Adam F Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Sounds a good idea - worth trying. I'm looking for more of a perminant solution that looks half decent as opposed to having broom sticks poking up all over the place though. My idea is to replace my anchor light with a light on a 600mm SS tube, this will then give a mounting place for a tube reflector - and still be in keeping with the lines of the boat. But is it worth it for 2 sq M? Paul - I will be interested in the report, but in reality there are so few reflectors on the market will it really tell us something we dont know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaffa Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Adam, If you're at tonights meeting I will show you the report. The results on the tube reflector showed it was only visible for 4 secs in the minute and although it provided a good return when vertical 2.6sqm@0deg tilted it only produced 0.15sqm@5deg, 0.1sqm@10deg and 0.5sqm at 15deg (small corner pocket reflections) At Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Pete, Yes thats exactly why I havent fitted one yet - a small boat will constantly be heeling over, even more than 10degs - and it shows a 0.1m sq reflection what use is that?? The pole idea is OK, but I want a perminant solution that will work underway - I'm not convinced a ochtehedral (sp?) on a pole would like sitting in a flagstaff at 40 knots!! Looks like the Sea Me is the way to go - but as always with decent safety kit it costs an arm and 2 legs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaffa Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Adam The sea me has me slightly worried in that it performs brilliantly on X band but Not at all on S band. I have been told that a large number of ships use S band when approaching port. Does this mean they switch off their X band I find it strange that sea me don't produce an S band version as well. Then we can all feel safe in our berths for a most reasonable cost of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 RADAR REFLECTOR I was going to get one, but as I have a Stainless Steel plate in my back and got a very good return image on the screen at tonights Radar Demo I have decided that as far as I am concerned I don't need an extra one. Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaffa Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Guys, Further update on Radar Reflectors is that the report into the sinking of the OUZO now includes a test on Radar Reflectors. If interested see site http://www.ybw.com/pbo/pdfs/radar_reflectors.pdf Results were very similar to those I mentioned in earlier post but the standards legislation is being tightened up and the new RCS performance characteristics have become more onerous. The only one that complied with both current and proposed standards was the Sea Me. The trl-lens versions came pretty close and are still my recomendation especially if just mounting on the cabin roof Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Thanks Pete - very helpful and not too technical. As I suspected - the tube type reflectors are a waste of time and like you if I fit one, it would be the tri lens STD. I wonder what the RNLI's stance would be on reflectors given this report? For a small boat (under 16') I cant see that the bigger reflectors are even an option, hence why the tube type units were/are poplular (plus they are cheap) now is seems a bulky expensive unit is the only viable option?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I am a bit confused having read the report on the Plastimo tube type. Are they saying it should be fitted horizontaly rather than the recommended vertical position eg The RCS of the Plastimo tube radar reflector over the elevation angles 0˚, 1˚, 5˚, 10˚ & 15˚ is shown in figure 14. At 0˚ the RCS response looks fair with 8 lobes achieving between 6m2 and 9m2, but as soon as the reflector is tilted even to as little as 1˚ these maxima fall away to levels of between 0.42 and 4m2. As the elevation angle increases the performance degrades even more, at 5˚ and 10˚ the stated performance level is 0.03m2 and there is only 1˚ of azimuth where both plots exceed 0.625m2. The statistics for the Plastimo 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHoy Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Mike, Fit the tube reflector vertically, then switch the boat stabilisers on to limit the heel to less than 1 deg - sorted. And just keep the boat yawing by 30 deg to move the horizontal nulls around (should be easy with the steering response of a MF ). As per other members, I had short listed the tri-lobe reflectors as being the best of a not very effective selection but will hold off on any purchase and see what the market comes up with as a response to the MAIB report. The new standard requires performance in excess of all bar 2 of the tested reflectors and the cost of those two leaves plenty of scope for some price conscious alternatives. Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Quote...Fit the tube reflector vertically, then switch the boat stabilisers on to limit the heel to less than 1 deg - sorted. And just keep the boat yawing by 30 deg to move the horizontal nulls around (should be easy with the steering response of a MF ). Oh, do what we normaly do then! Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Plastimo octahedral jobby for me I think, just got to work out where to mount one now. ( The elevation angle is all the more critical for yachts than for us, since they will have a tube reflector heeled over whilst underway but as the report says, 1 degree is enough to make the tube reflector next to useless ). How about mounting 2 octahedrals ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 ...but will hold off on any purchase and see what the market comes up with as a response to the MAIB report. The new standard requires performance in excess of all bar 2 of the tested reflectors and the cost of those two leaves plenty of scope for some price conscious alternatives. Alan. Anyone doing a Marketing Degree- this could be an excellent case-study! I'd expect that such an influencial report as this would have a real impact on supply and demand. I'd be very suprised if (patents allowing) other manufacturers did not subsequently bring out their own versions of Sea-Me, or at least the volume sold of actual Sea-Me's to increase which would mean lower unit manufacturing price? Either way, it can only mean reduced cost for us the consumers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Any item of equipment that improves safety is worth having, but don't rely on it out in the shipping lanes. I can recall one instance when returning from a mid channel wrecking trip we observed a large container ship heading west at full speed and as we slowed down to let it pass we noticed there was no one in attendance on the Bridge! Moral of the story being keep a good lookout yourself and try to avoid being out in fog (very bad). Gordon H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Any item of equipment that improves safety is worth having Absolutely, agree 100%.... although a 50mm tube type reflector over on a 30deg heel shows 0% relfection so doesnt improve safety and therefore isnt worth having. If you think about it, I rekon our small boats spend at least 50% of thier time at 20 degs or more even on a flat day. ...its a good excuse for upgrading to a cat though! The octeheddrals (sp) seem the best perforamnce to value ration - but just look so bloomin ugly...and being a 'boat tart' that just wont do. I wonder if they still perform well enclosed in a platic or grp sheath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 What shape sheath were you thinking Adam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.