Radome mounting - I'm dickering!

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rudolph_hart

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Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

I've acquired a Furuno radar from a forumite, and I'm considering options for mounting the 18" raydome and I've read previous threads on this with interest.

I'm not in favour of mounting on the forward mast surface, and have considered mounting on a lower spreader (swept), but mast shadow/cable holes in mast near a spreader/mainsail pressing against the dome when running are complications. An aft pole mount is possible, but presents fitting complications and affects aesthetics.

However, I do have twin backstays which go to chainplates on each quarter, and I've lookedat fitting a Scanstrut backstay mount to one of them, but this self-levelling unit would protrude too far forward (or else point aft = aesthetics).

What I'm considering is an aluminium spreader-section bar between the 2 backstays with the radome mounted in the middle.

Has anyone done something like this? Any advice/comments would be much appreciated.
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

You don't say why the conventional, ie proven by many thousands of installations, route is not for you.

The options you describe sound altogether a lot more hazardous for you and your equipment.

I recommned a return to the true path...

PWG
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

I went round and round this discussion with myself last year on where to mount an 18" Garmin Radar. Eventually concluded that back stay mounting wouldn't look that good, and wouldn't provide the stability required to give the best results from the radar. A pole looked too "big" and wouldn't put it high enough above my head. Eventually mounted the Radar forward side of mast using a Scanstrut self levelling "thingie". It is mounted lower than many I have seen. This was a compromise between: being high enough to safely clear anybody walking about on the boat (microwave issues, not impact ones!), high enough to "see" what is over the horizon, low enough that obstructions in the water would still be visible fairly close and not putting the weight too far up the mast. Conveniently an old deck and steaming light fitting was roughly in the right place, so I re-used that hole. Its about 12' above deck, say about 16' above sea level. At this height it is pretty easy to untangle anything that migh get caught on it. So far, it has proved to be pretty slippery with the large genoa only snagging it once, and obviously being a doddle to resolve.

Jeff.
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

[ QUOTE ]

What I'm considering is an aluminium spreader-section bar between the 2 backstays with the radome mounted in the middle.



[/ QUOTE ]

Without a doubt the radome would nod up and down as the boat moved just like that wretched dog in the advert. You would have lateral stability but almost no fore and aft stability. Doesnt matter with the scanstrut cos its self levelling in all planes
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

That's the problem I had so I went the backstay route as per this pic.

PamperedWestCountry4.jpg


It is high enough, gives a good range, being lower down and self levelling (side to side, not fore and aft) reduces sea clutter and it does give a stable display.
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

That looks great, you can see where you've been!

Ok, meant to be humour, but seriously, don't you get a dirty great "shadow" from the mast?
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

If he answers, it will be "no" because the scanner is wider than the mast. There may be some attenuation if measured on a static rig but in practice it will not be noticeable.

On a small boat such as his Virgo, and some larger boats too, the additional weight aloft will seriously affect the boat's stability in a seaway and his arrangement looks very sensible, as well as making servicing easier, cutting out a possible break in the cable and reducing sea-clutter. Ships appear at about 18 miles on my low-mounted radar.
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

[ QUOTE ]
don't you get a dirty great "shadow" from the mast?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, no shadow as far as I can see, and no problems with all the other metalwork that the mount uses. I had no problem calibrating it by setting the boats heading onto a bouy.

Most ketch rigs tend to have the radar dome on the rear mast from my observations, so obviously they don't get a shadow.

The beauty of it is, is that if I need to work on it I just use a pair of step ladders.
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

I've been looking at this system to mount my own Northstar scanner, but have been out off by the outrageous price Scanstrut want for either of their damped swing mounts. Looking now at making my own.
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

How did you intend ti make your own? I've been put off by the Scanstrut prices and was considering it but was a bit stuck how to go about it.
 
Re: Radome mounting - I\'m dickering!

The Scan Strut damped pivot thingie is expensive, and I am sure that there must be dozens of ways of making something that "self-levels", but the damping aspect is critical to the stability of the radar. My radar just sits at the right angle, it doesn't swing like a pendulum. in addition, the mounting allows for the horizontal angle of the radar (forward/aft) to be adjusted ensuring that the radar is horizontal (though this will obviously changes when the boat is under way and could be allowed for too I suppose).

Is it worth the money? Now that is a difficult question. I wanted the radar to work as well as possible in all circumstances. So I thought to put in the best solution I could find and this was it, as best I could tell. Only time will tell if the unit has the longevity to make its TCO reasonable, it would need to last at least 10 years for me to stop smarting at the cost, 20 would be better /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jeff.
 
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