Does anyone out there know of a recent "Consumer Reports" type report
on passive radar reflectors? For a 30' sailboat? I've got to get
one,,,, want to get the best one without it being too huge [windage].


Thanks,

Trent Sanders
S/V Cimba
Marina Del Rey

Practical Sailor did a test of radar reflectors some time back. The
reflector that looks like a ball made up of three interlocking plates got
the best score by far. Davis makes one. Mount it in the "catch rain
position" (you have to see one to understand) for the best return.

David
wrote in message
oups.com...
Does anyone out there know of a recent "Consumer Reports" type report
on passive radar reflectors? For a 30' sailboat? I've got to get
one,,,, want to get the best one without it being too huge [windage].


Thanks,

Trent Sanders
S/V Cimba
Marina Del Rey

"Larry" wrote in message
...
Charlie Morgan wrote in news:d68ga2ttf187j29an5u5v5bu1b9tfblj4k@
4ax.com:

It might if the mast and the RADAR antenna looking at it were both
always perfectly aligned , but they aren't.



Therein lies the problem. Your Echomaster is atop the mast 50' in the
air.
The radar antenna on the 950' containership, SeaLand "Performance" is 150'
off the water. They can see you only when you are in the beam.....way off
from the ship. When you get close to the ship, their radar shoots over
the
top of your mast, completely. This is done to reduce sea return, so the
radar doesn't look "down". A target so short can't be seen very close to
the ship. Looks great on other short sailboats, though....

Think AIS....AIS....AIS.

On AIS your "return" is just as loud as the Queen Mary IIs after you get
your little transponder antenna over the radio horizon on VHF....right up
to the point where they run over you.

No problem getting your AIS beacon to set off their collision alarms....


Products on the market for rec vessels? Cost?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Larry wrote:
Charlie Morgan wrote in news:d68ga2ttf187j29an5u5v5bu1b9tfblj4k@
4ax.com:


It might if the mast and the RADAR antenna looking at it were both
always perfectly aligned , but they aren't.




Therein lies the problem. Your Echomaster is atop the mast 50' in the air.
The radar antenna on the 950' containership, SeaLand "Performance" is 150'
off the water. They can see you only when you are in the beam.....way off
from the ship. When you get close to the ship, their radar shoots over the
top of your mast, completely. This is done to reduce sea return, so the
radar doesn't look "down". A target so short can't be seen very close to
the ship. Looks great on other short sailboats, though....

Think AIS....AIS....AIS.

On AIS your "return" is just as loud as the Queen Mary IIs after you get
your little transponder antenna over the radio horizon on VHF....right up
to the point where they run over you.

No problem getting your AIS beacon to set off their collision alarms....


Containership visibility directly ahead leaves a large dead zone.
A couple of years ago our Canadian Power & Sail Squadron had our Harbour
Master come in and give us a presentation on the harbour. He had films
taken from the bridge of a large container ship entering the harbour
with sailboats crossing it's path. Even from quite a distance, the
sailboats disappeared from view due to the stacking of 4 or 5 containers
high on the foredeck.

"Capt. JG" wrote in news:12agfj92ukefl23
@corp.supernews.com:

Products on the market for rec vessels? Cost?



Soon, very soon. They'll rip the price until the big boys get theirs, as
always, then it'll drop like a stone as the market dries up.