Position of radar reflector

graphicsguy · 23 March 2006, 20:44

Hi all,

First post so please be gentle!

I am thinking about having an echomax radar reflector fitted to the top of my A frame. Does anyone know if this will have any effect on the vhf aerial and gps receiver that I shall also have fitted to the top of the A frame? Should I have a rethink about the position of the radar reflector?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards,

Tony

codprawn · 23 March 2006, 20:56

The echomax is great but not that easy to mount on a RIB - have a look at the Viking Trilens - looks really cool and is very effective as well.

http://www.tri-lens.com/trilensweb12002001.htm

Any yacht chandler that deals with viking safety can order them - about £130 - get the normal sized one - not the mini unless the boat is very small.

Will bolt very easily to an A frame - low profile - looks a bit like a UFO!!!

Scary Des · 24 March 2006, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

The echomax is great but not that easy to mount on a RIB - have a look at the Viking Trilens - looks really cool and is very effective as well.....

I have a base mounted Echomax EM230 with an all round white light fitted to my double A frame, speaking from firsthand experience (unlike Codders) it was easy to fit.
Echomax have gone to great lengths to properly test there reflectors, which is more than can be said for a lot of manufactures, ithis testing also seemed to satisfy the RNLI who fit this reflector to a number of their boats

Des.

Solent Ranger · 24 March 2006, 08:58

Not a problem to mount at all.

Mounted on A frame on 7 metre Ribcraft.

Simon Hawkins · 24 March 2006, 09:01

I have a Echomax fitted to my A-Frame. This does not have any impact on the VHF and GPS reception. With regards to fitting of the reflector this is easy as only attached by four bolts.

Simon

codprawn · 24 March 2006, 14:01

OK maybe I should rephrase what I said - it may be easy to mount but it just doesn't look right!!! Unless of course you want a dustbin on top of your A frame.

Of course practically speaking there is more wind drag and in a big stuff a dustbin will put more stress on the A frame from the water hitting it!!!

I suspect the reason most people fit them is because they are unaware of the alternatives - most people have never even heard of the trilens and yet it has done very well in tests.

Wait until you see the trilens on my A frame - then you will see what I mean.

Scary Des · 24 March 2006, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

OK maybe I should rephrase what I said - it may be easy to mount but it just doesn't look right!!!....

No let me reemphasize what you said

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

The echomax is great but not that easy to mount on a RIB

Codders

codders

Codders

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Of course practically speaking there is more wind drag ......

Much less than your head

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

.....Wait until you see the trilens on my A frame....

Oh believe me we are

and waiting and waiting and waiting.........

roycruse · 24 March 2006, 16:58

that thing looks more like a self righting bag than a radar reflector

who in their right mind is going to want to ruin their RIB and bolt that monstrosity to it.

Solent Ranger · 24 March 2006, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

that thing looks more like a self righting bag than a radar reflector

who in their right mind is going to want to ruin their RIB and bolt that monstrosity to it.

Because it's not a toy!

It does not look that bad.

Scary Des · 24 March 2006, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

.....who in their right mind is going to want to ruin their RIB and bolt that monstrosity to it.

Who in their right mind cares what it looks like

it is a safely device. being obsessed by appearance is the domain of chavs

are a bling merchant

Echomax works that’s why I have one no more no less

Des

Dino · 24 March 2006, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scary Des

Who in their right mind cares what it looks like

it is a safely device. being obsessed by appearance is the domain of chavs

are a bling merchant

Echomax works that’s why I have one no more no less

Des

At the risk of being shot down in flames,are they strictly necessary in the Solent?I accept they may be of use on a channel crossing or certainly for night passages but on the whole would have thought that the speed and inherent manouvreability of our craft it should be far easier for us to stay out of shippings way.
I do have to say that the fitting of that reflectors base on the A frame doesn't look as though it would last, long bolts going up through plastic or are the holes in it's base reinforced with something?

Solent Ranger · 24 March 2006, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dino

At the risk of being shot down in flames,are they strictly necessary in the Solent?I accept they may be of use on a channel crossing or certainly for night passages but on the whole would have thought that the speed and inherent manouvreability of our craft it should be far easier for us to stay out of shippings way.

Here is an extract from the Solas V requirements:

Radar Reflectors
Many large ships rely on radar for navigation and for spotting
other vessels in their vicinity. So, whatever size your boat is,
it’s important to make sure that you can be seen by radar.
Regulation V/19 requires all small craft to fit a radar reflector
‘if practicable’. If your boat is more than 15m in length, you
should be able to fit a radar reflector that meets the IMO
requirements of 10m2. If your boat is less than 15m in length,
you should fit the largest radar reflector you can. Whatever
size your boat is, the radar reflector should be fitted according
to the manufacturer’s instructions and as high as possible to
maximise its effectiveness.

And not every boat stays in the Solent!! As a coded vessel as soon as it leaves either Hurst or Bembridge then Solas V comes into operation.

Dino · 24 March 2006, 19:36

Oh no! Crashed and burned,I hereby stand very corrected

BUT they aren't strisctly necessary in most of the Solent then

graphicsguy · 24 March 2006, 20:00

Thanks for all the input.

Good to see some lively debate on my first posting!

Best regards,

Tony

roycruse · 24 March 2006, 20:53

Still I wont be bolting anything like that to my a-frame...

That thing must completely prevent transmitting any VHF to Port. And don't say it doesn't - because I don't believe you - a fecking great thing as big as the antenna who's sole purpose is to gather up as much of any passing em waves as possible and send them back where they came from must have a dramatic effect on vhf in that direction...

I'm with codrpawn and his discrete white one. Should I ever feel the need to fit a radar reflector (which I don't) that's what I will go for.

codprawn · 24 March 2006, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

that thing looks more like a self righting bag than a radar reflector

who in their right mind is going to want to ruin their RIB and bolt that monstrosity to it.

Glad to see someone agrees!!!

I realise they are important bits of safety kit - if it wasn't for the Trilens I would fit the Echomax as at least it works very well but if there isn't really anything to choose in performance you may as well get a neater alternative!!!

JIY · 24 March 2006, 22:20

I have an admittance - I ordered an Echomax for my last RIB and mounted it on top of the A frame. After more than one person at the Marina asked if I was now operating a ferry service for CalMac (red funnel!), I mounted it on the underside of the A frame. A compromise between aesthetics and practicality, I guess.

Andy_Rs600 · 24 March 2006, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

That thing must completely prevent transmitting any VHF to Port. And don't say it doesn't - because I don't believe you - a fecking great thing as big as the antenna who's sole purpose is to gather up as much of any passing em waves as possible and send them back where they came from must have a dramatic effect on vhf in that direction...

I have to agree, i can't see how it can reflect Radar and not VHF, and neither can either of my flatmates who have communictions engineering degrees!

DJL · 24 March 2006, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

...have a look at the Viking Trilens - looks really cool and is very effective as well.

Codprawn, could you share with us the performance data you have for the Trilens?

codprawn · 24 March 2006, 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJL

Codprawn, could you share with us the performance data you have for the Trilens?

No cos they are in various yachting/boating mags I have bought in the past. From what the reviews said the 2 best allround performers were the echomax type and the trilens. The old style octos worked very well but only from cerian angles etc.

http://www.tri-lens.com/trilensweb12002005.htm

Some articles here which I haven't read yet - prob Yank - I read about them in various British mags.

Another great reflector and looks really cool is the Cyclops - British as well but try finding out anything about them - they are too busy doing MOD work to bother!!!