First time up the mast

[Strathglass]

'Normal' pop rivits used to fit a radar are probably 6.4mm ie 1/4" . To fit those the best tool is a large lazy tong riviter.

Those are unweldy to use even at ground level.
It is unlikely that your 10" one would be man enough for the job.
I found that even my two handed Drapier one was two small and had to buy a larger one for 6.4mm rivets recently.

Iain

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Little_Russel]

Are you sure you actually need a radar? Flog it and save yourself the bother of fitting it. I've never had one and never felt the need to get one.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sail the Se7en seas...

 

[Chris_Robb]

Brian - you have to use Monel metal rivets in a marine environment which are much much harder to set than ally ones.. Consequently you need a much more powerfull rivetor.

Dont forget to apply an anticorrorion barrier between the mast and any fittings - especially stainless. This can be ZInc Cromate paste (yellow gunge that stains anything it touches,) or insulating tape stuck on to the fittings mating surface.

Good luck!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Col]

Not only have I got a full climbing harness with fall arrest lanyard. I also have a set of lazy tong riveters. As I said before, depends where you are.

Over to you.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[brians]

Thanks - I will send a PM

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Fitting a radar scanner

Because of:-
1) the slenderness of my original mast and the likelihood of a 5kg radome accentuating any panting.
2) the improvement in short-range definition in having it lower than 1/2 way up the mast
3) the ability to gimbal the radome to accomodate list, which most monohull sailboats are prone to
4) The reduction in foresails being tangled by the radome

I fitted my scanner on a gallows over the cockpit, aft of the boom-end.

If you look at the majority of offshore racing boats their radomes are on separate aft mounts.
I would strongly recommend you re-evaluate where to place the radome, the mast is a very poor choice, except for maximising the line-of-sight range of your set, which in usage is of least importance.

If you do persist in mounting the radar on the mast I would strongly advise taking it down to do the job - even an experienced rigger in a chair would find the job fairly challenging, especially with a lazy-tong or extended-handle rivet gun.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Re: definitive answer?

Why does the boat need to come out of the water to unstep even a keel-stepped mast?

Mast out is a €30 in and out (about 10 mins each time) crane job, fitting the radome about 60 mins and 20 mins to de-rig and 60 mins to re-rig and tune.
that's allowing for a 2-panel keel-stepped mast.

There's a world of difference between a skilled rigger and a portly yottie up a mast.

<hr width=100% size=1>