Teak Decking & Radar Poles

[gardenshed]

Winter Jobs
Number 1.
I need to get some teak decking planks to replace the the decking in my cockpit. Who supplies this and the Sikaflex glue, bond breaker tape & caulking compounds?
I also need some teak faced ply for exterior use.
I DON'T want the plastic alternatives.

Number 2.
Apart from Scanstrut, who can supply a radar mounting pole system for the stern of the boat. What height should the radar be from the deck? 7foot? 8 foot? Obviously the higher the better but what is the realistic height (24" radome/40' yacht)

 

[simon_sluggett]

can only help on the first one im afraid- try here-
http://www.robbins.co.uk/marine.htm

 

[pvb]

Radar Pole systems...

Also check out Edson. Most stainless steel fabricators will make one for you, but you'll have noticed that many of these "look" too spindly.

 

[vyv_cox]

Your second question - our radar is on a stern pole on a 34 ft boat. The total height, radar to the water, is 3 metres or very slightly under. This is the limit for Canal du Midi, which we got through without problems, even the lowest bridge at Narbonne. We did need to take off the Navtex and GPS antennas that are on a rack above the readar. I think the pole itself is about 2 metres.

The radar works fine at this height and we have no problems in seeing shipping at some distance. I am pleased that we went for this option rather than mounting the radome on the mast, which would have been most inconvenient for a marginal (I'm told) increase in performance.

 

[Steve_N]

On the subject of radar poles:

I have a fabricated SS post, and had one made for the previous boat also. Height-wise you need to clear the boom and ensure that the beam is clear of crew standing in the cockpit (I don't think you can easily get the beam to clear head height over the entire deck area - just don't use the radar with crew forward..).

On our previous aft cockpt boat we got away with the radome platform 5' or so above deck level, here:

On the current centre cockpit boat I've gone to a 7' post, here:

The first post was 1.5" tube dropped through the deck and glassed to the hull, but was way too bendy and needed staying. For the current one I used 3" tube mated to 1.5" solid bar through/below the deck and it's rigid enough without extra support. The current post cost about £25 to make, compared to the megabucks for the commercal struts.

 

[howardclark]

I would use KJ Howells in Poole for the teak & ply not Robbins. Have used both, Howells are more user friendly. Whoever you use its expensive! Having said that Robbins can supply the caulking materials as can most chandlers