Radar Installation

[retsina]

This winter I will be installing a Radar up the mast near the spreaders. I dont want to drop the mast, I will be using a mast ladder.

How do I route the cable? Does the cable go inside the mast; if so, do I drill a hole on the mast? is it easy for the cable to go through the mast and to reach the bottom?. Would it be easier to route cable on the outside?

The boat is 32ft, the mast is aluminium appr. 36ft

 

[PBooth]

Hi, I fitted mine early this year with the cable on the outside of the mast, using nylon adjustable 'p' clips fixed with stainless self tapping screws. These 'p' clips can be pulled tight to grip the cable and keep it tight down the mast. The grey cable and white clips look fine and everything has stayed put all season. Scanstrut sell a plastic capping specially for this purpose, the backplate is fitted to the mast and the cover is clipped in place to hold the cable. I just didn't fancy trying to get a 14mm cable down the mast. I left the mast up and used a ladder, pulling the radome up to the corect height using a halyard, I did the job on my own in a couple of hours.

Peter

 

[CPD]

If you havent done so for a few years, then why not drop the mast and use it as a good excuse to check the upper rigging thoroughly ?. I did this and routed the cable in to the mast at the same time. I did however find that the bottom few feet of the mast had been foam filled, which was rather an unpleasant surprise. Good luck with it.

 

[Talbot]

If running the cable on the outside of the mast, It makes a much neater job if you use electricity conduit - preferably the oval version, which can have holes drilled every 2-3 ft through which you can introduce a self tapper and washer to hold the inner side of the conduit to the mast. This will not only be neater, it will also provide considerable protection to the cable from a flogging sail.

 

[PBooth]

Hi, my mast is foam filled all the way up! I had just renewed all the standing and running rigging as well as the navlights, wiring and VHF aerial (thats how I knew that I definately didn't want to take the radar cable down inside!). A friend's boat has had its radar cable fixed like mine for at least 5 years without any problems

Peter

 

[Anthony]

Bear in mind that most cables are not UV resistant, so any sections that are outside the mast should be suitably sheathed to prevent UV degredation.

Anthony

 

[PBooth]

My radar is a Furuno, I'm sure that the cable will be uv stable, even if the cable is routed down inside the mast, there will always be a short section between the radome and mast and between the mast and the deck gland. There was no mention in the installation instructions of this.

Peter

 

[emnick]

I am also going to fit Radar soon. I do not like the idea of drilling a 13-14mm hole in the mast. I was considering using the type of aluminum conduit that alarm engineers use round section, and about 15mm dia. I know that you can buy joiners and also rubber stop ends etc it would also match the mast colour after a short while. Just fixing to the mast to consider as I dont want to use the saddles any thoughts?

 

[AIDY]

I've just put a dome up the mast and run the cable down the middle of the mast this weekend. drilled a hole in the mast and put a grommet round the cable, cable exited out at the bottom so no need to cut another hole. I've used electrical conduit round bends and outside the mast where the cable passes pulleys at the bottom of the mast before going through the deck.. I had to mouse a line down first with a weight on it before pulling the cable through. the dome was hoisted up using two harness lines. seemed to work well.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

As already posted, I used a plastic conduit bought from a chandler to route the radar cable down the outside of the mast.

I removed the radar last year for repairs. It was very easy to unclip the conduit from its track and take down the Radome.

If you route the cable inside the mast, you will have to cut the radar cable and make a joint. Some punters are against this and some for, but thats another can of worms.

My preference is for not cutting the cable..................

Good luck

 

[PeterGibbs]

Cable tacked on the outside of the mast? - a 5th rate answer -this is expensive cable and not to be so treated. Fit it inside the mast, protecting all surfaces where abrasion could cut the cable. Do it with the mast standing by all means. You will find the cable exits neatly at the deck on most rigs these days, but use a good deck seal for the cable to pass through and a chocolate box connection under the deck with a loop in the cable to keep it dry and working well.

Worried about cutting a hole in the mast - fear not - it's not easy when at the top of a ladder (beware the ladder will roll, as it's only resting on a round surface!) and you're drilling into hardened alu. Be prepared.

Weakening the mast? - not a problem, but best to keep 30 cms or so clear of the line of the spreaders, where rivets are already installed.

Am I confident of this advice? My gear has stood up there for 10 years on this rig, and was transferred off my previous boat, also self-installed.

PS Congrats on making the decision to install radar. You may only use it a couple of time a season but it will earn its keep in spadefulls!

PWG

 

[ianabc]

Harmonics dictate that there should be no holes at 1/2, 1/4 aqnd 1/8 of mast height !.

 

[maxi]

emnick

There is on the market, an aluminium conduit for use on the outside of masts - it has a gentle gradient on the oustide to avoid snagging and comes with a very effective self adhesive.

On the Endurance 38 which I sail from time to time, this conduit has been in place for 25 yrs - not bad.

Difficult to find but worth the effort

 

[FAITIRA]

Fitted my Furuno in Coruna a couple of years ago, no problem getting the cable inside the mast, keel stepped, AND through to the set in one piece. I think there is a good chance there is no foam etc. in your mast, I borrowed a normal ladder from the marina, rested and tied to the spreaders which made the job a lot more comfortable and easy. Cut the hole, mounted the bracket, ran the cable all in an afternoon. I think it was well worthwhile making the effort (if poss) to get the cable inside and thro, in one piece, and inside avoids a lot of holes in the mast. I don,t believe that the cable hole weakens the mast. Good Luck!