Tubular vs Traditional Radar reflectors

[Tracyandkimo]

Any have any information or opinion based on real world experience on tubular vs traditional radar reflectors? Thanks

[thinwater]

I believe this study by US Sailing should answer all of your questions.
https://www.ussailing.org/wp-content...ector-Test.pdf

That said, AIS is far more important and useful.

[Adelie]

Tubes are slightly to somewhat better than nothing.
Fat tubes are mediocre.
Best bang for the buck is is 16” octahedron in catch-rain position.
Best commercial available reflector is a larger tri-lense. https://www.rozendalassociates.com/trilenses

Better than that by almost a factor of 10 is a radar transponder which is electronics that need to be maintained.

[Tracyandkimo]

We have AIS but have, on rare occasion, found it be receiving but NOT transmitting! We simply have to reboot it but it's not too comforting to not be confident that it's transmitting and a PITA to keep hailing vessels to see if we are transmitting.

[s/v Jedi]

AIS is not a replacement for radar.

Do you need a radar reflector? Check your radar signature from other boats while you’re anchored in a bay. I removed mine after checking that. I also removed a Sea-Me transponder as well as that radar warning / direction indicating gizmo that everyone raved about 20 years ago.

[Tracyandkimo]

agreed that AIS is not a panacea!
From your post, I assume that whatever reflector (not the Sea-Me transponder) you were using did not significantly improve the return.
Thanks

[Tracyandkimo]

from that study, it appears the tubular reflector is basically useless!

[Breaking Waves]

Originally Posted by Tracyandkimo

from that study, it appears the tubular reflector is basically useless!

yes, that is accurate. And is the same in two other studies. They don't meet the minimum cross-section requirement to act as a radar reflector in the OSR's.

[psk125]

I laugh at boats that have the tubes. They're not cheap, either. Almost as big a scam as the phony documentation service guys.