Mast top orange paint

[Gargleblaster]

I have two things I need help with in relation to painting the top of my mast orange.
1. Does it work? I was in a situation this year lying a hull in a storm, where the waves were so big that a ship coming up on me would not have seen my hull before I was below their line of sight. And because of the amount of spray and size of the waves I felt my radar reflectors were probably useless. One thing that may have been seen was a bright colour on the top of the mast. So having seen the odd other boat with an orange painted top of the mast, I am thinking of doing the same.
2. Any recommendations as to what paint and where to get it?

 

[fluffc]

Radar reflector will still 'work' in adverse conditions, and since bridge crew rely heavily on automatic collision avoidance this is a sensible precaution.

Advice I had from a ferry master was that dark colours show up better - for example brown sails are easier to pick out from the waves than white ones.

I don't think that painting the top of the mast orange is going to make much difference.

If you have any concerns about your safety near ships then call up the coastguard or port/harbour authority. The later will be able to put a tag on your radar reflection so they can contact you if needs be, and also have some idea of your intended route.

 

[vyv_cox]

There's a huge difference in cost, but if you really want to do your best to be seen then it seems that an active radar reflector is about the best possible option.

 

[Gargleblaster]

Trying to limit power as much as possible. I have radar myself but will not run it without engine as it is too much drain on the batteries.
I must admit I have no idea what the drain is using something like Seame. I do run a 10w tricolour all night even though I know quite a few others that only run one if in sight of a ship. But I do a lot of single handed and do get concerned I won't wake up every so often to check for other vessels. Normally my passive radar reflectors work well I am told. But I know how much clutter you get during a proper Storm. Thinking as I type I suppose the active radar reflector could just be turned on only during times of heavy weather.

 

[npf1]

I'm part way through reading a rather good book on cruising written by someone who's had a lot of heavy weather experience, high latitude stuff etc. One of the recommendations is to paint the top of the mast in orange - using the same colour that's used for lifeboats, liferaft canopies. Rationale being that the orange is easy to spot in most conditions and it tends to 'grab' the attention of most seafarers if they see it. There's also some stats in the book re radar reflectors not being seen on ship's radars. I guess the more you can do to be seen and to see, the better - adding the paint seems sensible.

 

[srm]

[ QUOTE ]

I don't think that painting the top of the mast orange is going to make much difference.



[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps not, but our local ferries have a dayglow orange stripe across the top of the bridge so someone sees a similar approach as worthwhile on large vessels.

Have also heard that a dark line such as coachroof side or a broad hull stripe can make a white yacht more visible in fog / mist.

I go for the best radar reflectors I can find, and make sure that there is a radar reflector visible from every aspect. (Masts can partially or totally block mast mounted reflectors from astern) A consistent echo is essential for a ships ARPA to stay locked on.

Another post mentions only running radar when the engine is on. I can keep mine running under sail with the wind generator for a couple of days (depending on conditions) before worrying too much about depleting the batteries.

Have fun and stay safe.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Full Circle who posts here, recently posted photographs at night of his boat which he has applied some strips of 3M reflective tape to the top 1/4 of his stick. I have to say it was damn impressive considering the photo's he took in the dark with just an in camera flash from the pontoon. It looked like the top of the mast was a big strip light.

I fully intend to do the same and after seeing how effective it is. I also intend to apply extra reflection to my lifejackets, the dogs jacket, the tender, the the the.

Not too sure about daylight though.

I have seen the odd yacht with a day-glo orange or green radar reflector on the mast, they do stand out among the other masts.

Do post some photo's if you do it, I would be interested to see how it looks. I would be afraid it might look naff, but then, it is not decoration is it! Maybe an idea to use a combination of paint and tape.

 

[Scarboroughsloop]

I know of a First mate with P&O (containers) that went to New Zealand in his 26' boat. The top 3rd of his mast was painted orange. I guess he thought there was something in it!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Whenever I've seen anything exterior painted dayglo orange it seems to have already faded, and quite patchily. Maybe its a fugitive colour. Have you found a particular paint brand you were thinking of using?

