Fitting radar bracket to mast

[harstonwood]

Need to fit a radar bracket (and radar) to mast. Any advice? My biggest issue, apart from the climb up! Is the potential issues screwing the bracket on.....i assume self tappers must be short so as not to cause interference?

Really don't want to cock it up!

 

[john_morris_uk]

Ours is riveted on with BIG rivets. I assume you have the bracket that suits the radar and mast section.

You will need to think about how you are going to run the cable down the mast as well. For what is worth, ours runs in 'D' section plastic conduit riveted to the outside of the mast. You may manage to run yours internally?

You need a proper long arm or very goog quality lazy tongs for the rivers which should be Monel and it might be a good idea to use Zinc Chromate paste in all the joints.

 

[theoldsalt]

Manufacturers usually supply comprehensive fitting instructions. If these are missing then a copy can often be obtained from their web site.

For example :

http://www.questusmarine.com/documents/300_Manual.pdf

 

[VicS]

Ours is riveted on with BIG rivets. I assume you have the bracket that suits the radar and mast section.

You will need to think about how you are going to run the cable down the mast as well. For what is worth, ours runs in 'D' section plastic conduit riveted to the outside of the mast. You may manage to run yours internally?

You need a proper long arm or very goog quality lazy tongs for the rivers which should be Monel and it might be a good idea to use Zinc Chromate paste in all the joints.

Duralac paste is the stuff but is actually barium chromate.

Tef-Gel, a teflon based paste, is an alternative. Perhaps more suitable for tight close fitting joints while Duralac may be better were there are gaps to fill.

 

[harstonwood]

Thanks guys, useful advice. Not got any instructions as such, but wil contact the mast manufacturer for advice. ( got the bracket instructions)

The bracket is american (edsonmarine.com)

Happy with the rivetting process, but not sure about cable entry into the mast etc ( and fishing out at the cable exit gland!)

I have seen a few installations where the radar is to one side of the mast, as ooposed to front.....any thoughts?

I propose to install just above the spreaders.......does that sound about right?

Thanks

 

[theoldsalt]

Maybe this helps.

http://www.edsonmarine.com/support/PDFs/installation/Mast_Mount_Installation.pdf

 

[Retired in Crete]

These would be far better and stronger than rivets:
http://www.avdel-global.com/en/products/threaded-inserts/thin-sheet-nutsertr.html
They can be placed with a small hand tool and then you would be able to use stainless machine screws to attach the bracket to the mast.

John

 

[harstonwood]

Thanks.....got those. It was more the cable entry etc and location.....worth contacting mast manufacturer?

 

[harstonwood]

These would be far better and stronger than rivets:
http://www.avdel-global.com/en/products/threaded-inserts/thin-sheet-nutsertr.html
They can be placed with a small hand tool and then you would be able to use stainless machine screws to attach the bracket to the mast.

John

Thanks John

Will probably go for rivets.....Never had much success with threaded inserts.

 

[Graham_Wright]

These would be far better and stronger than rivets:
http://www.avdel-global.com/en/products/threaded-inserts/thin-sheet-nutsertr.html
They can be placed with a small hand tool and then you would be able to use stainless machine screws to attach the bracket to the mast.

John

+1 for Nutserts. Lazy tongs on a mast are much more exciting though!

 

[john_morris_uk]

Duralac paste is the stuff but is actually barium chromate.

Tef-Gel, a teflon based paste, is an alternative. Perhaps more suitable for tight close fitting joints while Duralac may be better were there are gaps to fill.

My mistake, I must have been having a senior moment. Interesting point about Tef Gel which I am not familiar with.

 

[vyv_cox]

My mistake, I must have been having a senior moment. Interesting point about Tef Gel which I am not familiar with.

Funny thing, that. I seem to remember it as being zinc chromate too, is the barium version more recent?

I found this 'Three types of jointing compound are available, Duralac, JC5A and Polycast, all are based on zinc chromate paste' on http://www.glosterairparts.co.uk/corrosion_prevention.htm so somebody else thinks so, too.

 

[SvenglishTommy]

A couple of tips from when I did mine recently.

As others have said, monel rivets and duralac are the standard way to fit the mount. If you have an uphaul for a pole then try to put the mount above that so it doesn't foul on the radar (like mine now does )

Make the hole for the cable before attaching the mount. It can be a right PITA working round the mount. Make sure the cable hole is big enough to easily take the end of the cable, mine needed to be 20mm, and as I had filed it out to get it big enough there were some rough edges that trashed the 10 pin plug that goes into the radar - that mistake cost me a new cable... not cheap. Use gromits in the holes to protect the cable.

Getting the cable through was actually not that hard. Once the holes were drilled I put a line down the hole with a weight on the end which was easy to hook and pull through the bottom hole - this was then used as a mouse to pull the cable up.

 

[harstonwood]

Thanks for all the tips. I shall probably do it ( or find someone ) when the boat out for winter jobs....dangling from a crane I think?

 

[Retired in Crete]

As others have said, monel rivets and duralac are the standard way to fit the mount.

Monel rivets are not always the correct solution, it depends on the metals you are joining together. Use dissimilar metals and you get galvanic corrosion. If the mast and bracket are both aluminium a monel rivet will cause corrosion! In that instance it is much better to use an aluminium rivet.

The following link explains galvanic corrosion and gives a chart giving the anodic index of various metals. This chart enables you to chose the most suitable material for the rivets.

http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm

Hope this helps

John

 

[West Coast]

Why not hire a battery powered rivet gun from HSS? Makes short work of up to 4.8mm Monel rivets and much easier to use than lazy tongs , especially in a bosuns chair!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I fitted my radar bracket a few years ago, just above the spreaders at 6 m high. I used an ordinary ladder, which i secured to the mast. I used monel rivets (i would not recommend screws) and a scissors riveting gun which requires two free hands. I installed a purpose made radar cable tray on the outside of the mast and then passed the cable through; looks tidy and works well.

 

[john_q]

Might also be worth thinking about a guard around the dome to stop the genoa catching on it when you are tacking/Gybing if you are fitting one from scratch.

I fitted a RAY Marine dome with a RAY Marine bracket a while ago and I think they also supplied the guard as well. Piece of mind in rough weather!!