If you attempt to go near larger commercial shipping lanes you are required to have them at least were I live, they are not optional here. Also get the right size, some smaller ones are useless (so I've been told).
> If you attempt to go near larger commercial shipping lanes you are required to have them at least were I live, they are not optional here.
Not required in the US, but not a bad idea to hoist one in fog.
Although these days, an AIS transmitter is a better answer. But a prudent mariner never trusts a single point of failure, so might as well do both.
Admittedly I don't always hoist the radar reflector in the heavy fog near the Golden Gate bridge, but I always transmit AIS in low visibility (and monitor it).
