Blue Water Supplies, Jersey (GB) - Blue Water Equipment Specialists

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Blue Water Supplies Limited. Jersey, Channel Islands Tel.+44(0)1534 739594

Blue Water Equipment Specialists

Committed to Value and Service...

ALL PRICES EXCLUDE VAT & Jersey GST

Individual prices may not always be competitive... please contact us with your shopping list for a extremely competitive quotation.

IMPORTANT

Blue Water Supplies is based in Jersey in the Channel Islands. We do not charge VAT although VAT or a local sales tax may be payable on delivery.* (Orders with a value of £18 or under are VAT exempt).

Goods collected from Jersey after 1st May 2008 may be liable for Jersey GST(General Sales Tax) at 3%

*An administration surcharge may sometimes be added by the postal authority or company.

Blue Water Supplies Limited reserves the right to change prices at any time without notice. Although every effort to ensure prices and other details are correct, Blue Water Supplies accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

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© Blue Water Supplies Limited 2002-2008

Blue Water Supplies - Safety - Radar Reflectors

Radar Reflectors


Radar reflectors have come a long way over the last twenty years, but are they really that effective? A recent test by a leading yachting magazine has cast doubt over the whole idea.		'Photo by Pat Manley'

Radar basically works by transmitting a signal that is subsequently reflected back by surrounding objects, and used to build up a picture of the surroundings. Some objects reflect better than others. It is not uncommon to hear a skipper talk of picking up seagulls and dolphins on radar. This often leads them into a false sense of security, believing that they can pick up anything. Some objects simply don’t give a big echo, and some real dangers can easily be dismissed as something completely different. It must also be born in mind that radar is only of any use if someone is looking at it. This is one of the main reasons why it is important to be seen as early as possible.

A recent magazine test gave surprising results. A boat without a reflector would suddenly disappear from nearby radar screens when a reflector was hoisted. It was eventually concluded that in certain situations two reflections off nearby objects could cancel each other out resulting in no reflected signal. This was likened to two aircraft propeller engines travelling at slightly different speeds. The noise gets louder and softer as they go in and out of synchronization. It is still generally considered prudent to have a radar reflector and active radar reflectors are becoming a common sight as they overcome the problems related to passive ones.

Active Radar Reflectors

Acitve radar reflectors such as the Sea-Me amplify the reflected signal to improve the chances of the vessel being seen. They only transmit when they receive a signal and also alert the crew to approaching vessels by a flashing LED or sound when it receives an incoming radar signal. Customers who have purchased Sea-mes have reported large ships diverting to investigate the “big ship” echo they have received. Also coastal radio stations have frequently questioned Sea-me equipped vessels believing the echo to come from a large commercial vessel. A sure way to be seen.