Radar reflector

[dom]

And when you look at the size of a boat and rigging - and bear in mind that there is no data on whether reflectors help with S band - I wonder whether they do anything at all for S band.

Anyway, passive reflectors seem like toys next to RTEs. If you are really worried about showing up on radar, dual band RTE is the only way to go.

Thwere is definitely data; have a look at this old Practical Sailor link:
http://honeynav.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/radar-reflector-tests-SRI-complete.pdf

Belt and braces is certainly a dual-band-RTE, 'dual' being the key, backed up by an AIS transceiver. For those who can't afford this, other good compromises are available, but IMHO one of these isn't an X-RTE backed-up with a Plastimo tube which has been demonstrated to perform rubbish on X-Band and even rubbisher or S-Band!

 

[bbg]

Thwere is definitely data; have a look at this old Practical Sailor link:
http://honeynav.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/radar-reflector-tests-SRI-complete.pdf

Belt and braces is certainly a dual-band-RTE, 'dual' being the key, backed up by an AIS transceiver. For those who can't afford this, other good compromises are available, but IMHO one of these isn't an X-RTE backed-up with a Plastimo tube which has been demonstrated to perform rubbish on X-Band and even rubbisher or S-Band!

Thanks for that article. It pretty much confirms what I suspected - that passive reflectors are more or less useless at returning an S Band signal.

For the OP, who already has an X band RTE - and wants to have a passive reflector to comply with SOLAS V - my recommendation would be the same. Put up a tubular Plastimo reflector anywhere you like. I secured mine horizontally under one of the spreaders. Then if any officious foreign harbourmaster asks about your radar reflector, you can point to it.

If you want something that will actually increase radar cross-section in S-Band, keep a disassembled octahedral in storage that you can raise if so desired.