quote:Originally posted by SerengetiGuide
Problem is I can't put the reflector higher than the dome as if I did when we trailer the boat the reflector would be so high that it would be nearing electrical wires...plus I'm sure it'd look pretty funny/ugly to have it up higher than the rest with rod. But if that's the only thing to do....
Dave, that’s not the only thing to do.
You are talking about the Pursuit or Grady. Have you even checked to see the signatures and how those boats show on radar? You have enough stainless steel, metal and other material on those boats, they both will probably already light up like a Christmas tree!
If it were me, I would buy a VHF ratchet mount and mount it just like the GPS on the Pursuit (including height), and right beside the VHF antenna or GPS, (either side of either) and be done with it! There is no way I would worry about any interference from anything on those boats, except keeping it out of the radar beam. And the only reason there is so it won’t interfere with the radar, by giving you a blind spot! When trailering just lower it, like your VHF Antenna.
If you want take both boats out, turn the radar, and check them. Just hold the reflector or tape it where you want to install it. The reflector “should” provide you a better signature, but don’t be surprised if it don’t, or isn’t much better – goes back to all that stainless steel!
Just in case, maybe this will help?
Your radar puts out about a 20-degree beam above and below its plane, when the plane of your boat changes- the plane of the radar changes with it. The radar unit is actually inside that “fiberglass” dome. Radar is microwaves, microwaves will pass through fiberglass just like your microwave oven… think about those plastics you cook in the microwave. Ever notice they don’t get hot? If they do, it is only from the food, as the microwaves pass through them! Radar is the same microwaves! There is radar reflectors made enclosed in a fiberglass or polyethylene cases, e.g. 'EcoMax'.
Keep in mind what you are trying to accomplish here – that is to “increase” your visibility to another radar unit! I don’t care if you have a frigg’n fiberglass kayak, it will have something on it that a properly installed and operating radar unit will pick up. the only question is when? The purpose of the reflector is to catch those radar microwaves, concentrate that signal, and reflect/deflect it back to the sending unit. That concentrated signal shows up as larger target on the receivers display. All microwave signals are line of site. A kayak (with radar reflector mounted on a 10 pole) “setting” at the bottom of a 12 foot swell, and I am in my boat with the radar mounted 10 feet above the water “setting” at the bottom of the following 12 foot swell - I am not going to see that kayak, with or without a reflector, period - End of subject! Regardless of how great and concentrated that signal - it does not have line of site! Btw… just for the record submarines use radar on top of the water, they use sonar below the water! RADAR sends out electromagnetic waves, while active SONAR transmits acoustic. Microwaves (electromagnetic waves) diminished rapidly in water. That’s why, and only why you would want it high rather just to make it an easier/better target. Those reflectors being “very” effective and they will be picked up anywhere on the water, as long as it has line of site. And, that signal is not going to be any “better” or “worse” if it is at the waterline or 50 feet in the air – as long as it is within the beam of the receiving unit!
So I just took it off yesterday..and trying to figure out where to mount it. 
