I was under the assumption that a mast was quite stealthy due the curves, and about the only thing that could paint on a sailboat, sans reflector, was the engine....which is below the waterline. Confused.
What is this on the mast????
- Thread starter PGIJon
- Start date
Within 5-10 miles, a 50 foot mast along with the shrouds, spreaders, radar dome provides a LOT of reflective area. A fiberglass boat is also an excellent reflector. The only ones that really work are the active ones that transmit back (expensive).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SEA-ME-Active-Radar-Target-Enhancer-Reflector-X-Band-NEW-/221692593327
Everything I have read about sailboat reflectivity is quite to the contrary. A few years back, on calm seas on Lake Superior, I was fiddling with my new radar. It was a Wednesday night....so that meant beer can races were in effect. PHRF. There was one friend of mine in the race , who had a radar reflector who nearly blew my screen off at about a 2-3 mile range. All other sailboats without the the reflector painted just a faint return. All boats were about the 22- 30 ft range. THAT is what made me a believer. Especially for the fact that I live in the shipping lanes. Now the Ore Boats, well now , who cant paint them??
mz4wheeler.......what you are saying may hold true for the high powered military radar, but, is very poor advice for the boater utilizing the normal pleasure boat units. As a crew member on a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary fast rescue craft (equipped with top quality commercial grade radar operated by highly trained operators) I frequently observed large and small sailing vessels without radar reflectors, get within less than one cable distance from us before a faint radar reflection was recorded. On the other hand, even the poorest rated reflector provided a warning prior to getting dangerously close. I'm sure anyone that has spent time on the water in day/night/rain/fog etc. searching for or rescuing hapless sailors will extol the virtues of a good radar reflector.
As for the radome itself being a reflector, forget it. On several occasions we ran into boat skippers that were convinced that having a radome precluded the need for a reflector. We convinced them by taking them on board to monitor our radar as we approached their vessel. Some red faces there!
EG
As for the radome itself being a reflector, forget it. On several occasions we ran into boat skippers that were convinced that having a radome precluded the need for a reflector. We convinced them by taking them on board to monitor our radar as we approached their vessel. Some red faces there!
EG
The sailboat I spoke of earlier crossing ahead of me was heeled over 20-30 deg, so that the mast was pointed pretty much straight at me. The surface presented to the radar was little more than the cap on the top, and radar just couldn't see it. Only one person was visible, and he was sitting on the low side, and also not visible to the radar. It was one of those "oh crap" moments, I first was thinking that if it was foggy, I might have hit him, then, it might just as easily have been me in my sailboat getting hit.
Fiberglass is invisible to RF energy, this is why a GPS will work below deck without a remote antenna. What shows up is the mast and people in the boat. If they're not present or presenting minimal surface to the scanner, they don't give a reflection.
Fiberglass is invisible to RF energy, this is why a GPS will work below deck without a remote antenna. What shows up is the mast and people in the boat. If they're not present or presenting minimal surface to the scanner, they don't give a reflection.