Kayaks and Radar/Part 2

Part 2 of a three-part series.
Part 1
Part 3

A couple of years ago one of the larger New England kayaking organizations ran some informal tests with a local Coast Guard station to see how well kayaks showed up on radar.

The results were impressive mostly for their failure: the kayaks proved nearly impossible to detect or delineate from wave, rain, and other chatter.

A much more formal series of tests were later run by the Coast Guard, the Maine Alliance of Sea Kayaking Guides and Instructors and the Maine Sea Grant Extension at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine.

The tests took place near the heart of downeast Maine, sea-fog capitol of the world.

The results were once again impressive for the failures they indicated. The paddlers and the Coast Guard and a willing lobsterman ran the tests with an impressive array of home-made and commercial-produced radar reflectors the paddlers carried shipboard, in their vests, or in their hats.

Here's the list (pretty exhaustive) of the devices they tested:

Assorted formal and informal pieces of reflective gear:

1. RadarFlag 24" x 36" U.S. ensign
2. RadarFlag standard kayak flag
3. 10-quart aluminum chili pot
4. 19" PVC tube filled with crushed aluminum foil (homemade);
5. Kayak Watchdog
6. Stalker Radar Super Reflector;
7. Hamilton Marine collapsible radar reflector;
8. Davis # 151 gold foil radar reflector
9. Davis # 153 aluminum radar reflector
10. space blanket worn as a cape (Academy Broadway Camper’s Emergency
Blanket (item no. 50330; 84" x 52" aluminum laminated polyethylene).

Radar Reflectors:

1. North Water Paddle Sports Equipment 30SK-25R Radar Reflective Paddlefloat;
2. North Water Paddle Sports Equipment 30SK-51R Radar Reflective Expedition Deck Bag
3. broad-brimmed hat covered in aluminum foil
4. PFD with vertical bands of TrimBrite Products Metal Mend Tape
5. a vest lined with space blanket and other reflective material
6. aluminum foil crunched up and worn over a hat

The two most important conclusions the group arrived at are shipboard radar can't detect solo kayaks and that paddlers in right pods are more likely to be detected.

Regardless of which commercial or homemade radar reflector was used, the kayaks generally did not show up on the radar except at the closest distance (1/8 nautical mile) (220 yards).

Having all kayaks paddle together in a tight pod: the radar return was significant.

Their report contains a lot more information kayakerss might find illuminating, if not just for the report's surprises but also for its obvious understanding of what kayaks are....

copyrights 2007 Sea Kayaking Dot Net and College of the Atlantic