Gimballed Radar Mount question.

kindredspirit

kindredspirit

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Joined
28 Nov 2002
Messages
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Location
Boat: Kilrush.
www.begleys.com
I haven't a radar on my boat but I'm thinking about installing one over the winter.

I know the whirly radar antennae are the best but I would like to ask the question. "Would a gimballed radar antenna mount make much difference on a motor boat?" "Particulary, as on the west coast, I have to contend with very rough seas and Atlantic swells a lot of the time" (The forecast always seems to F6, with Small Craft Warnings in operation.)

Thanks in advance.

Kevin.





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The upaty downy swerly round boaty syndrome dont seem to affect my radar much. Hope this helps...../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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Haydn
 
For whatever reason radars seem to work fine without gimballing. They must have a reasonably wide tolerance of mounting angle, wider perhaps than it says on their instructions. No-one gimballs them even on professional money-no-object rigs, so not worth doing imho.

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Not needed. The important thing on radar is the horizontal beam width, measured in degrees of arc. This ranges from 6 degrees-ish for a small radome to 2 degrees or less for a big open array. That determines the resolution of the set.

The vertical beam width is in the region of 25 degrees, has no bearing on resolution, and because it is so wide, is virtually immune to roll and pitch from teh boat. It also explains why no-one bothers to allow for the trim angle of the boat when installing radar.

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AHh. So. In short. Radar works. In nearly all condititions. Mine works nearly up side down!! I know. I've been there. Just get one, you know it makes sence. It Works!!

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Haydn
 
i agree, though wd say that angle the thing slightly forwards towards the bow if anything is a good idea: in flat-sea fog the trim needs to set sometimes a bit too nose-down to ensure it is picking up everything fwd of the bow.

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Hi Tim,

Glad you like it. I might knock out a couple of sites after a while in order to tidy it up. If you know of any that I should include instead, let me know.

Feel free to bookmark it.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.begleys.com/kevin/weather.htm>Weather & related links applicable to cruising in Ireland.</A>

Best regards,

Kevin.

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