MacGregorSailors.com

Has anyone come up with a good rear view mirror that would attach to a round Bimini support or one of our stanchions? Most of the ones I have found are designed to attach to a motorboat's windshield or a pontoon boats square side rail.

REALLY, nobody has any suggestions for a rear view mirror? I can understand you guys with blue hulls and 90 h.p. engines. You are going so fast, you could care less about what is happening in your wake , but we mortals in white boats and 50 h.p. engines are occasionally overtaken by others especially in rivers, in the ICW, or in channels. Could use some help here!

I believe you are limited to a vertical pole attached to the side of the pedestal. A mirror can be attached to it. Anything attached to a stanchion would extend far beyond the sides of the boat. Dock hazard.

Anything smaller than a large Western mirror or California Mirror would reflect too small am image.

Just my opinion.

This is the closest thing I have found to what I want. I was just hoping to have a clamp designed for a round "pipe" like we have on Mac's vs the square ones like they have on pontoon boats.
https://www.etrailer.com/Boat-Mirrors/C ... 0%20-%2060

Herschel,

This may look to be too simple, but couldn’t you just place a screw in the center of a hose clamp,


and screw it (with a wide washer) onto the back of a mirror where you want the clamp to be? Loosen and tighten the clamp to reposition the mirror on a pole.

Get a Multifunction Axiom 12 Pro display, and a CAM210 day/night camera (rear pointed) and you will not have to worry about a mirror..
Simple!

adudinsk wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:25 am Get a Multifunction Axiom 12 Pro display, and a CAM210 day/night camera (rear pointed) and you will not have to worry about a mirror..
Simple!

I think Ray's solution might be a tad less expensive. I am still going for honorable mention in the skinflint competition. But thanks for responding. I am more than moderately surprised this hasn't apparently come up before, but, yet, here I am 17 years into Mac ownership just getting around to doing something about rear visibility. I bought a Hyundai Elantra two years ago, and it has a back up camera and blind spot detection cameras, so I guess I am just trying to get up to speed on my Mac visibility. I boat on a river a lot, and, despite our 50 plus h.p. engines, the center console guys, PWC folks, and some of the hot shot pontoon guys seem to like to crank on. Plus there is the occasional trawler that slips up on you as well. And, as you guys know well, large power boat wakes can make things dicey. Its good to know what is coming up your wake, yet, I confess, I can get kind of relaxed out there sometimes and get surprised. Hence the pursuit of a mirror.

Herschel wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:51 pm This is the closest thing I have found to what I want. I was just hoping to have a clamp designed for a round "pipe" like we have on Mac's vs the square ones like they have on pontoon boats.
https://www.etrailer.com/Boat-Mirrors/C ... 0%20-%2060

Since viewing this link when it posted, I've been getting a CRAZY number of ads for these mirrors popping up everywhere in my newsfeeds! Just sayin'...

I've never really thought about a mirror, but in your situation I could see the value in it.

My go to source I found these.

Great thinking Russ. Bicycle and motorcycle (handlebar) mirrors generally have some clamp on applications. Probably jet skis too.

Russ wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:04 am I've never really thought about a mirror, but in your situation I could see the value in it.

My go to source I found these.

I like the Chupacabra one. I'll look at that one real closely (probably buy it). Windshield one has a bracket for a square spar. That is what I am trying to avoid, if I can. Many thanks.

Well, apparently the ATV roll bars described in the previous mirror option above is 1 7/8 to 2 inches in diameter and so are the clamps for their rear view mirrors. But, these have 7/8 inch clamps and appear to be just right for the Bimini frame tubing and would probably fit the main sheet "stanchion" just forward of the helm, too.

Great suggestion to look at bicycle gear. Thanks guys. One good idea leads to another. Great forum.

Herschel,

Here is the cheapest solution. You can maybe move up in the rankings


Just clip it onto your glasses, or sunglasses. You're set to go

I use a pair when biking.

Got my rearview mirror installed today. Will get underway tomorrow for a trial run. I bought a set of two mirrors, but I only used the one. I'll see how that works. I installed it on a Bimini support tube on the starboard side in such a way that it is outboard of the head room for folks sitting in the cockpit. If I need more coverage, I'll add the second mirror on the port side. I am an avid bicyclist, too, and I think these mirrors are a cut above the average for bikes, so, if I don't need the second one on the boat, I'll replace my bike mirror with the second of this pair.




Thanks for thinking outside the nautical "box". Would not have considered going for a bike accessory.

Looks like it belongs there! Good choice.