Rear View Mirrors

by Dave Jones (NT32-192)

After finding a need to keep turning around to check for other boats in the channels to many of the Michigan harbors, I started to look around for mirror options but none of the usual interior mirrors gave sufficient coverage and I couldn't find a car mirror that would work. On the way back from our slip, I noticed that all the trucks use auxiliary convex mirrors. At the local truck part store, they had a variety of stainless steel circular mirrors, 4", 5", and 6". I selected the 5". The mounting brackets were not really great but all of the mirrors had a 1/4-20 stub. I had a spare hinged jaw bimini fitting for 1" tubing and by chance it had a 1/4-20 threaded hole.

It mounted perfectly on the hand grip on the leading corner of the pilot house and gives a great view alongside the boat out to around 20' at the stern. I also mounted one on the port side with great results. The mirrors are invaluable in crowded spaces and when docking the boat—all for around $30 each. After trading up to a 37 Nordic Tug last year, I added the mirrors to Sir Tugley Blue.