Seame vv Firdell

[rushers]

If I fit a SeaMe do you think that I should still have a Firdell on the mast or will it be enough?

 

[Marsupial]

No contest really, the seame is going to outperform the firdell until the former runs out of power - a couple of weeks at least 24/7 with a fully charged 100amp hr battery, enough for most weekend jaunts and the odd ocean passage.

You may hear a few people complain that the seame only works on x band radar, but an s band radar has trouble seeing whole boats let alone a firdell so there is not really an argument there.

weight aloft is another issue the seame overcomes and it has much less windage than the passives, for those who doubt me try holding a firdell above your head in a gale - it has a lot of windage!!

I carry a seame and a flatpack reflector for use if I run out of sparks or the seame goes wrong - and yes you would know if it was not working properly.

I would recommend the seame and forget the other thing

 

[wotayottie]

The see-me only works on one of the two standard radar frequencies, but where it does operate it is far more effective than a reflector. plus a see-me is electronic and so can fail - a felector is simply a shaped lump of metal so short of falling off the mast it cant fail.

so it cant harm to have both. but then how far do you carry belt and braces? epirb + ssb? vhf + phone? raft + dinghy? engine + oars? wife + girlfriend? well maybe not /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

The radar transponder technology is going at a great rate. I have Seame but I wish I had waited to pay a bit extra to get a ClassB AIS transponder.The price difference is now down to about £170 and may well get less. See March Yachting World for a good overview

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
I have Seame but I wish I had waited to pay a bit extra to get a ClassB AIS transponder.

[/ QUOTE ]Why? SeaMe will ensure a return on a ship's radar, whereas an AIS transponder may just get you on the list of loads of other AIS-equipped boats on a dedicated display. Very few ships have AIS overlay on their radar, and even when they do there's a good chance Class B transponders will end up getting filtered out to avoid display clutter.

 

[RestlessL]

If I didn't have a Firdell already fitted, I don't think I would installed both SeaMe and Firdell.
However, as I alreday had a Firdell, I could see no reason to take it down when I added the SeaMe.

J

 

[Aries]

Last year I came back from Dunkirk on a Norfolk Line Ferry. I was allowed up to the bridge to talk to the First Officer and asked about how well boats can be seen on ships radar.

He showed me small objects, including yachts and bouys on displays of both radar bands. When I asked about See Me and reflectors, he said that buoys only have the basic reflectors and they can always be seen. He said a basic reflector, correctly mounted as high up as possible will always show.

However, as we know, radar and other equipment is not always observed on a bridge ......

I think we have to look after ourselves and assume we have not been seen.

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

Fair point but the AIS system uses radio frequencies and will get a signal through when the radar return may be lost in clutter, rain squalls etc.
Play safe and have EVERYTHING!!!!!

 

[pvb]

I think you're clutching at straws with that argument!