I intend adding a raymarine radar dome on our 93 42 passage, any thoughts on using a pole mount or mast mount? Considering the wiring I think a pole mount seems easier?
Radar domes - pole verses mast
- Thread starter John Gerstmar
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With the pole mount you technically can't get the same range as a unit mounted on the mast, as height (to a point) gets you distance. Having said that, there are other qualifiers. Ideally, on a sailboat you want your unit to stay level to the horizon. No sense looking for submarines below or planes in the air, if you get my idea. So, a swival mount will help with keeping the unit level. Unfortunately, most swival mounts are attached to the back stay and many Hunters (newer) don't have them. Depending on you level of mechanical expertise, the mast mount is technically better, but involves more skill (and agility) to put it up. Pole mounts will suffice if you're looking for close in shots (inside 8 miles perhaps), whereas the mast mount may get you close to 25 miles. Again, it depends on the brand you buy, its transmit power, etc that gets you the picture quality. You didn't mention what brand you're looking for, but take a look at the new "broad band" units coming out by Simrad. They are digital based and the picture quality and clarity are 10x better than most phased array units out there now. Good luck.
I installed a Furuno unit in 2001. I installed the radome just below the first set of spreaders, doing so based upon a technician's advice about height above waterline. I now wish I had installed it just above the steaming/deck light. The radome placement requires me to move around it when climbing my mast steps. (I have to start on the forward part of the mast, then switch to the after part of the mast when I get to the radome). I climb up there for coral reef visibility when in such areas, and although not a major problem, the radome doesn't need to be there. It also blocks the deck light, and I will likely install a new LED decklight (someday) just under the radome, using the radome support itself.
It was a little tricky getting the radome up there for mounting once I had the support mounted in place. I had it tied into the halyard and an assistant helped me get it up into place.
My support ended up tilting about two or three degrees forward despite my best attempts to get it level. I think that was due to the way I was tied up at the slip and involved the prevailing wind, etc. That doesn't seem to impair it in any way however. The pitching/rolling of the boat is much more of a factor, even in the calmest of seas.
Holler if you have any further questions about it. Good luck,
Paul
It was a little tricky getting the radome up there for mounting once I had the support mounted in place. I had it tied into the halyard and an assistant helped me get it up into place.
My support ended up tilting about two or three degrees forward despite my best attempts to get it level. I think that was due to the way I was tied up at the slip and involved the prevailing wind, etc. That doesn't seem to impair it in any way however. The pitching/rolling of the boat is much more of a factor, even in the calmest of seas.
Holler if you have any further questions about it. Good luck,
Paul
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One way to look at it is Murphy's law. If it is pole mounted you will not have a problem. If it is up the mast- well you know the answer. Our is on a pole and it works fine. Anything over 5 miles for a sailboat is pretty far away.
I had to seriously weigh pole versus mast mount when istalling ours but we went with pole. Frankly for the sailing we do it works fine. Yes, our range is shortened but we have sailed Lake Superior and crossed shipping lanes and had plently of visibility. The pole was much easier to install.
I went back and forth on this decision. We ended up putting ours on the mast. It was cheaper and it didn't ruin the access to our sugar scoop lockers.
How much further does a mast mount radar actually get? The angle to the horizion at 10-15' height difference is not that much greater is it? One advantage of the pole mount is the ability to see closer around the boat. This is where the greatest concern would be. I went with a pole mount due mainly to the simplicity of installation and the ease of being able to grease the moving parts as recommended. The turning antenna portion inside of the dome is supose to be lubricated every 1-2 years per my manufacturer (JRC). No fun doing this up the mast!
I'd go with pole mount and mine is pole mount. When I'm sailing in the bay at night, I have it set at 1-3 mile range or less. When I'm sailing coastal, I have it set at 6-12 miles range and yes, I definately get 12 mile objects. When I'm sailing in open ocean, I set it at 24 mile range but never saw anything as nothing was ever around....except thunderstorms and those were close.
Now the reasons I'd pick a pole is because I think putting it on the mast causes other problems that are much worse than the benifit of a few miles more range. A) Unless I put it at the very top, it would be a problem when heaving too on my boat. B) The higher up you put it, the more leverage that weight aloft gets which of course, is bad for performance and safety. As that weight gets up there, it starts to gain a lot of leverage. On the mast I believe would degrade backwards visibility and yes, it's good to know what's coming up quickly on you at night, espeically in the channels.
The other benifit on the pole is, now that I'm putting up a wind generator on the otherside of the stern, I now have two poles to mount a big solor panel to.
Now the reasons I'd pick a pole is because I think putting it on the mast causes other problems that are much worse than the benifit of a few miles more range. A) Unless I put it at the very top, it would be a problem when heaving too on my boat. B) The higher up you put it, the more leverage that weight aloft gets which of course, is bad for performance and safety. As that weight gets up there, it starts to gain a lot of leverage. On the mast I believe would degrade backwards visibility and yes, it's good to know what's coming up quickly on you at night, espeically in the channels.
The other benifit on the pole is, now that I'm putting up a wind generator on the otherside of the stern, I now have two poles to mount a big solor panel to.
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