Which radar reflector for 26' boat?

[peacefulbliss]

I am looking at fitting radar reflector while my mast is down and am looking at the Trilens or Echomax. I only have a 26' Centaur so size, weight, windage etc. is an issue but would like the largest return I can reasonble get without using a seame etc.
Has anyone any experience of the standard or mini trilens or echomax 180 on 26' boat? Would like to use the std trilens but is it too big / heavy as it is recommended for both 30'+?

 

[RobF]

Apologies if you've already seen the MAIB report into the loss of the Ouzo (a Sailfish 25, not too dissimilar in size to your Centaur). It makes interesting reading, particularly with regards to the effectiveness of the types of reflectors that you're looking at. Link is http://www.hotribs.com/Library/Radar_Reflectors.pdf

If you don't want to read the full review, a useful synopsis is http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/spages/how-to-choose-a-radar-reflector.htm

 

[johnalison]

The most interesting passage to me is the almost zero probability of being detected at certain distances, 2 & 4 miles in the example given. In general, it seems that there is no guaranteed way of making a small craft visible at all times. Although an active reflector is the best solution, in a boat like a Centaur I would be making a choice from the 2 suggested based on the questions of ease of fitting and weight. A weight at the masthead will have a significantly greater effect than at the halfway point and this may be important on a small boat like a Centaur, especially if it also has a furling genoa.

 

[PabloPicasso]

I fitted a standard tri-lens on the mast of a 26ft seawolf. I felt it was the best compromise between weight, performance, & price. I've not noticed any difference on yacht performance.

If money was no object £700 would get an active dual band reflector like the sea-me or echomax. I have seen a small racer with one of these mounted at deck level and the owner reported ships deviating to avoid him in a busy TSS (in stark contrast to crossing same TSS before fitting)

The tri-lens at least gived consistant results as the boat heels. Useful in foul weather and after dark when this would be most useful. Also the MAIB report stated - Readers could conclude from this independent study that the active Sea-Me RTE, and the Standard or Large Tri-Lens radar reflectors offer the best performance at heel and elevation angles of over 10˚.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I have a strong suspicion that in the conditions when you really need them (poor viz, or bad weather) reflectors are a placebo. They make you feel you've done something, but they actually have no effect. There's the Quinetic report and lots of anecdotal stuff about returns being lost in clutter, or not appearing consistently enough to create a trace. An active responder is the best solution, or fit your own radar. Save up for either, and in the meantime buy a cheap octahedral, and pull it up to the spreaders in the ''catch rain" orientation when you think you might need it. It'll make you feel better.

 

[Simondjuk]

Then there's the issue that even a good return won't be seen on an improperly watched radar, a la Condor Ferries.

 

[peacefulbliss]

I agree that a passive radar reflector is not fool proof and is no substitute for a good lookout, seame, using your own radar etc. etc..

However as long a you aware of its limitations then I think it is better to have something than nothing. My question was what is the best something based on the limitations of a 26' boat.

I'd rather have a standard trilens than a mini as it has an rcs roughly 4x that of the mini if the additional weight/windage is relatively small. Not something you can judge until it is too late unless someone has gone down this road before me?

 

[MASH]

Personally I'd put a medium trilens half way up the mast rather than a small one at the top. The ships you want to avoid tend to be the bigger ones and their radars are mounted high so the range is provided by them not you, you gat a 4x stronger return and the inertial monents are lower on your boat.

Why don't sailmakers put a wire grid into sailcloth? A very fine wire every 5 cm would do it, surely? Then you'd have a huge reflector from most aspects.