Gillie Firth

[rob2]

Following on the panic inspired by the sinking of the Ouzo, I fitted a Sea-Me unit, keeping the fibreglass cylinder to hoist for passive detection and some S band cover. Having read the MAIB report and the test results of available reflectors, I was surprised to see that the Firdell Blipper, the Gillie Firth and the Echomax were all designed by the one man. His present company (Echomax) now actively "rubbish" the Blipper - but does anyone have test data for the Gillie Firth?

 

[maxi]

Following one YM Triangle race, we were passing the time when crossing Lyme, by assessing the radar responses of other yachts.

We had in company a Fulmar 32 who showed up beautifully on the radar with no reflector deployed. Out of interest he raised his Gillie Firth and ' the Fulmar disappeared from the screen'. We repeated this several times, each time with the same result.

We can only asssume that it was a case of 'mutual interference', and have not pursued it further. Other yachts with a variety of radar reflectors or none at all, were all radar visible to varying extents.

Might be fun to get someone to report on your radar paint using the Gillie Firth.

 

[rob2]

Thanks for that reassuring anecdote!

You're right, I may as well look around for an accomplice with a radome and try it out. I was really wondering whether there were any plots of performance in the S band where my Sea-Me won't be helping. Never mind, like most of us, I'll comfort myself based on the logic that the reflector came with the boat and it hasn't been hit by a ship in the last twenty years!

Rob.