Radar reflectors and spreaders

[blackbeard]

A preferred position for a passive radar reflector is to be hoisted up to a spreader (though this is not, for some reason, recommended for an active radar reflector).
Advantages are - further from mast so less shadowing (maybe), and can be adjusted to be near vertical even when boat is heeled; so, better performance than fixing to mast. (Another advantage is that it can be lowered when clear of shipping and in good viz. - important on a small boat, since a smaller boat does not mean you can get away with a smaller radar reflector!)
My question - has anyone bent a spreader in this way? there seems to be little risk, since even quite a large reflector (stacked corner-cube-array type) is not very heavy, but I'm still a little nervous - can anyone set my mind at rest?

 

[sailorman]

I have a plastimo cylinder that have very poor report`s permanently affixed to the back stay to be "street legal"@ all times.
i hoist a Firdell to the spreaders as req.

A preferred position for a passive radar reflector is to be hoisted up to a spreader (though this is not, for some reason, recommended for an active radar reflector)
Advantages are - further from mast so less shadowing (maybe), and can be adjusted to be near vertical even when boat is heeled; so, better performance than fixing to mast. (Another advantage is that it can be lowered when clear of shipping and in good viz. - important on a small boat, since a smaller boat does not mean you can get away with a smaller radar reflector!)
My question - has anyone bent a spreader in this way? there seems to be little risk, since even quite a large reflector (stacked corner-cube-array type) is not very heavy, but I'm still a little nervous - can anyone set my mind at rest?

 

[VicS]

A preferred position for a passive radar reflector is to be hoisted up to a spreader (though this is not, for some reason, recommended for an active radar reflector).
Advantages are - further from mast so less shadowing (maybe), and can be adjusted to be near vertical even when boat is heeled; so, better performance than fixing to mast. (Another advantage is that it can be lowered when clear of shipping and in good viz. - important on a small boat, since a smaller boat does not mean you can get away with a smaller radar reflector!)
My question - has anyone bent a spreader in this way? there seems to be little risk, since even quite a large reflector (stacked corner-cube-array type) is not very heavy, but I'm still a little nervous - can anyone set my mind at rest?

My spreaders, as originally fitted, would not support the weight of a radar reflector.

I have a octahedral type of reflector permanently mounted between the twin backstays.

 

[rob2]

It may depend on the type of spreaders. Some are simply fixed at the mast, but some have clamps onto the shroud at the outer end to help maintain the correct angle. This latter type should certainly take the loading, with the other type you'd have to experiment and if it doesn't look good then you'd need to use a masthead halyard through a fairlead on the spreader so that the main weight is taken to the masthead.

As to why the advice is not to mount a RTE on a spreader, I'm guessing that the proximity of the mast might act as a reflector, making the transmitted signal significantly directional (away from the mast).

Rob.

 

[30boat]

I guess it depends on the spreaders.I can stand on mine so they would ,and have,take the weight of a reflector.

 

[srm]

Its not just the weight of the reflector but also the tension in the halyard that you have to consider so the load is around twice the weight. In a small boat a simple wire clamp (a U bolt and clamp designed for quick and easy eye splices) on the shroud under the spreader should stop the tip from being pulled down to horizontal or lower with the subsequent risk of loosing the mast.