Radar Deflectors

P

Pkewish

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Mar 2012
Messages
78
Location
Dorset
Visit site
Hi,

Having recently found myself sailing in fog without a deflector, I was wondering which type performed the best. My 2 options are:

Tubular back stay mount
Or
Octrohedral mount on a halyard.

Both are similarly priced so your thoughts please.

Pete
 
pvb said:
The tubular ones are fairly ineffective.
Click to expand...

From what I have seen, you are being generous!

Value for money, you cant beat an octahedral mounted correctly.

Best bet is an active radar reflector and AIS transmitter.
 
Never use the tubular radar reflector for anything except a chock under a lorry wheel.

Similarly for 'mesh' folding reflectors.

The single Octo type are good but need careful positioning to maximise the signal return.

Stacked arrays of octos (e.g. Echomax, Firdell) are even better.

Luneberg lens types (Cyclops, TriLens) are really good, but are exceeded by the electronic radar signal enhanced responders which can operate in X and S bands if you choose the expensive option.
 
Pkewish said:
Hi,

Having recently found myself sailing in fog without a deflector, I was wondering which type performed the best. My 2 options are:

Tubular back stay mount
Or
Octrohedral mount on a halyard.

Both are similarly priced so your thoughts please.

Pete
Click to expand...

Probably better results if you use a Reflector. :D
 
A friend did all his research and bought the RR with the best lab test results.

At sea he called up a cruise ship (approx. 1M away) and asked O.O.W. to check his set. OOW came back and asked for more time to make adjustments. After 5 mins he said there was no target.

Unless you know they work, it is best to assume they don't.

ps. I carry a tubular reflector. I know it is useless. But RYA and possibly Colregs insist.
 
I can't understand why any regulations require you to carry something that doesn't work.
The rnli use Echomax. Presumably they think they work.
EdWingfield said:
A friend did all his research and bought the RR with the best lab test results.

At sea he called up a cruise ship (approx. 1M away) and asked O.O.W. to check his set. OOW came back and asked for more time to make adjustments. After 5 mins he said there was no target.

Unless you know they work, it is best to assume they don't.

ps. I carry a tubular reflector. I know it is useless. But RYA and possibly Colregs insist.
Click to expand...
 
I have a Firdell Blipper permanently mounted on the mast. A Brittany ferry had picked me up in thick fog at seven miles at least. He was seven miles from me when I called him up on VHF, don't know when he detected me. Seemed good to me!
 
skip50 said:
I have a Firdell Blipper permanently mounted on the mast. A Brittany ferry had picked me up in thick fog at seven miles at least. He was seven miles from me when I called him up on VHF, don't know when he detected me. Seemed good to me!
Click to expand...

i have a tube up the backstay to satisfy the legal requirement of a permanent where practicable, + hoist a Blipper to the x trees when appropriate. I do not wish to have windage high up with a Blipper permanently fitted up my mast

A Deflector would be brilliant for "Stealth Mode"
 
Last edited:
EdWingfield said:
A friend did all his research and bought the RR with the best lab test results.

At sea he called up a cruise ship (approx. 1M away) and asked O.O.W. to check his set. OOW came back and asked for more time to make adjustments. After 5 mins he said there was no target.

Unless you know they work, it is best to assume they don't.

ps. I carry a tubular reflector. I know it is useless. But RYA and possibly Colregs insist.
Click to expand...

This could be an effect of being too close to the ship and low down.
Many ship radar installations have blind areas in some conditions.
People don't read that part of the Ouzo report.
 
I have a SeaMe but also bought a tubular one for some reason. I think that I will probably take it in my liferaft when this happens.
 
peteK said:
Most modern ships radar is so good these days that they can pick you up without a radar reflecter.
Click to expand...

Depends on the sea state.
When the sea is giving returns as big as those from your yacht, the radar will struggle to differentiate.
 
peteK said:
Most modern ships radar is so good these days that they can pick you up without a radar reflecter.
Click to expand...

Having used old valve and tube RADAR's and modern RADAR's I sure as heck wouldn't bet my life on it.
I have a standard reflector in the rain catching position.
My opinion they work.
 
As there is some support for the regular old octahedral on here can I ask:
1) Is the 'rain catching' orientation effectively with a pyramid shaped cup pointing up?
2) if so, why aren't there fixing holes provided that allow it to be rigged on a halyard that way up? Or maybe that's just mine
3) Does the orientation make difference on a small boat that is likely to be healed and/or rolling by 20+ degrees?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top