A large part of my coastal and inland sailing area is the Intercoastal waterway. Now that I have SCAMP 347 I need to purchase and mount a new radar reflector. At the same time I am looking into floatation for the masthead or the sail spar. Does any current SCAMP owner have suggestions on radar reflectors or masthead/spar floatation that could be mounted on a SCAMP?
Regards,
Jude SCAMP #347
Mermentau River @ Lake Arthur - Louisiana, USA
SCAMP Masthead Radar Reflector / Floatation
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Re: SCAMP Masthead Radar Reflector / Floatation
Here is a do-it-yourself masthead floatation solution:
http://www.wayfarer-international.org/W ... tation.pdf
There have been few radar reflector tests which conclude that passive radar reflectors aren't that effective. Still, the octahedral ones are popular among dinghy sailors.
http://www.wayfarer-international.org/W ... tation.pdf
There have been few radar reflector tests which conclude that passive radar reflectors aren't that effective. Still, the octahedral ones are popular among dinghy sailors.
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Re: SCAMP Masthead Radar Reflector / Floatation
Sounds like you have a complete boat. If so this tip isn't helpful, perhaps for others building a spar. When I build hollow birds mouth spars I loosely bunch up aluminum foil and place it inside the mast before final closure. This has been tested and lets show the spar itself becomes an effective radar reflector.
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Re: SCAMP Masthead Radar Reflector / Floatation
Howard -- on the trick with the aluminium (or is it al-u-mini-um?) foil, are you putting the foil in the entire mast or perhaps just at the top portion? Asking for my build. thanks
...be happy...
Steve Canaga
Scamp #332 - Emerald Odessey
Steve Canaga
Scamp #332 - Emerald Odessey
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Re: SCAMP Masthead Radar Reflector / Floatation
Steve
Just seeing your post. I put loosely crumpled up foil in all the mast above the cabin top.
Just seeing your post. I put loosely crumpled up foil in all the mast above the cabin top.
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Re: SCAMP Masthead Radar Reflector / Floatation
In my cruising around Asia, I never relied on my radar reflector. In conversations with cargo ships passing by sometimes they saw me others they didn't. The most effective was a pen laser which I would flash across the bridge whereupon the cargo vessel would acknowledge my existence and would find me on the radar in good weather, heavy weather not on the screen. Costs b all and very good.
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Re: SCAMP Masthead Radar Reflector / Floatation
I first read of the idea of crumpled aluminum foil in the mast in one of the books by Lin & Larry Pardey. They said they did it after finding that the normal radar reflectors didn't work very well. What I remember, they talked to various commercial vessels later who said the foil gave a consistent, fright blip on the radar screen.
Unfortunately, this won't work with an aluminum mast....
Unfortunately, this won't work with an aluminum mast....