Antenna, wind vanes and radar reflector

[Aggieskipper]

Dropping mast to renew running rigging and was thinking about these bits for Bristol Channel cruising grounds. No fixed radio in boat as yet. Any suggestions on best products for 25' gaffer, bit worried that high tech looking solutions for Bermudas will look a bit naff on my boat.

 

[Peterduck]

Taking them in order; a transceiver antenna isn't all that visible to the casual observer, and the ones who look more closely should understand that a transceiver is a necessary item of kit, not a 'fancy add-on'. By the wind-vane, I assume that you mean the gadgets that the racing charleys put up there to tell them which way the wind is coming from. I personally think that if you can't feel which way the wind is coming from you should get a motor-boat or perhaps even stay ashore. As for fine tuning, the behaviour of the sails will tell you that. With the radar reflector, I would go for one of those radar alarms, which pick up the prescence of a ship's radar beam. Then use your spare halyard to hoist a reflector, so that your boat appears on their screen. There was an article in YM or PBO many years ago showing how to construct a demountable radar reflector from four sheets of aluminium which slot together. If I can find a print of it, I'll pass it to Steffan to be republished. It's the sort of thing which should be re-published often.
Peter.

 

[Peterduck]

Now here's a thought; Borrow a pair of the First Mate's pantyhose, and fill one leg with loosely crunched-up alfoil from the galley. Tie to the spare halyard at waist and toe, so that the halyard become a continuous loop. Hoist to the masthead. The other leg will tell you where the wind is going to. The skipper's dream; a multi-function fitting that costs pennies!
Peter.

 

[lenseman]

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Brilliant idea, why didn't I think of that? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Chrusty1]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.........Love it, and ya know what, it would probably be just as good as all the fancy offerings on the market!

 

[Salty John]

The whip antenna at the masthead should be quite unobtrusive; If the mast is hollow and you can run the cable inside it should maintain the look and avoid any problems.
You can get a Windex wind indicator that fits over the antenna.
A passive radar reflector can be hoisted when on passage but with no spreaders it might be a challenge to keep it out of the way. Larry Pardey reckons that crinkled aluminium foil inside a wooden mast is a very effective radar reflector.