Which radar reflector?????

[richardjawilson]

I going to the boat show and am looking buy a reflector for my rib. I have looked at the plastimo tube type which seem very easy to mount on my double a-frame, but I was thinking/have heard the Echomax ones give a better reflection? My budget ideally is < £125.

I am thinking of doing more off shore crusing ie channel islands etc.

Also, how easy is it to drill S/Steel?

regards richard

[codprawn]

I reckon there is only one that will look right on a RIB and do a decent job - the Viking TriLens - the standard not the mini.

The tube type aren't much good and the echomax are just too big.

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

Why on Earth they show it against a mast and not on top of an arch is beyond me - MUCH better suited to power boats!!!

http://www.marine-super-store.com/po...IKING+TRI-LENS

[Andre]

Originally Posted by richardjawilson

I going to the boat show and am looking buy a reflector for my rib. I have looked at the plastimo tube type which seem very easy to mount on my double a-frame, but I was thinking/have heard the Echomax ones give a better reflection? My budget ideally is < £125.

I am thinking of doing more off shore crusing ie channel islands etc.

Also, how easy i it to drill S/Steel?

regards richard

Forget the Plastimo tubes cos they don't comply. Go for the Echomax 230 MIDI

[limeydal]

Small world!!!!
The Trilens manufacturer is about 2 miles down the road from me
Wonder if they get any slight seconds Been thinking about getting one ever since a sub surfaced a little too close for comfort

cheers Dal

[havener]

From a "big ship's" viewpoint, I'd always recommend an active radar device such as the Sea-Me, i.e. one that returns a signal when "interrogated" by a passing radar beam. Even a very good radar reflector isn't going to do much at 1.5m above the waterline. More often than not, those who say their reflector on the a-frame gives a good return miss the point that the return we get on the ship is actually from the a-frame, not the device!

A quick hint - always carry a roll of kitchen foil with you. If you break down, drift, or have to anchor near heavy traffic, roll it from one side of the a frame over the top to the other. By far the safest way of being found by a bridge radar.

Simon

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by limeydal

Small world!!!!
The Trilens manufacturer is about 2 miles down the road from me
Wonder if they get any slight seconds Been thinking about getting one ever since a sub surfaced a little too close for comfort

cheers Dal

Wouldn't have saved you from the sub - radar not too good under water - makes it boil....

The tri lens IS really good - there is something even better - the Cyclops made in the UK -= looks awesome as well vut they are too busy doing sneaky stuff for the MOD to bother with the public these days!!! Made in the UK but pics from a Yank website - typical......

http://www.openseas.com/cyclops/cyclops.htm

The best of them all though as has been mentioned is the See Me - an active device that makes a small RIB look like an aircraft carrier - it also warns you when other people are using Radar in the area. Not cheap though!!!

[MikeCC]

Echomax (slightly biased opinion!)

There's a new 180 model which as the numbers imply is more compact than the 230 range. Still 8 sq m peak area though.

Unfortunately, there isn't a basemount version yet, but you could use the mast mount brackets to attach it to the side of the A-frame.

If you don't fancy lugging one home from the Boat Show, please give me a call on 01256 478000. We currently have the 180 for £94.99 including the mast mount brackets.

[codprawn]

Maybe you should start stocking the tri lens - it could have been designed for RIBs(except even the makers show it attached to a mast where it just doesn't look right)!!!

They are hard to get hold of - most people have never heard of them!!! Same as the Cyclops - why do radar reflector makers enjoy hiding???

[donutsina911]

Originally Posted by Andre

Forget the Plastimo tubes cos they don't comply. Go for the Echomax 230 MIDI

Not saying that they are any good, but I've had two ribs coded (mca and local authority) using them - what dont they comply with?

[MarkWildey]

This thread has been discussed before and I'd be interested to hear what people think about my thoughts.

In my view buy the cheapest you can because they are all rubbish and paying more for something that doesn't work well seems pointless. Unless you go for an active system which is big bucks pay around £20 for the smallest system that doesn't make you look like a lighthouse on the move.

What is the point of having one other than to satisfy the legal requirement and if that is the reason I'd buy, and have done, the cheapest because in my previous research they don't really work.

Under what conditions do they make a difference. If your out in fog you should have a radar and don't rely on someone else not crashing into you.

Cheers

Mark

[richardjawilson]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the reflector question. I'll have a good look around at the boat show, but the usual pay more get more yardstick still holds true.

Whilst on the radar subject if you had up to £1000, would you buy a good chartplotter or basic radar system?? I know they do different jobs but I need to ugrade the boats nav systems and I am not sure what to buy.

FYI I have a Garmin fixed gps (basic one), a handheld garmin gps, icom dsc and handheld silva vhf, compass, garmin fishfinder.


regards richard

[codprawn]

Get a new chart plotter and you can always add radar to it later on!!!

[MarkWildey]

Richard

What is going to be more use to you, I would guess a GPS.

As Codders says something like the Raymarine can be upgraded to radar at a later date and is a good unit.

Cheers

Mark

[richardjawilson]

Codder's, back to reflectors I picked up a Standard TriLens from the show. It seems easier to mount than the Echomax and is not as bulky. As its about 2.5 kgs, have you experienced any problems with the plastic screw in mount, ie is it strong enough?


Also I looked at the Lowrance 3500C/3600 plotters with a Europe West Nauntic Path map for £ 378.00 all in. Any thoughts on these???


regards richard

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by richardjawilson

Codder's, back to reflectors I picked up a Standard TriLens from the show. It seems easier to mount than the Echomax and is not as bulky. As its about 2.5 kgs, have you experienced any problems with the plastic screw in mount, ie is it strong enough?


Also I looked at the Lowrance 3500C/3600 plotters with a Europe West Nauntic Path map for £ 378.00 all in. Any thoughts on these???


regards richard

I haven't mounted mine yet - I don't really like the look of the plastic nut supplied - may be fine on a normal boat but on a RIB it may be a different story.I would try getting a metal nut - it looks like a pipe thread to me. Failing that you could use a thick rubber washer between the plate on the A frame and the reflector - this would give plenty of shock absorbtion.

No experience of the Lowrance but it looks pretty good value. I think it's a stand alone unit though - no adding radar or fishfinder or anything but then again it is a LOT cheaper than a Raymarine.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I haven't mounted mine yet ...

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Tell me about it - I feel like one of those plate spinners at the moment - rushing around spinning the sticks to stop the whole lot crashing down on my head!!!

[richardjawilson]

I have now fitted it to the a frame and I'll stress test it shortly!! I may see if can keep it attached by a temporary secondary source such as a lot of cable ties just in case of any disasters!!

richard