Radar Pole versus mast mount

[harstonwood]

I know this subject has beed debated to death previously, but I need to make a decision imminently, on this matter

The boat is a Dufour 405GL

Mast mount:

Already have a bracket in the garage, fitting possible via cherry picker this winter as boat coming out.(some costs involved)

Issues: cabling difficult, and radar will definitely foul Genoa. Could sideways mount but bracket not really suitable due curvature of fixings

Not really into drilling lots of holes in the mast!

Pole mount:

Would have to purchase and install £900 prob all in maybe a bit more if I go for a SS one (not sure I like the aluminium one)

Issues: looks a bit crappy
Easy to install and service radar
No cabling issues
Can easily put other arials/lights etc on the pole

Need a decision soon......am really 50/50 at the moment

Hopeing for some good advice...Thanks!

 

[pvb]

I agonised for ages before deciding on a stern pole. I went for a ScanStrut pole, and I don't think it looks "crappy". It's certainly easy to get at the radar; the pole is ball-jointed at the base, just release the 2 struts holding it and it folds down on to the deck. No wiring issues if the mast has to be removed. Some minor radar improvements - reduced mast shadow, reduced sea clutter.

 

[sailorman]

i had an s/s pole made that take radar,wind gen,various antennas.
the mast has been struck 3 times since the pole was fitted & i do not have to un-wire the radar.
the radar can still see a box ship at 10 mls in good conditions

 

[harstonwood]

Ok so its 2 to 0 in favour of pole so far

Sorry pvb. Crappy a bit harsh.....i certainly want to make it look good though

 

[charles_reed]

Common mount on mast - gives greater range and, with overlap genoa probably needs a guard. Disadvantages, bad coverage when heeling, increased movement in a seaway, more weight aloft. Definitely not for a bendy-mast 3/4 rig.

Pole mount needs to allow variation for tack angle (scanstrut expensive and fixed) keeps seaway movement down, can foul leech lines if lacking reefing discipline, reduced range but better close quarter coverage.

Final point, where do offshore racing boats mount the radar dome?

I made my own aft-fixing 20 years ago - total cost £100 and it supports radome, aerials, PV panels and windgen.

 

[harstonwood]

Ok I think thats 3 to 0

Not sure I understand your point about reefing, but perhaps applys to other makes of boat

Reefing lines will be no where near pole, possibly only furling line


Thanks for all the points so far.....very useful

 

[sailorman]

Ok I think thats 3 to 0

Not sure I understand your point about reefing, but perhaps applys to other makes of boat

Reefing lines will be no where near pole, possibly only furling line


Thanks for all the points so far.....very useful

measure up its position & make sure the fixed length cables are long enough

 

[harstonwood]

Thanks sailorman.

Need to measure carefull as needs to mount on Transom, and clear rails which are angled
Looking at a custom job probably.

 

[sailorman]

Thanks sailorman.

Need to measure carefull as needs to mount on Transom, and clear rails which are angled
Looking at a custom job probably.

mine was made by a fabricating Co i used to use for work.
the quality is not quite as good (they had probs bending the tube) but quite acceptable. it was 1/2 the cost of the other quote. the invoice also stated :- to supply R.S.J

 

[Sequoiah1]

Mast mount means no ungainly pole at the back end.
Canting brackets mean either pole or mast mount allow for angle of heel. (Expensive but worth the extra)
Teak decks and older fashioned boat with pinched stern meant pole took up too much room. No problem with disconnecting radar every time mast comes out modern connections mean its easier.
Radar tyransmissions well away from the skippers and crews head.
No problem with tacking 115% overlapping headsail no guard required.
Pole needs stabilising and or big bury in the deck.

 

[harstonwood]

3 to 1 now

Thanks

 

[Baggy]

How about one of those

Self leveling Radar Mounts on Backstay

 

[harstonwood]

Twins backstays not suitable i don't think?

Only ever seen on a single one?

Unless someone knows otherwise?

 

[charles_reed]

Ok I think thats 3 to 0

Not sure I understand your point about reefing, but perhaps applys to other makes of boat

Reefing lines will be no where near pole, possibly only furling line


Thanks for all the points so far.....very useful

My jiffy reefing lines, in a blow, can come very close to to both windgen and radome.

But then mine is a small boat with a very large main and I'm nearly always single-handed. The 2 last of 4 reefs are conventional horn and leech-line reefing - the 1st 2 are single line all done from the cockpit. I have to go to the mast-base to bring in the reef-lines, past slovenliness resulted in the problem referred to when tacking.
My overlap genoas are either 140 or 150% - a 115% is near enough a working jib.
In a windward blow I either use a 100% solent or a 65% yankee jib - the latter would never foul a forward mast-mounted radome.

 

[harstonwood]

Yep i think mine is a 140% so concerned about fouling

The backstay mount may have just entered the debate, though I have never seen one in the UK, plenty in septic land

 

[sarabande]

I'd go for a multi purpose strut at the stern. It makes it possible to add emergency VHF aerial, solar panels, high stern light, etc etc. And with a clever design it would look good on a modern boat.


As SM says, a reasonable range is 10 miles or so. A mast mount will give you more range, but the pitching angle for a fixed mast scanner will be greater than the stern one.

EDIT Ignore everything after the last comma please. :0

 

[pvb]

A mast mount will give you more range, but the pitching angle for a fixed mast scanner will be greater than the stern one.

 

[sarabande]

yes, I'm thinking about that ! umm. Dunce !

 

[lw395]

....
Final point, where do offshore racing boats mount the radar dome?
......

Are you referring to the satcomms domes on ocean racing boats?

 

[john_morris_uk]

I don't know where this 'fouling the genoa' comes from?

We didn't have a choice where our radar was as it was already fitted to the boat, but we've never fouled the genoa on it! The radar reflector is above the radar and we can get lines caught round the reflector and/or the radar, but its very rare, and you have to be pretty stupid (or distracted!) to let it happen.

Ours is a 39' boat with a mast head rig and a big overlapping genoa. The radome is just above the spreaders and is a large old fashioned Raytheon scanner in a radome. I have never noticed any problem with the mast shadowing the radar signal, but the key arcs are forward and clear when the radar is on the mast.

We do get fantastic range from the radar, and I agree that the radiation is well out of harms way, but if the pole on the back of the boat is big enough, it shouldn't be radiating you from there either.