Fitting a JRC1000MK2 Radar

[Captain Haddock]

Hi everyone,

After much research, questioning and consulting the wallet I've finally decided to go for a JRC 1000MK2 radar. I know it's not the best around however, it's cheap, light, uses low power and most important of all it's better than nothing when crossing the channel and fog decends.

The question I have is how easy are they to fit? At present my mast is down so I can have a go at fitting the scanner unit to the mast myself. The problem is I've never fitted anything to my mast before. Do I rivet the scanner unit to the mast? (I've not done riveting before, is it easy?) do I bolt it?

In addition can you split the radar wire so when the mast goes up again I simply reconnect the cables using deck glands?

Any good installation hints and tips?

BTW I don't want to go for a scanstrut pole (way too expensive at 500GBP!) not only that I think it'll ruin the asthetics of my boat (Gib'Sea 84).

Any advice?

 

[steve6367]

I fitted the same unit to my boat on the beach at Herm, so not too tricky. Rivit to the mast using monal rivits to avoid corrosion. Yes you can cut the cable but you must join it again in a sealed box inside and use tin foil to keep it all screened. As you say not the best radar in the world, but on a small boat like mine has served me well for colision avoidence.

 

[capricorn]

Just had a Radar scanner fitted to my mast, I bottled it and paid the yard to do it as I'm running out of time before the boat gets launched but it looks pretty straightforward.

You'll need a bracket to attach the Radar to the mast, I used a ScanStrut one which was around 100 quid but I understand that some people get them made up for much less.

As above, Monel rivets are the way to attach the bracket to the mast and the Radome is then bolted to the bracket. Monel rivets are harder to set than ordinary steel rivets, I tried setting one of the size that came with the bracket with my cheap Halfords rivetter and it couldn't generate the force to set it. A tang tiveter is required to do this, they're not cheap but I imagine that you can hire them from HSS or similar.

All Radar manufacturers advise against cutting their cables but everyone seems to do it. As you've been advised above, just join it below deck in a screened box and make sure you join the coax screens as well.

There are various ways to stop the cable clanging around inside the mast. The yard has run my cable inside a length of braided hose. Some people advocate the use of cable ties every 18 inches of so with the ends left on to stop the cable banging against the side of the mast.

The cable is heavy, make sure you use some sort of strain relief and/or cable tie it to the bracket to stop the connectors within the radome taking the full weight of the cable.

Did you import the JRC radar from the US ? I was going to but ended up getting a good deal on a Furuno at the Boat Show.

How's the Gib'Sea owners forum coming on ?

 

[Marsupial]

I have had two JRC radars and they are rally good bits of kit, my present radar is a Ray Marine and frankly I would swop it for the JRC 1500 if the JRC would interface with all the other stuff. WHY? because the JRC is so easy to use. and its nigh on impossible to obscure targets with "data boxes" as you can on the Ray marine offering.

Where are you mounting the display? if its outside there are a few things you need to do to stop it from misting up, (not specific to JRC by the way, the misting happens on all displays in certain conditions).

Cheers


David

 

[Piddy]

Having an occasionally misty JRC, what are the tricks for keeping it demisted?

Many thanks

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

When popriveting fittings to an ali mast, don't forget to coat mast and fitting with an insulating paste to prevent corrosion. I think it is zinc chromate but I may be wrong. A rigger should be able to advise.

 

[Skysail]

'Duralac' zinc chromate paste is the stuff you need. Absolutely vital when attaching SS fittings to aluminium with rivets, stainless steel screws etc. Smear on the rivets and bolts too.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Thanks for the info this is exactly the sort of info I was looking for.

I was going to import the JRC from the US however, after looking at the costs I only end up saving a small amount and I'd rather pay the extra in the UK so I can take it back should something go wrong with it.

Besides I'm looking to get an Epirb and Seago liferaft as well so I'm going to be cheeky and ask the chandler for a discount /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Yep, the Gib'Sea forums are coming along nicely I'm just sorting the site out at the moment.

I'm mounting the radar inside as I think I'd get in the habit of looking more at the radar rather than what's going on around me using the Mk1 eyeball.

 

[Marsupial]

Captain

Glad we all helped a bit, but I would advise you to go to sea in the fog with radar mounted below and see how usefull it is! your mk I eyeball wont work! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[capricorn]

I'm intending to mount my display at the chart table but on a swing arm mount so I can swing it into the companionway and therefore see it from the cockpit if required. Seems to satisfy both sides of the radar display inside/outside arguement.

I bought the swing arm here. No connection. just a satisfied customer.

http://www.ram-mount-uk.com/swing-arms-mounts.htm

 

[Captain Haddock]

That's a very good idea, I like these <gets tape measure out and heads to boat>.

 

[highlander]

Simplest way is to dismantle it and subject to a warm air stream from a hair dryer. Preferably done in a low humidity atmosphere but do not overheat. It can also be exposed to a warm day outside during the summer. They are not completely waterproof so minimal contact with rain is recommended.

Some people have used kitchen ovens with some success but it is important not to overheat and there is a real danger of this if not careful.