Installed my Tri-Lens radar reflector today

B

baz

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Subject: Installed my Tri-Lens radar reflector today

When boat cruising in the fog the radar and AIS technology can be of use for seeing others.... but can they see you ? If you have a Garmin AIS 600/800 that receives as well as transmits your boat's info, that is good..... In addition a decent radar reflector is good insurance as well. I installed my Tri-Lens radar reflector today for added safety. 🙂

I was hoping the installation could make use of the 3 holes on the upper mast's plate, but alas, they were too far apart. I had to get my trusty portable electric drill to drill out three 1/8" pilot holes in the SS plate and then opened them up to meet the bolt 1/4" diameters I planned to use.

The Tri-Lens reflector is a weighty item and there have been reports when they fall off causing much damage to the boat. After securing the lens with three good sized bolts, locking washer and nut, I also secured the whole lens with a sturdy white zip tie to the mast-proper just as a safety and redundant attachment. I placed the lens on the starboard side of the mast as the mast when lowered goes to port.

In addition, I positioned the Tri-Lens's three lobes such that if the Tri-Lens were to loosen from its bolted base and start to twist the Mast pole would obstruct this and not allow the Tri-Lens to twist/turn any more than a fraction of a 360º turn. The Tri-Lens screws onto it base with at least a dozen 360º turns.

See here -> https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1AG3KxPyGojIlZ
 
1. Did you use a threadlocker?

2. Have you considered the upper mount if available

I'd hate to have the reflector fall off, seems there may be a rash of incidents...

TEX
 
The Tri-lens base is attached to the SS plate with three sturdy bolts/nuts with lock washers. The Trip-lens is positioned such that the mast obstructs the Tri-lens from rotating off its screw base.... and in addition if this were to fail the zip tie that secures the Trim-lens to the mast would hold the Tri-lens and stop it from falling. It's very secure without any danger of it falling off.

What is an "upper mount".

Thanks for your concern. 🙂
 
baz":23smn8qj said:
What is an "upper mount".
Click to expand...
I don't know what "Texaseye" was referring to, but the last of the Tri-Lens reflectors had mounting bolts on top as well as on the bottom. From what I have been able to figure out, this was a last ditch effort to keep the Tri-Lens reflectors going. But the reputation of them breaking loose and falling had already done it's damage and there was no saving the brand. Which is a shame as it is the only brand that meet the radar reflectivity standard without going to an active reflector.
 
Yep, Upper and lower mount to prevent losing the reflector. 5.5kg is a lot of weight bucking around.

Just remember hearing of the reflectors departing the mast often...
 
From my perspective, the only way for my Tri-Lens to break loose would be for the three 1/4" bolts to shear and/or the three nuts/lockwashers to let go, and even with this the zip tie will remain to hold it. Beyond this, the mast would have to fail and fall. I'm quite satisfied my Tri-Lens is safe from falling.
 
Hello Barry

Your post is perfectly timely. I knew that up here in Canada one of our requirements is a radar reflector. There are exceptions but then just having one makes sense. When we bought our 2017 R25 SC I was told during delivery that there was one built inside the faux funnel but PBH have since clarified that the factory discontinued this some years ago. In the meantime I have been researching reflector reviews and trying to work out what the best approach would be. The tri-lens gets good test results but there are the reports of them coming loose. You seem to have addressed that issue as well as can be expected and I doubt whether your mounts will break loose spontaneously. The extra tie to address the possibility of a structural failure of the actual unit seems a good solution.

Now for my question. In all my research there are warnings not to mount any unit close to the radar unit on the boat or major damage will be the result. The suggestion is to check the manual for the radar unit for details but I find nothing in my manual that is relevant. Did you find something? It looks like your mast is significantly higher above the radar than on the 25 which is to be expected and I’m sure you will have less risk but did you actually find a specific recommendation?

Thanks

David

BTW: I love the Manx courtesy flags.
 
Chimo":227q9zz2 said:
Hello Barry

Now for my question. In all my research there are warnings not to mount any unit close to the radar unit on the boat or major damage will be the result. The suggestion is to check the manual for the radar unit for details but I find nothing in my manual that is relevant. Did you find something? It looks like your mast is significantly higher above the radar than on the 25 which is to be expected and I’m sure you will have less risk but did you actually find a specific recommendation?

Thanks

David
Click to expand...
David,
I couldn't find anything in the manual either when I was looking into radar reflectors. I did find this and it might help.
https://www.nmea.org/Assets/nmea%20ante ... 202011.pdf

Unfortunately he Tri-Lens reflector is no longer available unless you can find NOS somewhere.
 
Hi Jim

That’s really useful information. Thank you for posting. It looks like the mast above the radar is fine for a reflector as it would be outside the 10 deg. angle. The tests on most of the “stick” style reflectors are not encouraging.
 
Chimo":265ldpmw said:
Hi Jim

That’s really useful information.
Click to expand...
Glad it helped.

Chimo":265ldpmw said:
The tests on most of the “stick” style reflectors are not encouraging.
Click to expand...
Most of the 'stick' type do not meet minimum standards. The no longer made large Tri-Lens was one of the few that did. The only other one that came close to meeting standards is the large Echomaster from Davis.
https://www.amazon.com/Davis-Echomastre ... way&sr=8-7

The only way to ensure you get a radar reflector that fully meets the minimum standards is to spend the $$$$$ and get an active reflector.
https://www.amazon.com/Echomax-EMACTIVE ... way&sr=8-6

They are available cheaper than on Amazon, but this gives you an idea what I am talking about.
 
FYI... I purchased my Tri-Lens radar reflector in Aug 2015 from Downwind Marine, San Diego for around $131. I paid $5 for the additional plastic base that I used to secure the Tri-Lens to my SS mast's plate. I refrained from using the supplied mast bracket that was commonly advertised as I concluded the bracket was too flimsy and was an installation technique that many used and subsequently failed when the boat was under severe Rocking&Rolling conditions.
 
Baz,

The white nylon cable ties do not hold up well in the sun and are for indoor usage. The black ties have UV inhibitors and will maintain strength much longer, but not forever.

Barry Thompson
 
Baz,
Second about the white zip ties not good for long term outdoors. The black zip ties are better or you could go to stainless zip ties. The stainless cable ties are stronger and more durable than the plastic ones. I used some to wrap heat shield to airplane exhaust pipes (really, really hot) and they held up for years.
 
Barry Thompson & Vicki Foley: Thanks very much about the white colored zip ties not being ideal for long term means for being a suitable redundant safety feature. I will either switch to a black zip tie or go for a SS tie. Thank you very mech for the heads-up. 🙂 I intend to make this change ASAP.
 
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