Adding radar - on pole or arch?

[lustyd]

Just remember it doesn’t take much for shadows to get long and any shade at all can stop half a panel, possibly a whole panel. If you’re somewhere nice it’s not such an issue but in UK that can be a problem.
A good arch is a lovely thing though, so hopefully you can work it out

 

[johnalison]

What radar is it? Ours regularly sees pot markers a few hundred metres in front, so it’s not all about long range. That’s a newer set though which older ones may not manage.

I can’t tell you what set offhand but as you can see it’s Raymarine, and I changed it from an older one over twelve years ago. It came with an e7 display and I think calls itself digital. I’m not sure about pot markers, certainly not the lemonade-bottle types we get locally, but mooring buoys and middle-sized birds show up.

The specification and performance required will no doubt depend on the type of sailing undertaken. Obviously, some modern sets can given great range and tell you if a wasp is about to land on your boat, but for general offshore cruising decent collision avoidance and general view of the land is enough. Although I have Marpa, this has really been superseded by AIS.

 

[benjenbav]

On last boat I had a Garmin radome mounted at about the same height as OP proposes ~2-2.5m above deck and that worked well.

 

[lustyd]

To be fair it can be too good. We took avoiding action in fog for what turned out to be three birds in Chichester Harbour last year assuming they were three buoys

 

[Minerva]

To be fair it can be too good. We took avoiding action in fog for what turned out to be three birds in Chichester Harbour last year assuming they were three buoys

The RSPB would be proud!

 

[lustyd]

The RSPB would be proud!

Don’t tell them, but in good vis and when I know it’s a shite hawk (aka seagull) I’ll sometimes aim for them as revenge for lost pasties.

 

[Roberto]

I was going to put a pole up

A pole after some (very) bad weather

 

[benjenbav]

A pole after some (very) bad weather
View attachment 203643

Excellent on port. How do you move it when you tack onto starboard?

 

[johnalison]

A pole after some (very) bad weather
View attachment 203643

That's because it wasn't properly supported. Mine was originally set into a step in the sugar-scoop with a short bar to the pushpit. At one point the weld fractured, though without disastrous effect, and on my request two (adjustable) braces fix it to the pushpit, making it very solid.

 

[Tradewinds]

What you need is a mizzen mast like wot I have!

I know, I know.
Awaiting incoming as to how useless ketches are (but good for radar installs, yes?)

 

[Minerva]

What you need is a mizzen mast like wot I have!

I know, I know.
Awaiting incoming as to how useless ketches are (but good for radar installs, yes?)

I can see the conversation at home now;

Wife “So let me get this straight, you’ve gone out and bought a new boat…!?”
Me “yes! You see I got a really good deal on a radar and I was looking for best place to fit it and well, I thought the best place to put it was a new boat!”

 

[SaltyC]

I can see the conversation at home now;

Wife “So let me get this straight, you’ve gone out and bought a new boat…!?”
Me “yes! You see I got a really good deal on a radar and I was looking for best place to fit it and well, I thought the best place to put it was a new boat!”

Hmm, just bought the Radar now just need the boat. Think SWMBO may have something to say - and that's just about the radar of which she is currently unaware.

 

[TSB240]

Optimum position for an aft mounted radar is actually on starboard aft quarter.

If you understand radar you know!

 

[dunedin]

Hmm, just bought the Radar now just need the boat. Think SWMBO may have something to say - and that's just about the radar of which she is currently unaware.

Best you hide the radar as high up the mast as you can.
A pole or arch will be noticed immediately

 

[johnalison]

Optimum position for an aft mounted radar is actually on starboard aft quarter.

If you understand radar you know!

I understood that this was because a rescue helicopter would be approaching from the port quarter.

 

[lustyd]

I understood that this was because a rescue helicopter would be approaching from the port quarter.

That’s certainly why you mustn’t put the blender/windgen on that side. Seems rude to chop up the rescue chap

 

[Minerva]

That’s certainly why you mustn’t put the blender/windgen on that side. Seems rude to chop up the rescue chap

My ensign is on Port - I hope the chap being winched down considers it a red carpet!

 

[johnalison]

Although I don't believe there is any right or wrong about pole vs mast, I am surprised at how few sailors choose a pole in this country, while they were common abroad when we cruised there. I suspect that newcomers see radars on masts and assume that this is the right place for one, when I think that the choice of two options is at least worth considering.

 

[Frogmogman]

I always considered that the main purpose of a radar scanner up the mast was to snag halyards and generally make life more difficult for the foredeck crew.

On my own boat it was on a pole on the starboard quarter. Nary a wobble, the installation was extremely solid. Also a convenient spot for shitehawks to keep an eye on you when lunching in the cockpit.

 

[TSB240]

I understood that this was because a rescue helicopter would be approaching from the port quarter.

Nothing to do with rescue all to do with radar!

Recently met a current CG end of wire man. He is happy to rescue people off cliffs and mountains.
They don't get to practice taking people off yachts with or without back stays and radar poles! Most practice seems to be off a Stenna Ferry up this way.

Most yacht transfers are done in conjunction with lifeboats.