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Paddlers and boat captain setting up for the first two days of the radar reflector study. This first round of tests was run with the radar platform on the College of the Atlantic R/V Indigo in Frenchman Bay, Maine.
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Displayed here are some of the commercially available and homemade radar reflector models tested.
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Rich MacDonald, of Gulf of Maine Expedition Institute, affixes a reflector to the kayak, while Paul Travis, past president of Maine Association of Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors, performs a radio check.
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Onboard the R/V Indigo, Sea Grant marine extension associate Natalie Springuel and Captain Hudson compare data sheets to radar settings.
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Natalie enters data for weather and wind conditions on testing day.
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The Davis 153 aluminum radar reflector, a commercially available reflector often used by sailors and fishermen. |
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The RadarFlag, a commercially available flag with reflective material built into the cloth. |
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This homemade "hat reflector" generated some of the best results due to its height above the paddler's head, and the angles of reflection. |
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Homemade vest with aluminum material. |
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Safety blanket draped around the paddler's body generated some returns but was impractical for the paddler. |
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The random pixilated forms at the bottom of this screen are typical of "clutter" that often shows up on radar screen but is not a real return. Clutter can be tuned out with radar settings, sometimes at the expense of real returns . |
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In the second set of trials, George Mitchell of the MDI Paddlers begins a run without a reflector attached to his boat to get his kayak's baseline visibility on radar. This second round of tests was run with the US Coast Guard Group Southwest Harbor and their ATON team. |
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The red and black rectangle behind the paddler is a commercially available paddle float made with reflective material. |
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The Coast Guardsmen helps switch out reflectors for the next round of trials. |
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The paddlers steer clear of the vessel as it moves away to begin the next round of trials. |
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A sea kayak guide from Mount Desert Island tracks "hits" and "misses" on the data form. |
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Even on this clear day, kayaks are hard to see from the cabin of this vessel. |
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Kayakers traveling in a tight pod like these folks are more likely to be seen on radar than kayaks spread apart. |
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The group gathers for the third set of radar reflector trials, this one at the Boothbay Harbor Coast Guard Station with the help of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Photo by Al Johnson, First Coast Guard District Recreational Boating Safety Specialist. |
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The Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel team and the paddlers converge upon a floating dock to discuss the course as the wind picks up. Photo by Paul Travis. |
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On this frigid and windy November testing day, paddlers are dressed in dry suits to protect themselves from the cold water. |
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The red tube in front of the cockpit was the only commercially available reflector designed specifically for sea kayaking that the study organizers were able to locate on the market. |
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The Boothbay Harbor region US Coast Guard Auxiliary team and vessel. |
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Maine Sea Grant marine extension associate Natalie Springuel aboard the USCG Auxiliary vessel, communicates with paddlers via VHF marine radio. Photo by Rich MacDonald. |
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This screen shot from the Auxiliary vessel's radar shows another way that clutter or noise might appear on the screen . |
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Considering that a boat traveling at 15 knots covers 1/4 nautical mile in 60 seconds, anything that can improve the visibility of small boats at sea is useful, including some forms of radar reflectors, effective VHF communications, and minimal traveling in high boat traffic areas. |
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