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

[Concerto]

Mounting the radar on the mast will give you better range than on a pole or arch.

As to use, there are plenty of times radar can be very useful. Using the time lapse view to see the track of other ships is very useful - day and night. Checking the distance off shore or to a known point is also very helpful. The last bonus is following rain showers and squalls, so you can either avoid them or know when to expect increased winds.

Worrying about sail rub is just not worth worrying about too much. You could always fit a s/s guard to stop any rubbing.

 

[alteredoutlook]

Yes - mine does in light airs - and the crew often have to go forward and walk it round. The genny is tri cut and the stitching/cloth has worn. The sail maker has applied a large patch to stop it shredding further.

If I had a choice again I'd mount it on a pole or gantry at the rear.

I'd say radar range isn't particularly important - 5 or 10 miles max is all you really need.

Radar is useful (I like having mine on in fog!) but with the growth in usage of AIS, radar is less of importance than it used to be.

 

[johnalison]

One of the clues for spotting a British boat in the Baltic is the mast-mounted radar. Although mast mounting is not unheard-of, stern mounting is much commoner than here. Less weight aloft, nothing to catch, easier servicing or replacement, access for cleaning and minimal sea-clutter. I can't see why more people don't close the stern.

 

[Crowblack]

Thanks - - again chaps,

Still think I'll put it on the mast above the spreaders - good to know (the balance of opinion) that the genoa is not an issue.

Also good to see the use it's put to other than just in fog - - whilst principally I wanted it to keep safe (er) in fog it seems a waste to me just to use it solely for fog and it's occasional use to confirm what the plotter says or even in extremis if the plotter goes t-ts up, the chart which I still mark can be compared with the radar screen.

Realise I've some "larnin" to do to interpet what the radar screens telling me - but I shall enjoy it.

 

[Vara]

Thanks - - again chaps,

Still think I'll put it on the mast above the spreaders - good to know (the balance of opinion) that the genoa is not an issue.

Also good to see the use it's put to other than just in fog - - whilst principally I wanted it to keep safe (er) in fog it seems a waste to me just to use it solely for fog and it's occasional use to confirm what the plotter says or even in extremis if the plotter goes t-ts up, the chart which I still mark can be compared with the radar screen.

Realise I've some "larnin" to do to interpet what the radar screens telling me - but I shall enjoy it.

many years ago I did the RYA radar course, well worth it.

 

[Koeketiene]

If the radar is mounted on the mast surely the blind spot is the same size regardless of orientation, just in a different sector.

- Not really: unless your mast is perfectly circular (mine isn't).
- Ours is mounted to the front of the mast - blind sector is about 25 degrees directly astern
- If I were to mount the radar either side of the mast, the blind spot would be substantialy larger either to port or to starboard.
- If you are going to have a blind spot - astern is the place to have it.

Did not opt for a pole mounted radar because as soon as you have some heel, range reduces substantially.

 

[Koeketiene]

One of the clues for spotting a British boat in the Baltic is the mast-mounted radar. Although mast mounting is not unheard-of, stern mounting is much commoner than here. Less weight aloft, nothing to catch, easier servicing or replacement, access for cleaning and minimal sea-clutter. I can't see why more people don't close the stern.

Because as soon as you have some heel - unless you it is mounted on some self-leveling platform - range reduces substantialy.
You'll be tracking either the birds or the fish.

 

[johnalison]

Because as soon as you have some heel - unless you it is mounted on some self-leveling platform - range reduces substantialy.
You'll be tracking either the birds or the fish.

I would be happy with a radar range of three miles for ships, whereas in practice it is about 15-20. If this is reduced to eight miles I will still have 24 minutes to avoid a ship going at twenty knots. In practice, most fogs at sea, in the kind of weather I go out in, occur in light winds and I am usually motoring, so heeling is not a problem.

 

[Slowtack]

I just pull slightly on the headsail roller reefing line to free the genoa if it snags on the radar - only happens in light airs.

 

[Birdseye]

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 .

The genny isnt the problem. The problem is loose halyards wrapping themselves round the scanner. The cheap solution is some cord from mid spreader round the bolts holding the front of the scanner to the mounting plate and tied offmid way on the other spreader.