Radar advice please

[grimmy]

I'm proposing to fit a small radar to my yacht (28 feet) has anyone got any thoughts or experience about the siting of the radome? I'm undecided whether to fit a pole on the stern (seems much easier) or to fit it to the mast. As I have a cutter rig I will only be able to fit it at spreader height anyway. I really will only need it in ernest if in fog, so, very long range will not be an issue. Has anyone fitted one to the mast whilst it is up? any problems? Any advice on the pros and cons would be appreciated.

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[Phoenix of Hamble]

Grimmy,

There has been a certain amount of debate ref the health implications of siting radar at or near head height.... I personally am not to worried about it, but just to add to the debate...

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[Talbot]

With a cutter rig, the best site should be just above the staysail stay, assuming you have a decent distance between the forestay and staysail stay. Radars have been attached while the mast is raised, but it is a LOT easier if the mast is at ground level. The drilling is easy, but the popriveting is a pain, and getting the electrical string in the right place is difficult.



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[pvb]

Have you costed a pole?

One of the reasons many people opt for a mast mount is that a decent pole seems to cost an arm and a leg.

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[robbieg]

I've just been through this process & finally decided on a pole. For me the pros were:
1. Easier to install-at least if mast is up.
2. Easier to maintain.
3. Keeps weight lower down.
4. Can set the pole up with a gimbal arrangement so if sailing at an angle of heel can level the scanner.
5. Pole can also be home to other bits of electronic kit-GPS ariels etc.
6. Need less radar cable-I got away with 10m rather than 15 which saved a few quid.
Downsides are:
1. Cost-adds a couple of hundred(at least) to the installation cost even after allowing for the cost of mounts if you put the scanner on the mast.
2. Have to drill holes in the deck/transom-I hate putting holes in the boat!
3. Safety debate-doesn't bother me too much since the height of my pole mean the rays shouldn't be a problem in the cockpit or aft of the centre of the boat where I am likely to be.
4. Height-don't get the same range but is it a real issue for most circumstances?

Hope this is of some help.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I would also suggest a mast mount. At present you only want it for fog and close quarters as you suggest.

When you have purchased you radar and find how it can also be used for taking electronic bearings and finding a fairway buoy a long distance off you might be happy that you went for the mast mount.

At the spreaders the dome is also out of the way, out of spray and protected slightly. But also it is out of the way, so maintenance will require a trip up the mast. I chose the mast option and even though I did have cable problems on my radar and had to climb to the crosstrees too many times for comfort, I am still glad I chose this mounting option.

It will give extra range when you need it, but you can run it as you first suggest on shorter ranges for most of your radar work. Why lose the option though.

18ft off the water will give 6nm to the horizon.
10ft off the water is 4nm quite a difference.

calculator <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.vwlowen.demon.co.uk/java/horizon.htm>here</A>

I also have a cutter rig or at least a baby stay, and found there was plenty of space above the baby stay on the mast.......

hope this helps


<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Marsupial]

I ve had lots of radars, from the old CRT to modern colour TFT. I've found that the best arrangment is a pole at the stern. A great advantage (the one the manufacturers dont tell you about) is a great reduction in sea clutter, in other words the targets you see are probably real. Also as the dome will be small, 300 - 450 mm they don't differentiate targets at long range so why bother. You can still superimpose a waypoint on the screen at extrem range to verify its relative positoin and direction - if your unsure. At 3 to 6 miles range and under - which is all you need the radar will work very well. The pole can carry a stern light 3 mtrs above the waterline, well worth having, and lots of other bonus kit, like a spare VHF aerial - in case you loose your mast. You are also able to fit a cockpit flood light - just in case you need lots of light to find the life raft etc, dont use it all the time as it will runin your night vision.

If you do decide to fit it up the mast don't make the mistake I made 30 years ago, the scanner bracket riveted on a treat but when the dome was mounted the magnetron was inline with the cross trees - ooppps! and avoid the wires running down the inside of the mast, on older yachts they are just where the scan strut rivets need to go!

Use it all the time in good weather so you get used to what the screen means, and yes you will notice that some pretty big boats don't show up at all!

Have fun!


Cheers


David

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