Singlehanded round the UK - which boat?

Neeves said:
We do not use AIS because the hazards would not show up, fishing boats, crayfish pot markers and little runabouts (fishing). Commercial boats that are required to have AIS, 300t + are usually well lit and on regular routes (and show up well on radar).
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Most fishing vessels here over roughly 35' have AIS. I don't believe it is compulsory fit but it is handy if you have a receiver. Potters tend not to, although some do, but they're less likely to be out in rough weather.
 
EdWingfield said:
A mate of mine did his research and bought the best performing radar reflector to fit on his wooden boat. As a test he called up a cruise ship and said he was the small yacht 1M abeam to port. Please could you check my visibility on your radar?
The O.O.W. came back after 5mins and told him that even after fine adjustments to the settings he couldn't see him.

This in smooth sea and clear viz.
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Yottie radar reflectors are a total waste of money..

Radar and an AIS transponder are the gold plated option.
 
wully1 said:
Yottie radar reflectors are a total waste of money..

Radar and an AIS transponder are the gold plated option.
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Whilst I now have an echomax radar responder & AIS I have to disagree with you about the effectiveness of radar reflectors.
I have 2 mounted at opposing angles on the second upper shrouds.
When i was taken ill between Peter head & Eyemouth at night the lifeboat had to find me. It was rough enough to restrict the speed of the lifeboat to 11 kts ( that is in the report) . The day after the event the coxswain visited me to see if I was alright. He had radioed me to fire a flare but i was too ill to do that . he did say I was giving a surprisingly good radar echo. This surprised me as it was very rough & I would have expected a lot of sea clutter in the big seas. I said that was possibly due to his good gear. He said his gear was old & due for replacement.
Later I spoke to someone connected to radar establishment & it seems that 2 reflectors mounted at sligt angles in the way I have them actually give a greater echo than the sum of 2 single reflectors. I have the 4 inch round ones
So they are worth having.
Radar is only any good if you have it where the helm ( if single handed like me) can see & use it or has a crew that can go below without being seasick & understands how to use it.
 
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Well, in the end I expanded the budget and I've bought a 5-year old Hanse 345. It has AIS, radar and a radar reflector :) I went for a larger boat for speed and heavy weather handling, and a Hanse for its self tacking jib. I'll let you know if it was the right decision!
I leave on April 15th, weather permitting. You'll be able to follow my progress at http://tenacious.org.uk
 
iLens said:
Well, in the end I expanded the budget and I've bought a 5-year old Hanse 345. It has AIS, radar and a radar reflector :) I went for a larger boat for speed and heavy weather handling, and a Hanse for its self tacking jib. I'll let you know if it was the right decision!
I leave on April 15th, weather permitting. You'll be able to follow my progress at http://tenacious.org.uk
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Looking forward to reading about your adventure. I'll be following you in a few years time.
 
iLens said:
Well, in the end I expanded the budget and I've bought a 5-year old Hanse 345. It has AIS, radar and a radar reflector :) I went for a larger boat for speed and heavy weather handling, and a Hanse for its self tacking jib. I'll let you know if it was the right decision!
I leave on April 15th, weather permitting. You'll be able to follow my progress at http://tenacious.org.uk
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Both times I did it I left 4 weeks later than you. Circa 15 may. Really found that early enough for slightly more stable forecasts & warmer. I see that you are out today so you probably are not worried by cold !!!!!!!!!!!
I think you will find the Hanse a great boat for the trip. Good luck
 
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I agree that radar and send/receive AIS are the best options but, bearing in mind that many people sail on a tight budget, I would certainly recommend that at a radar reflector is deployed at least at night or in poor visibility.

My experience of both radar and radar reflectors has been different to those of others on here.

I have very rarely had the need to use radar, but when I have done it has picked up both normal navigation buoys and small craft like yachts and fishing boats, however I acknowledge that buoys can be lost in screen clutter in rough confused seas. Re the cruise ship mentioned above, I was surprised, but I wonder whether the yacht would be below the radar's beam if it was too close.

Conversely, our old boat didn't have a fixed radar reflector when we purchased it. Rather than having having to assemble/reassemble and haul up the "raincatcher" reflector we chose to have a mast-mounted one fitted. It turned out that the model we'd purchased didn't do very well in the comparative tests, but in a radio conversation on another issue with a Calmac ferry about a couple of miles from us, they did confirm that they had us on radar. More recently in our present boat, an RNLI boat off Ireland also picked us up from a considerable distance while we were standing by a disabled day motorboat (our radar was not switched on at the time and we don't have an AIS transponder).

Many navigation marks are simple fixed posts with radar reflectors attached, eg like the one at Sgeir Bheag at the Appin Narrows. Radar picks that up, no bother.

People should not assume that they are bomb-proof with them, but in the interest of avoiding collisions, good advice would be having a fixed reflector, or, at least, a hauled up raincatcher for poor conditions.

Anyone intending fitting a fixed reflector would be best advised to check out the comparative tests.
 
iLens said:
Well, in the end I expanded the budget and I've bought a 5-year old Hanse 345. It has AIS, radar and a radar reflector :) I went for a larger boat for speed and heavy weather handling, and a Hanse for its self tacking jib. I'll let you know if it was the right decision!
I leave on April 15th, weather permitting. You'll be able to follow my progress at http://tenacious.org.uk
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Congratulations, sounds like a great pragmatic choice, we’ll suited to the journey. Only suggestion would be to extensively try out the autopilot before departure. All should be fine, but will be heavily reliant upon it so need to check all the settings (one really worth doing a RTFM on :-)

And good plan to leave early so you can take your time We set off from Scotland this year in early April, and had a great weather window - chilly but sunny and moderate winds. Much drier and less gales than we had in August, for example.
Bon voyage
 
iLens said:
Well, in the end I expanded the budget and I've bought a 5-year old Hanse 345. It has AIS, radar and a radar reflector :) I went for a larger boat for speed and heavy weather handling, and a Hanse for its self tacking jib. I'll let you know if it was the right decision!
I leave on April 15th, weather permitting. You'll be able to follow my progress at http://tenacious.org.uk
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Do post news of your travels as while some of us might not have the time for such adventures having read earlier posts lots of interesting stuff emerges which is of interest for those just doing cross channel trips. We have had a self tracker on boat for 2 years and found it brilliant but you might want something larger for when less winds as it can become rather slow at times unless you run out a larger headsail. Maybe as a long term passage maker this isn't a concern or you already have addressed though . Best of luck with your adventure and do say what extras you buy to kit out the Hanse.
 
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