a mix of a wide spectrum)... you should see more. No doubt that narrow beam may go further.

But bottom line if you are happy with your current system... don't muck with it. If it ain't broke... as the saying goes.

The reviews on broadband say that it doesn't work as well over distance, which for a cruiser at night on a long passage is not a good thing... you want warning of stuff at a distance so you have time to react.

Having only personal experience with pulse radars... I honestly cannot say if broadband is better... but I understand the theory, just don't know how well it is actually carried out.