radar scanner location

Phoenix of Hamble

Phoenix of Hamble

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Aug 2003
Messages
20,966
Location
East Coast
mishapsandmemories.blogspot.com
I've got a new (to me) radar, that I intend to fit over the winter... but I have a question that I seek the input of the learned panel in answering....

I have a large Raydome... its 24 1/2" (a 4Kw one)...... and a mast mounting kit...

My choices are either to mount it really quite low on the mast to clear the babystay, perhaps about 7' off the deck, or really quite high, to clear the top of the babystay and the exit from the mast of the pole uphaul, approx 5' above the spreaders, and 6' from the top of the mast...

which route would you take?
 
I'm just doing the same .. but with a 2KW Raydome .. I've decide to put it about 4 foot above the speaders because that's where everyonelse seems to put it. Facing forward because it looks better .. just above the spreaders so I can stand on them when wiring it up (the mast isnt coming down this year). Not too high .. so it doesnt rock and roll about so much .. not too low ..so it has a clear view .. above the deck floodlight .. for fairly obvious reasons
Good luck.
Peter
 
Have you considered putting it on a pole at the stern?

High enough to give you a reasonable range to the horizon ,wont interfere with sails and easier to install.Also less of a blindspot from the mast.
 
[ QUOTE ]

why not consider ebaying the 4kw & get a 2kW. that would do all you req with less weight / wind resistance

[/ QUOTE ]
Its an option, but the 4Kw raydome has a 4deg beamwidth, which is quite nice from a performance perspective....

Still not sure about having the weight on one side....

I need to go and stare at the mast for a couple of hours (with a beer in my hand /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) and decide if its better at the side at spreader height, or high up... even high up, it could foul the genny.... given that i've got a 150% genny, it does get quite close to the mast... its already a pain making sure that it clears the adjuster wheel on the babystay, so maybe i'm answering my own question...

Anyone else mounted their raydome to the side?
 
Side mounting...

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone else mounted their raydome to the side?

[/ QUOTE ]
Quite a few Hanse boats have side-mounted radomes. But I'd have thought that the mast would cause a pretty big shadow on the average side-mounted radome.
 
Re: Side mounting...

Can't see that it would be significantly different to a forward mounted one...? mast is probably only 1.5x wider that way round, and with a 24" raydome, the transmitter array is a reasonable distance away.... but only guessing here....
 
Last year wandering about Scandinavia I noted that a lot of boats had scanners mounted on cross trees or on mastmounts angled to mast(ie 45degs to mast or at right angles athwartships...........hope that makes sense.)Thus eliminating fouling of genny or baby stay,and maintaining height.
My personal preference would be for a pulpit mount as it's easier to get to the twirly bit if you have to fix,it's easier to install and you dont have to disconnect everything when stepping mast.
 
Have you considered the effects on your boat's reserves of stability? Do get hold of the RYA's booklet on this, and make sure you're not creating a significant problem for yourself. There are even some good back-articles on this topic in 'Yachting Monthly passim'.

That's one of the primary reasons for the appearance of stern-mount poles for yot radar antennae.

Such poles can be acquired and mounted quite cheaply. Have you considered forking out £10 or so to a sailboarder who has a broken carbon mast? Lots of 'em about.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top