radar reflectors?

[mike farrants]

wondering if a radar reflector is required or sensible - if i'm anchoring always in daylight in weymouth bay - no more than 4-5 miles offshore? 

I've seen they re pretty affordable - the pole kind, worth it or not?

thanks!

[Saintly Fish]

21 minutes ago, mike farrants said:

21 minutes ago, mike farrants said:

wondering if a radar reflector is required or sensible - if i'm anchoring always in daylight in weymouth bay - no more than 4-5 miles offshore? 

I've seen they re pretty affordable - the pole kind, worth it or not?

thanks!

Mike, these are the best reflectors in all the tests. 

https://www.echomax.co.uk/

For your boat the echomax mini would be fine. The pole ones are supposed to be useless or not even that good. 
If you google reflector tests you will find that the results are quite surprising. 

[Maverick]

20 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said:

https://www.echomax.co.uk/

That's what I have on mine, apparently they're good but who knows, I have never been on another craft looking at mine on radar

[GPSguru]

4 hours ago, mike farrants said:

wondering if a radar reflector is required or sensible

Yes, and yes !

Another vote for Echomax.

On the A frame I have a EM230 midi base mount, and testing with another boat shows that it provides a massive target ............ https://www.echomax.co.uk/em230-midi-original-and-basemount

Forget the cheap tube reflectors as they are not 100%, an octahedral (rain catcher) works, but best used on a rag and stick, where you can get it high up on the stick.

Edited April 29, 2021 by GPSguru

[Andy135]

2 hours ago, JonC said:

I’ve moved this because I can and I want to be a bad arse admin like Andy. 
I posted a while back with a picture of three boats on their moorings and a corresponding radar screen shot. The smaller boat with an echomax was the best target return. 

Fixed that for you Jon 😉

[Andy135]

15 minutes ago, JonC said:

Ooh fancy font as well, I can only dream.

Or... you can just use the standard Bold and Italic options together just like everyone else.

#theresnokudosinbeingatechnonumpty 😝

[Odyssey]

Echo max the best or get a rain catcher but fit it correctly...

You say you head out on a sunny day.... but then fog comes down or it’s raining or you’re out in the dark.... all worthwhile reasons to have one 🙂