Radar Reflectors

[Tugw]

An old subject i know,and a lot of reading can be done on the subject,I have spent the last couple of months trying to get the best information i can on radar reflectors,Sadly,I am now more undecided than i was before i started reading all the available info,IMHO i believe that most companies are just trying to sell thier wares,and so they should,But i still dont know which is the most efficient reflector,If i am reading the info correctly then it would appear that the choice cannot be based on price alone i.e.the most expensive does not mean it is the best.So what are the forum opinions? I know the question has been asked a thousand times but i really cant make a decision based on what seems to be conflicting info.

or am i missing something? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[DAKA]

I wouldnt expect a ship to give way to me so does it matter if he can see me or not.

I can see a ship miles away and I believe it is up to me to get out the way.

Smaller boats that may give way to me dont need such a big warning and the normal echo from engines and guard rails should be fine.

I do have a solid type I hoist in thick fog but frankly I take it upon myself to avoid all other boats.

Any small boat who 'stands on' in fog is very foolish. Port to port even if I have to detour 90'.

 

[clivew05]

In many surveys and also my finding s there is only one which would be any good at all and that is the seame active one .... in a recent article in RYA magazine it proved that all of the non active ones were in fact just giving the skipper a false idea that he was being seen when even the most expensive one was only visible to other craft 60% of the time ......

I shall be going for the seame one as soon as I can afford it ... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Tugw]

Exactly what i was thinking,Im not saying that a radar reflector should not be fitted but im not convinced it would make a great deal of differance and therefore i would tend not to go and fork out a fortune for one. OK anything that makes us safer is better than not having it at all but i really think theres a limit

 

[Malcb]

Personally I would fit a radar reflector, as well as having a Seame active type.

The Seame only operates on one radar band, thus you need a passive type (correctly installed) to cover the other band. Note I have said correctly installed. The simple 'catch rain' type should be in the correct orientation, which is as far as I have been shown, place it on the ground so that it sits there without support, and that is the way it should be mounted.

The problem with radar reflectors on yachts is a difficult one, as the angle of heel adversely affects the effectiveness of the reflector. Which is something that doesn't affect Power Boats significantly.

 

[adrianb]

- it's just where and how to site them on a powerboat !

- and it's the law to have one fitted !



Adrian
www.cleanandshiny.co.uk

 

[Tugw]

As i said,im not saying we shouldnt fit them or that they arent any use,and as pointed out,it is the law to fit one,But again it has been stated that you need two if your going to fit the most expensive type-so why bother-just stick with "raincatcher"type and your laughing--or?

 

[clivew05]

[ QUOTE ]
so why bother-just stick with "raincatcher"type and your laughing--or?

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed if you stick with the "raincatcher type" then you may be laughing out of the other side of your face - they are next to useles s apart from confusing other boaters into thinking your anchored /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif they certainly have no visibility to RADAR and theefore are for show only ..... we at least 60% of the time apparently ... so I would not bother to have one - sticking to the expensive type that are at least guaranteeed to show you 95% of the time - even if they dont expose you to both bands ...

 

[neale]

Things may have moved on but I hought that the Seame does not meet the requirements as a radar reflector under Solas because of its reliance on power. If this is still the case, you would need a Seame for its effectiveness, and a cheapo non-working type to meet Solas requirements.

 

[Tugw]

This is exactly why there is so much confusion,whats the point in having half a meter of rubish screwed to the top of your boat if it dont work? And if as has been said.the "sea-me" type is not recognised as a reflector(and therefore not"legal") then things get a bit blurred-Oh i give-up,im back where i started /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[fluffc]

This is suitable bedtime reading, which gives you the lowdown on various types of reflectors in lab conditions.

http://www.ybw.com/pbo/pdfs/radar_reflectors.pdf

Should be mandatory reading IMHO.

 

[Tugw]

well bugger me !!! I thought id read just about everything available but i must admit i never saw this,although there are still some "ifs" and "buts" it does answer a lot of questions,and i agree it should be mandatory reading.

excellent-Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

And the old octahedron comes out of it not as badly as more expensive stuff and its so cheap there is no excuse really.

 

[clivew05]

[ QUOTE ]
Things may have moved on but I hought that the Seame does not meet the requirements as a radar reflector under Solas because of its reliance on power.

[/ QUOTE ]

Umm I can se the point there - no power no seame!!! but in 99% of all articles on the subject it is the recommended one to have as none of the in active ones work - some not at all .... so I guess as mentioned earlier - you need a powered one so that people can pick you up! and a non powered one to meet regulations which does not do its job .... oh well as you say ... give up!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif