Wing Mirrors for boats ?

I used to have little mirrors in the corner of the coachroof windows so I could see who was passing without having to stand up, a bit like the old "overtaker" mirrors for cars. Partially sucessful but never quite in the right direction.
 
Our new boat has a large-and very comfortable-pilot house.

Last week I spotted First Mate-who is I/C steering-reaching up to shield her eyes from the sun with a non existent sun visor....................
 
Salty John said:
Might work for rowing boats....
Click to expand...

Quite common on coxless boats. though of course that's for seeing who you're overtaking, not the other way round.

mirrors%20on%20ro-wing.jpg
 
I, too, have always thought that wing mirrors would make a great accessory.

When cruising, I like to delegate the wheel to the capable hands of the autopilot. I can then concentrate upon more important tasks such as reading, listening to music, drinking coffee and eating cakes. I like nothing more than lying on a couple of cockpit cushions looking aft. Wing mirrors would save the tedious task of having to move, twist my body and look forward for traffic every 15 minutes or so.
 
I always find it hard to see the working part of the jib to judge the sheet tension, especially when reaching, and could do with a mirror, or better still, a camera on the mast and viewing screen in the cockpit.
 
davidjackson said:
When cruising, I like to delegate the wheel to the capable hands of the autopilot. I can then concentrate upon more important tasks such as reading, listening to music, drinking coffee and eating cakes. I like nothing more than lying on a couple of cockpit cushions looking aft. Wing mirrors would save the tedious task of having to move, twist my body and look forward for traffic every 15 minutes or so.
Click to expand...

Do like the fishermen do and plough on regardless.
 
I was thinking the same thing myself. be great for squinting up at the mizzen and also avoiding the wave down the back of the neck....
 
marklucas said:
There me be a reason why no-one else has ever raised this question. Why did you ask it?

Is there a problem to be solved?
Click to expand...

Interestingly, the idea of wing mirrors on yachts came up some time ago.

One of our "Local Hero's" here on the East Coast is/was Charles Stock of Shoal Waters fame .
I attended a navigation evening class of his in Chelmsford some years ago. I would mention that not one student dropped out during the length of the course . I later learned that some students took the same course with him on numerous occasions. He was both engine-less and without
electronics apart from a (probably) valve portable radio which he liked for the shipping forecast.
At the time, I had no idea who he was. The first half of the lesson was always a slide show and
talk . The second half was trying to learn navigation with things like the Douglas Protractor. I can see why some students liked to come again. He was definitely a character of the old school in many things including sailing.

Anyway, he mentioned to me during a break that he felt wing mirrors could be a good thing on boats. It was a long time ago now and I can't remember exactly what the reasons were. I would guess that commercial shipping on a number of rivers can creep up on you from behind and without monitoring the VHF can embarrass the weekend sailor. Who has never been tooted ?

I confess that I don't like having the VHF on all day and mirrors could be an answer . Particularly
for the aged.

As mentioned, once you have got yourself really comfortable in the cockpit with cushions, favorite beverages , light refreshments etc you don't want to keep moving about looking at telltales on the jib. However, you don't want some bounder in a similar yacht overtaking you.
I think adjustable mirrors, suitable positioned and possibly with full electrical adjustment like on cars could be the answer.

Anyway, if Charles Stock thinks they are a good idea so do I.
 
I also did a navigation evening class with Charlie Stock, it was more like a social club than a study course.
On one occasion he was showing us his charts for an epic trip he had done. Someone asked why he had taken a particular long curving course.
"Because the sun was on that side of the sail and it was cold sitting in the shade".
Now that's practical seamanship.
 
DanTribe said:
Someone asked why he had taken a particular long curving course.
"Because the sun was on that side of the sail and it was cold sitting in the shade".
Now that's practical seamanship.
Click to expand...

I took a rather odd shaped route from the Mull of Galloway to Bangor this summer, chosen so that we stayed in sunshine all the way. It was piddling down over the land all day, but we all arrived with suntans.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

conks01
Hanse 301 Buying Advice
Replies
5
Views
357
stownsend
S
zoidberg
'This month's hot boating topic....'
2 3
Replies
42
Views
2K
tjbrace
tjbrace
N
Lithium battery fire
2 3
Replies
46
Views
2K
Refueler
Refueler

Share this page

Top