Does your genoa foul/brush the radar when you tack ?

[Crowblack]

New boat and going to fit radar - my preference is to put it on the mast just above the first set of spreaders.

Walked round other boats and most seem to be sited that way but doesn't the genoa foul or at least brush against the radome on it's way across on a tack ?

Must say I've never watched the upper part of the genoa as it comes across only when sheeting in on new tack.

If you've got radar on the mast what's your experience and am I worrying too much the odd brush isn't important .

 

[rotrax]

No.

 

[Ric]

If your foresail is a self-tacking solent type sail then you may have problems, but if a normal genoa with sheets lead back to deck tracks then no problem.

BTW, if fitting radar would recommend a self-levelling mount - makes a big difference particularly when weather is a bit sporty because you can tune out sea-clutter equally on both sides of the boat.

 

[prv]

Mine does sometimes hang against the radar when flopping about in light airs. Doesn't cause any trouble. The radar is in a plastic dome on a sturdy aluminium bracket, so it would need the sail to get seriously snagged on it to generate enough force to cause damage - and there isn't really anything to snag on.

Pete

 

[sailorman]

one reason why i opted for a pole aft

 

[Vara]

Why not mount it on side of mast above cross trees, very difficult to snag there.

 

[Pavalijo]

Mine will brush against the radome but it has never snagged. If mounting again (and I may be changing to digital and doing so in the foreseeable future due to plotter change) I would not hesitate to leave it where it is.

 

[Jabs]

Yes it brushes the radar.

Can't see how to avoid it.

The location of the radar is important as far as I am concerned

Tony

 

[dom]

A few years ago my inner jib (Hydranet) shredded in sub-30kts of wind. It was a battened sail which helped the leech tape rip off, which then got wrapped around the radar and pulled it clean off the mast!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Yes it rubs against the radar when tacking but without any problem.

 

[Crowblack]

Thanks Chaps - mast is my preferred position so reassuring to know your experience's.

Interestingly local opinion around the other boats in the yard also favours mast although pole a close second - - the other thing that struck me was the number of people who said things like - "fitted it years ago and only used it twice in fog coming out of and once when"

Be interested to know how many people use it for some bog standard navigation in clear weather - can't imagine leaving it on all the time but with the occasional start up - it will see stuff we can't and can confirm stuff the plotter say's is there.

Again be interested in how folks use it.

 

[Jabs]

I wouldn't be tempted to fit is on the side of the mast, the blind spot is quite large and not really sensible to have.

I try to use the radar for a position fix every time I go out, just to keep in practice.

I think there is a huge learning curve with interpretation of radar images and practice helps.

Agree about not wanting it on continuously!

Tony

 

[lumphammer]

Again be interested in how folks use it.

I've used mine once in anger in the last 2 years since fitted (FYI on radar arch at stern) and a few times out of interest just to make sure it;s still working, otherwise its switched off completely i.e not left in stand-by.

 

[duncan99210]

Mounting - on the front of the mast, about where you intend putting yours. Never had any problems with the genoa: it may brush past the radome on occasions but no damage to either sail or radar.

Usage - we use our in a number of situations. Fog, obviously. Determining direction of travel of small ferries in the Greek Islands - their shape is often the pushmepullyou sort and difficult to figure out which way they're going at a distance. Overlaid on chart during a close approach in darkness to a new port: this removes doubts as to the accuracy of the chart as you can see the radar picture confirm the chart (or equally, alerting you to errors). Worth spending time with the display in good conditions and with a fair number of targets so you can get used to interpreting the picture.

 

[Vara]

I wouldn't be tempted to fit is on the side of the mast, the blind spot is quite large and not really sensible to have.

I try to use the radar for a position fix every time I go out, just to keep in practice.

I think there is a huge learning curve with interpretation of radar images and practice helps.

Agree about not wanting it on continuously!

Tony

If the radar is mounted on the mast surely the blind spot is the same size regardless of orientation, just in a different sector.
I've not tried it myself but I noticed that quite a lot of Scandawegian boats have it mounted above and in line with spreaders.

 

[Jabs]

From what I have seen The scanner tends to be further away from the mast when it is ahead.

Yes, there is always a blind spot but thinking about the colregs, a blind spot aft is safer!

Do you really want a blind area abeam??

Tony

 

[cmedsailor]

Mounting-on the front of the mast, where you intend to put yours. The genoa does brush it but no damage to either sail or radar.

Usage - definately use it because I make night passages (I try every summer to make a big trip or around 240 miles non-stop involving night passage). In fact, since I don't have an AIS, I often use the "target acquire" option to monitor ship movements. If you plan to make night passages it 's a must have.

 

[Ric]

I use mine all the time at night when offshore. I use the guard ring and alarm as a second ring of defence after the AIS. Anything that the AIS does not see gets picked up by the radar guard ring.

I have mine on the front of the mast on a gimballed mount. The self-levelling mount makes a big difference in rough weather if the boat is heeled as it is possible to tune out sea-clutter equally on either beam.

I rarely if ever use it when coastal cruising or in daylight. If I do use it, it is usually just to keep in practice at using the MARPA or taking a bearing, or to experiment with the settings.

 

[Piddy]

On front of mast with large overlapping genoa. No issues as the sail just slips by.

The radar is on all the time I am motoring - it gives a bigger chance of other crew learning how to use it when they can relate to what they see. It also increases the chance of it going wrong when I don't need it!

Piddy.

 

[dial-a-monkey]

Mounted on mast at 1/2 height, front, Raymarine crappy bracket - There are some surprisingly deep groves in the plastic dome from the Genoa brushing past, in light winds a couple of times the Genoa has somehow got caught behind the radar - and I have cranked the sail in before realizing - without damage so far.. .I'm happy the radar is NOT on a pole close to human life as it emits xrays?

At night I use it all the time sailing/motoring mostly dodging fishing boats as at times It can be extremely difficult to see the nav lights of fishing boats to tell which way they are trawling - as they often have extremely powerful fishing/deck lights. I even use binoculars at night but still difficult - it's also impossible to tell without a radar how far away the boat - and therefore the trawling net is..same for big ships..

We sometimes do long legs, if it's rough or my partner is very sea sick and I'm covering her shifts I can get very tired ( there's just 2 of us aboard) the radar really helps through the night to make sure my clouded mind isn't playing tricks on me. I leave the radar in standby until it's needed as it's 2KW.

Also It seems in Italy - anyone else experience this? - the big ships always seem to make it a sport to come within 1/2 a nautical mile of you at night !! without the radar it would be very stressful ..