 

[tangofour]

Recent experiments with painting dayglo orange ( and other 'hi-visibility' ) markings on small aircraft to increase their visibility produced some rather disturbing results. They actually made recognition harder, with the distance that a threat was recognised being reduced.

The reason appears to be that the paint schemes break up a recognisable profile, almost like camoflage. At any appreciable distance 'hi-vis' paints are just dark splotches.

 

[Cruiser2B]

I second what tangofour says about the visibility of bright paints at any distance. The 3M retro-reflective tape will certainly make you stand out better at night. Mind you an orange mast will stick out in certain states of visibility, so it certainly wouldn't hurt.

Kevin

 

[Guest]

Just read all these posts, all good stuff, I suppose it depends on what kind of sailing you do really, as to how far you feel you want to go with this?

I tend to do a fair few night passages single handed, so for me it seems that a combination of Paint my blipper bright orange, apply reflective tape to my mast.

I also use one of those tubelor radar reflectors up the backstay, because I had heard that mast mounted ones can be masked in certain conditions. Not sure if it's true, but belt and braces an all that?

 

[Dyflin]

While I can see the obvious advantage of putting reflective tape onto the mast, it is only of any use if someone is actually looking for you. Ships will generally only display their nav lights and so will not "throw out" enough light to make the tape beneficial. I assume that you would also have to be relatively near it to get a decent return from the tape. Again, not a scenario you want with shipping.

I know that lifeboats on ships often have reflective tape on the "coach roof" for ease of identification by helicopters and search lights from SAR vessels. A good radar reflector really is you best friend in 99% of conditions.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
While I can see the obvious advantage of putting reflective tape onto the mast, it is only of any use if someone is actually looking for you. Ships will generally only display their nav lights and so will not "throw out" enough light to make the tape beneficial. I assume that you would also have to be relatively near it to get a decent return from the tape. Again, not a scenario you want with shipping.

I know that lifeboats on ships often have reflective tape on the "coach roof" for ease of identification by helicopters and search lights from SAR vessels. A good radar reflector really is you best friend in 99% of conditions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Would not shining a powerful torch on your own reflective tape have the desired effect, or mybe better to shine it at the bridge of an approaching vessel if you felt that there was a serious need? I suppose a flash from a camera would also be quite effective if limited in range? Avoiding these situations is always the best policy, but when you sail on your own as I do, you need to eat, drink, or catch a nap, so in the latter instance, I could easily come on deck and find myself needing to do summat PDQ. It aint happened yet, I always stand well out when on my own at night, but I think it's worth discussing this sort of thing?

 

[Jezlyn]

It will certainly warn the fish to keep away if you capsize!

 

[tugboat]

Quote/
Perhaps not, but our local ferries have a dayglow orange stripe across the top of the bridge so someone sees a similar approach as worthwhile on large vessels

The dayglo 'eyebrow' above ships' bridges is actually intended to enhance visibility in fog when vessels are already in relatively close quarters.

 

[Cruiser2B]

[ QUOTE ]
Ships will generally only display their nav lights and so will not "throw out" enough light to make the tape beneficial. I assume that you would also have to be relatively near it to get a decent return from the tape. Again, not a scenario you want with shipping.


[/ QUOTE ]

Don't underestimate the amount of light thrown from steaming lights. Large ships have two mastheads that need to be seen at 6 miles; from experience I can tell you they light up wave-crests at a considerable distance. Wave-crests probably reflect 5% of the light, whereas that 3M tape reflects about 90% of the light, so it's going to light you up at a distance that still allows manoeuvring.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Would not shining a powerful torch on your own reflective tape have the desired effect

[/ QUOTE ] NO The light is reflected back towards the source. You'll see it ok but others won't. Try it with a torch and your car number plate.