Radar reflector

tonymac · 02 January 2009, 11:10

Are these worthwhile for a rib?

Whats the best for a single A-frame?

PeterM · 02 January 2009, 11:15

I recall reading an article ( possibly as a result of the ferry/ yacht suspected collison/ incident south of the IOW) that unless you are really going for a big one the height of a reflector on a RIB seriously impaiers its effectiveness.

This is just a recolection as I cant find the article at the moment.

Found it :

http://www.ybw.com/pbo/pdfs/radar_reflectors.pdf

chewy · 02 January 2009, 12:33

Still better than nothing though!

Echomax do one specifically for RIBs.

PeterM · 02 January 2009, 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Still better than nothing though!

Echomax do one specifically for RIBs.

Absolutley !

Erin · 02 January 2009, 16:37

There was a good MAIB report done by Qinetic (I think) after the Ouzo tragedy, on the different reflectors and their efficiency. None of the usual off the shelf marine reflectors actually met the standard in all tests. However, the Trilens came out pretty close and was my preferred choice from size weight, cost, appearance and quality. An active (powered) model such as the Sea-Me wass good but costs a lot.

codprawn · 02 January 2009, 16:42

Sea Me is definitely the best but doesn't work on all frequencies and isn't cheap.

The Echomax is pretty good but looks like a big dustbin on the top of your boat.

The Trilens is very good and what's more to the point it will look really cool on an A frame. Get the Standard - the small is too small and the big one is silly.

The best of all is prob the cyclops which is British but they can't be bothered with the pleasure market any more - too busy doing sneaky military stuff. it looked cool as well - like a UFO!!!

chewy · 02 January 2009, 16:49

The only problem with the likes of the Sea me is if you lose power or the unit loses power you have no reflector.

We did have something similar on the Atlantics but now have the Echomax fitted.
When we did have the powered radar reflector it affectionately got known as the "Radar Dildo" for certain reasons...

Pete7 · 03 January 2009, 16:16

Rather than fit Seame you can now get an active AIS transponder which might be more useful.

Pete

Poly · 03 January 2009, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

... more to the point it will look really cool on an A frame...

surely that is one of the least important criteria for radar reflector selection not one of the most.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Rather than fit Seame you can now get an active AIS transponder which might be more useful.

Pete, I was told that most large ships don't have their AIS data displayed on a chart plotter or any sort of graphical display - rather just a table of positions etc... which makes it difficult to use for routine collision avoidance... not sure if that is still the case now.

geoffs · 03 January 2009, 20:12

I work on a lot of large ships, tankers, coasters, that sort of thing and AIS is a major safety feature for them. Generally most of them have at minimum one of their radars connected to AIS and a crew member assigned to monitor the radar when on passge. They also have it generally tied into their plotters and do take notice of alarms and proximities associated with AIS returns.

Under SOLAS regs it is mandatory for AIS to be carried on ships of 300 GRT upward (see attached).

codprawn · 04 January 2009, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

surely that is one of the least important criteria for radar reflector selection not one of the most.
.

The trilens performed as well if not better than the Echomax - it looks far better and has less windage - no contest!!!

tonymac · 04 January 2009, 18:57

Thanks for all the replies folks. Much appreciated.

The Cyclops does look great but even the Trilens is £153! Do we REALLY need one on a rib?

codprawn · 04 January 2009, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonymac

Thanks for all the replies folks. Much appreciated.

The Cyclops does look great but even the Trilens is £153! Do we REALLY need one on a rib?

Only if you are going slowly in fog or at night.

To be honest I would rather not have one - much more fun sneaking about so nobody knows where you are.........

tonymac · 04 January 2009, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Only if you are going slowly in fog or at night.

To be honest I would rather not have one - much more fun sneaking about so nobody knows where you are.........

Love it codprawn!!! EXCELLENT - good clear answer! THANKS

jwalker · 04 January 2009, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonymac

The Cyclops does look great but even the Trilens is £153!

So that's about 150 mile's worth of fuel. Not so much in the scale of boating costs is it?

Quote:

Do we REALLY need one on a rib?

If you have space to fit one, you are obliged to do so.

Sharkbyte · 05 January 2009, 15:33

I've got the MAIB's assessment on various radar reflectors saved.

Here's the link for those interested.

http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources...s%20report.pdf

This extract, from the summary, makes interesting reading.

"It is recommended that poorly performing radar reflectors are not fitted as it
is possible that the user could be lulled into a false sense of security believing
that their chances of detection has been enhanced."

I guess the moral is that if you have a radar reflector, carry on assuming that you are totally invisible to any other boat traffic.

biffer · 05 January 2009, 18:15

if you want you're boat coded you have to have one, and it seems they don't care which one as long as it's on the boat, they'll be wanting ashtrays on them next

m chappelow · 09 January 2009, 00:29

except for the a.i.s electronic type reflectors,most manufacturers boast that there products are the best and give out a good target ,thing is most are tested in labs under ideal conditions its only when your bobbing and rocking about in a 2 meter swell when the thing doesent come up to the expectations that you thought it did and the carrier bag full of squashed aluminium drink cans is giving out better results .

codprawn · 09 January 2009, 04:27

I think it is well worth carrying a chaff or radar flare. You will make a huge splodge on a ship's radar screen and it may be useful in deflecting a missile if you have the need...............

RichardB · 18 January 2009, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by m chappelow

and the carrier bag full of squashed aluminium drink cans is giving out better results .

Yeah, that's the reason we always take out a slab of beer as part of the emergency kit and make sure it's drunk in the first hour or so - wouldn't want to get caught in the fog on the way back without the tinnies in a dustbin bag strapped to the A frame.

Of course, we've gone green too cos they get recycled - in the old days we used to just hurl em over the side.