What's this radar reflector called?

Tim M · 17 June 2010, 09:10

Can anyone tell me what make/model it is? I'm trying to find a replacement online but not having much luck

willk · 17 June 2010, 09:15

And the Laziest Googler Award goes to...

http://www.sailgb.com/p/trilens_radar_reflectors/

Bern Hanreck · 17 June 2010, 09:22

As recommended by Codprawn ! Tim , note how they are mounted . I inverted mine to install under the arch of the A frame ( Just about room for the engine to tilt fully up ) , but the plastic bracket that the tri-lens came with was definitely not upto the job !

Tim M · 17 June 2010, 10:51

We have three boats fitted with them. Two have currently dropped off and one is on its last legs. They're a bit rubbish. Nearly had a heart attack when I saw the price just then!

C2 RIBS · 17 June 2010, 17:54

Tim, they are Tri-lens from Company: VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Ltd.
Address: Hamble Court
Hamble Lane
Hamble
City: S031 4QL Southampton, Hants
Tel.: (+44) 2380 454184
Fax: (+44) 2380 454284
E-mail: vikingsth@viking-life.com
If buying several they will allow trade prices. Try them and see, we get these Lens from them. They make three sizes I believe

davej · 17 June 2010, 21:18

It's a Tri-Lens and after much research bought one in the states for a quite reasonable price, I suspect that you could order one yourself using a company like west marine who deliver internationally if you go on their website. When I was looking they seemed to have the best reviews for a passive unit.

I did really build my own bracket but its been on for about 4 years now.

How effective it is 'who knows'

dj

MarkL · 24 June 2010, 13:33

Marine Super Store at Port Solent have them in stock.

I don't really have room for / want an Echomax dustbin on the a-frame so was looking at these yesterday.

If these aren't up to the job on a RIB as Tim would seem to suggest, can anyone recommend an alternative ? I'm currently thinking along the lines of the large useless Plastimo cylinder jobby cable-tied under the a-frame to satisfy the coding 'tick-box' and then adding an Echomax ActiveXS but at £700 it's making my eyes water a bit!

C2 RIBS · 24 June 2010, 15:03

All these passive radar reflectors are of low ability, in test the Tri Lens made the best figures when boats were healing so good for yachts, they faired better than the standard echomax, but the best are as you say items like "seame" which are connected to the boats battery and send out a signal so large craft and those with radar can easily spot you. I believe at least one Ribnet person sails the very large ships and can give a better understanding of what can be seen by the radar.(and those with radar fitted/knowledge) The cheap plastic units are as they say "cheap" and you may as well have ali foil to roll out.
I guess the only time we really need them would be in fog/mist/poor weather but we only fit them as they are a requirement of coding to have one on board. Some even leave them on board for hanging if they are needed.

Razorbill RIBs · 24 June 2010, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkL

Marine Super Store at Port Solent have them in stock.

I don't really have room for / want an Echomax dustbin on the a-frame so was looking at these yesterday.

If these aren't up to the job on a RIB as Tim would seem to suggest, can anyone recommend an alternative ? I'm currently thinking along the lines of the large useless Plastimo cylinder jobby cable-tied under the a-frame to satisfy the coding 'tick-box' and then adding an Echomax ActiveXS but at £700 it's making my eyes water a bit!

Mark,

I have a cyclops (trilens type...came top of tests...search on here for background). We operate near a test range (Aberporth) and they have no probs picking us up, so must work well.... http://www.cyclopstech.co.uk/

Know of a few coded ribs using the cheap ones to achieve coding....they faired really badly in the report i read....we can call upon the range /Aberporth to assist in S&R from the lifeboat. As such, my view is that its worth having a reflector that works!

They are difficult to get hold of /I think i remember hearing they now sell to the military only...could be wrong though.

Anyhoo....there was one for sale back in Feb this year here: http://bmbha.clicboard.com/sea-bay-f...-sale-t116.htm

Might be worth seeing if he still has it....they look pretty cool on your A frame too

And yes, I know the allround white in the pic isn't 'all round' as it's too low....will be raising it shortly

Dan

Razorbill RIBs · 20 July 2011, 20:59

Dragging this up as spotted a cyclops which has just come up on ebay here: Cyclops 2 radar reflector | eBay

4 days to go and £35.......

kedzior · 20 July 2011, 22:01

It looks nice when you need flat ones. I've seen those cheap plastimo tubes fitted horizontally on some boats (previous owner of my boat did it as well) - not too briliant idea. From sides it bounces back nay better than bottom of can of coke. I've seen even echomaxes and similar size pricey reflectors fitted that way - seem like waste of money when it doesnt work as it should from all the directions. I'm looking for someting reasonable for my a-frame now as well, more ideas appreciated. At the moment I'm between this thickest plastimo tube and echomax.

Richard Selman · 21 July 2011, 05:11

I fitted one of those this year. The alloy tube through the unit was threaded straight into my A-frame. 2 weeks ago (8th outing / 15 hours total perhaps) the tube cracked through at the threads and it fell over. Only the wire for the light mounted on top kept it onboard.

Richard

Pikey Dave · 21 July 2011, 07:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by kedzior

At the moment I'm between this thickest plastimo tube and echomax.

Echomax,

the plastimo tube type are a waste of money, space & time. If you are going to spend money & effort fitting one, it might as well be one that works.

richardjawilson · 21 July 2011, 11:42

Trilens, good reflecting qualities. MAIB did a test after Yacht Ozuo was tragically run over.

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

However, 1 fell off my rib in to the Thames after the mounting threads stripped but I was able to recover it. Last weekend it stripped the threads again and this time my reflector is sitting on the seabed in Start Bay. Awesome!!!

Richard

C2 RIBS · 21 July 2011, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardjawilson

Trilens, good reflecting qualities. MAIB did a test after Yacht Ozuo was tragically run over.

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

However, 1 fell off my rib in to the Thames after the mounting threads stripped but I was able to recover it. Last weekend it stripped the threads again and this time my reflector is sitting on the seabed in Start Bay. Awesome!!!

Richard

We found the same the Tri lens had a good write up and the first issues had useless mounting caps which as you said threaded and came of or split with vibration. The newer ones come with a metal cap which is painted rather than the white plastic and also a small amount of loctite holds the threaded cap in place. Lessons learnt we hope for the suppliers

Richard Selman · 21 July 2011, 12:18

On mine it was the threads on the tube that runs through the unit that cracked, not the mount. The unit is probably too heavy for the tube when attached high up on an A-frame being bounced in all 3 dimensions across the waves on a RIB. I had a short aluminium extension pole up to the anchor light that would not have helped (but was not that heavy).

I have dremmelled out the broken tube (its just held inside the plastic case by the shoulder on the thread) and am considering sliding over a stainless Shakespeare antenna extension pole.

Richard