radar reflectors

do any of you use them? I'd like to see how you have them mounted and am curious how they're working out for you. I've been fishing out of the kelp in the fog the last three times I've gone out. A friend gave me a reflector, but he suggested that I mount it like six feet high out of  a rod holder. Kind of awkward and high CG that way. I would like to mount it bow or stern and was hoping that it would still work right off the deck. I'm going to get a light too. thanks                            CoS

Hi Yaker:

     I use Silver 1" x 2" Mylar tape tied to a Black paper clamp. I clip
the tape to the end of the Rods that I'm not using.
                                                                       Ernie
                                                               

I don't use anything, but yesterday when the new Sheriff's boat came up to me in Caspar, they said they couldn't see me on the radar. I figured I would have shown up at some point, but I never did. Interesting.

CHEERS!

Be careful of putting something like a solid radar reflector up high... if a big breeze picks up it can roll you over with a long enough moment arm (enginerd-speak for leverage).

Hi Yaker:

     I use Silver 1" x 2" Mylar tape tied to a Black paper clamp. I clip
the tape to the end of the Rods that I'm not using.
                                                                       Ernie
                                                              

Have you had a chance to check that on some one's radar? I like the sound of that much better than the reflector.

Be careful of putting something like a solid radar reflector up high... if a big breeze picks up it can roll you over with a long enough moment arm (enginerd-speak for leverage).

  Ya I don't like the idea of that thing swinging around up there.
                                    thanks  CoS

Here is a web site about radar reflectors on sea Kayaks.
http://www.seagrant.umaine.edu/extension/coastcom/rarefgal.htm

This ones pretty cool.

Here is a web site about radar reflectors on sea Kayaks.
http://www.seagrant.umaine.edu/extension/coastcom/rarefgal.htm

This ones pretty cool.

Great link thanks. Figures the hat one smoked the others with the results. I guess I'm gonna put a chin strap on my reflector and call it good.
                                        CoS

There are two many variables with radar to say what will and won't work.  The operator being the least reliable of them all.  I notice a lot of people wear black wet suits, black does a better job of absorbing radar then reflecting it A kayaker in black or dark colors in a dark or flat colored boat would be the most likely to be run over.

On the bay, kayaks only showed on my radar when I cut the range down to 1/4 mile.  1/2 mile was spotty as I'd only get a minor blip.  With swell you're likely to be invisible in the trough if a reflector is not mounted high enough. 

 

  As most of you may know already, radar needs something to reflect off of.  Installing a radar reflector on the deck of a kayak, might work on fresh water where theres no swells/waves.  On the ocean I've seen pictures of kayak's in a trough between waves and dissapear.  Radar is not going to see that.  I don't have much experience with small radar systems, but when in the navy, I operated several my entire length of duty(Operations specialist,or radar operator) course those radars were way more powerful and located much higher that personal radars on small crafts, so the likely hood of a kayak showing up on screen would appear to just be sea state.
  I think one of them mylar shiny "Birth day balloons" would possibly work for a good reflector.(Unless it was windy on the water) How about a bike flag pole with a mylar flag?  That would give someone the ability to have something always above the waves/swell.