Radar Installation

[jan]

We've been investigating installing Radar on our 1987 30'Cat. After reading Practical Sailor I'm planning to install a JRC. I have a series of questions about installation: after reading CO archives I've decided to install the scanner on the mast. How do you deal with getting the cable back to the helm in the cockpit? Down the inside of the mast, then what? Of course my dilemma is wanting to hide the cable along it's pathway. Has anyone been successful in feeding the cable down the inside of mast and then into the boat? Will it follow the anchor light wiring? Thanks for any and all the help!

 

[Scott Ma]

Down the mast

Down the mast is the best way to go, come out of the mast at the step and through the seat storage area (some hole drilling required). You may have to fabricate some wood to hide the cable and protect where it is visible. In order to get the scanner end plugs through smaller holes, tape the connectors to where the sides of the connectors are facing the direction of pull. I could go on for days on how to do this as I have installed many, many radars on boats. If you want e-mail me with your phone number and I'll be happy to talk with you about it. Smay@Itcdeltacom.com

 

[cole]

JRC

The 30 Cat i own has a jrc 1000 mounted on a mast on the stern of the boat I have a pict or two for you.cole

 

[Trevor]

Hey Cole - post pics in photo forum! Thx (nm)

nm

 

[cole]

go look in the photos for 30'

This pic doesnt do it justice I took it from Boatphotosnow,com and tried to erase the copyrite info across the photo. the mast in question has the burgees and was easy to run cables inside the 1.25" stainless to the deck and in the laz to the port locker and up to the binnacle. good luckcole

 

[Dana Kern]

Radar Mast

Dear Cole,After looking at and pricing a mast for my JRC 1000 unit I decided to build one from some three inch aluminum pipe with a flange at the top ( where the unit sits) and one at the bottom to through bolt to my rear seating area just aft of the starboard locker. I also drilled a 1/2 inch hole six inches below where the unit sits and used 1/2 inch solid aluminum dowel to provide a place to attach some aft cockpit weatherproof lights. After some careful tig welding and a little creativity in designing the bottom flange, I polished the entire piece with Never Dull to a very bright finish. The mast seems to be holding up really well and is very strong. Cables are hidden inside the mast and run down and over to my display which sits on a swing arm to be swung out into view just inside my companionway entrance. The entire price for this turned out to be about $100.00 dollars and it looks great and works well. Stainless steel would maybe be a better choice but the cost will triple. I think the aluminum will hold up fine. Any thoughts or ideas are welcomed by me. Good luck!