Anyone with advise on installing a Raymarine A-series/Radar?

[katesails]

Hi,
SO I am trying to upgrade my navigation equipment and want to install a Raymarine series A GPS/Radar combo. The cable for the system seems huge!
Has anyone had issues with install, and a preference of Mast mount (my preference) but may be more complex, taking mast down, etc. and therefore more expensive. The alternative is a backstay mount, which would be lower, and therefore radar not as accurate. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Katie

 

[smokey73]

Hi,
SO I am trying to upgrade my navigation equipment and want to install a Raymarine series A GPS/Radar combo. The cable for the system seems huge!
Has anyone had issues with install, and a preference of Mast mount (my preference) but may be more complex, taking mast down, etc. and therefore more expensive. The alternative is a backstay mount, which would be lower, and therefore radar not as accurate. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Katie

My radar dome is mounted on a radar pole as you can see on the picture. As I recall, the cable is no bigger than the original cable from my previous radar but I might be wrong on that one. The height at which you mount it doesn't really have an effect on the "accuracy" except that if it is too close to the mast there might be some masking at that radial. However, height will affect your range; but then again, do you really need the range out that far. On the mast it might foul your genny on a tack, especially in light air. I find that with the height that I have I can "see" with the radar any contacts that are of real interest to me including shoreline, buoys, other boats, etc. The really big ships are pretty high out of the water so you can get a radar return a long way away. I'd be more concerned with it being located too low and in a direct line with my body, so have it high enough that you aren't micro-waving your head!! (Or as an alternative you can wear an aluminum foil helmut, it helps with the aliens and "chemtrails" too)

By the way, I have the a98 and the digital radar and I'm really happy with the performance. I even mounted the CHIRP/DOWNVISION sonar in resin as a "through the hull" arrangement and have great results from that. It is about as far forward in the boat as I can get it and still be underwater. (under the forward V-Berth) When I'm pitching in heavy seas it doesn't work too well, but when I'm feeling around thin water or scoping out an anchorage for "things that might hang up my anchor" it is flawless. The Downvision mode is like a picture of the bottom - I'm waiting to find a sunken treasure ship or Civil War cannon but so far no luck. I'll have to get sailing more (or so that's my story to the Admiral and I'm sticking to it.) to increase my odds of finding the big score!!!

 

[katesails]

Thanks for your input! Is your's gimbaled?
Katie

 

[smokey73]

Thanks for your input! Is your's gimbaled?
Katie

No, it is not gimbaled. While there is probably some effect from heeling, I'm not sure it is significant. It would seem the larger "swing" would be when mounted on the mast higher up. Keep in mind that the heel would not significantly effect range measured to the object. I guess it would have a little effect on the detection range in that the dome would be "lower" during a heel when sailing. In point of fact, at least so for anyway, most of the use of my radar has been at night offshore and we were motoring or when motoring in reduced visibility. You will need to make sure that you align the radar with the chartplotter. The rough alignment is in how you point the radar forward with fine tuning electronically on the MFD. There are good instructions in the Lighthouse manual.