radar reflectors

[breezeblock]

whats peoples views on radar reflectors are they necessary or are they another piece of junk to hang off the a frame

[Poly]

They are a legal requirement if it is practical to fit one.

[paintman]

From https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...00714_Ver1.pdf
"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 is
important to make sure that you can be seen by radar. SOLAS
Regulation V/19 requires all small craft (less than 150GT) to fit a
radar reflector or other means, to enable detection by ships
navigating by radar at both 9 and 3 GHz ‘if practicable’. This
means if it is possible to use a radar reflector on your boat then
you should use one. You should fit the largest radar reflector in
terms of Radar Cross Section (RCS) that you can. Whatever length
your boat is, the radar reflector should be fitted according to the
manufacturer’s instructions, and as high as possible to
maximise its effectiveness."

[breezeblock]

thanks I didn't realise that you should have one on

[Tim M]

Most of cheaper ones on the market are totally and utterly useless - as tested by numerous magazines etc. The more expensive ones are slightly more effective. Echomax has a good reputation.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Most of cheaper ones on the market are totally and utterly useless - as tested by numerous magazines etc. The more expensive ones are slightly more effective. Echomax has a good reputation.

Actually they don't say "totally useless" they are just much poorer than "we" might expect. And actually the classic, design work better than you might expect for a 60 yr old design (if mounted right).

If you want maximum response on a small boat, dig deep and get an active responder rather than an actual reflector.

[GuyC]

http://www.rib.net/forum/f37/which-r...tor-68857.html

for a load of discussion on the topic