100% of them described a Davis or Davis-like design.
Comparatively, 90% of over 50 sailors I informally surveyed, claim to own a radar reflector, in a locker, somewhere. On foggy days in the northeast USA I have observed, at most, 1 in 35 sailboats sporting a radar reflector, and among them most had severe limitations being fixed mount, too small, not kept level, and more than half a combination of all three limitations. It seems like nearly all sailors in the Northeast fail to use their radar reflectors. Geez, when did safety slip to the bottom of sailor’s priority list? Are radar reflectors so difficult to use? Too confusing maybe? Or is there an overall lack of faith they are worth the effort to hoist? May 30, 2011, 30 sailboats travel in heavy fog across Long Island Sound from Huntington to Saugatuck, the heavy fog was forecast…the number of boats sporting radar reflectors…just one. July 2010, dozens of boats make their way through hours of heavy rain and thunderstorms into Nantucket Island, and only 2 have radar reflectors. In the melee, just 1 of every 35 boats is sporting a radar reflector. A ferry and a coast guard ship actually do collide. July 2009, chaos on Block Island Sound as fog descends on hundreds of recreational boaters, skippers constantly calling out on VHF 9 & 16 in attempts to avoid collision. Neither vessel had a radar reflector hoisted. July 2006, Block Island Sound is enveloped in patchy fog, two radar-equipped sailboats pass within 20 feet after failing to detect each other despite calm waters.
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