radar installation

T

tlochhaas

.
Oct 30, 2019
109
Have any Vega owners installed radar with the radome on the mast? I've
just bought the small JRC 1000 unit for my Vega (heavy fog downeast
Maine, and this coming year we're planning more Fundy sailing and night
sailing to Nova Scotia through shipping and fishing areas, so this is
the year to bite the bullet...).

The thick cable that in most installations runs down the inside of the
mast would require drilling a 1.25-inch hole in the mast to pass the
built-in connector through. I hate the thought of making that big a
hole in my mast! The only other choice seems to be to cut the cable
(which is only about 1/2 inch diameter) and pass it through and then
have a new connector made to rejoin the two segments just below the
bottom of the mast. The only problem with this is that the new connector
would have to be soldered in place at the boat, and with I believe 14
wires inside (some shielded), it's a skilled operation for which I
myself lack the skills--and my boat is in the yard at my cabin in Maine
more than an hour's drive from any service technician. It might cost me
a bundle to have someone come out to do this, though maybe it's the only
solution?

I posted my query on one of the newsgroups (rec.boat.electronics) and
got several responses about how to do the connector myself (it sounds
touchy) but also heard from someone who ran the cable down the font of
the mast outside and through a removable deck gland (advantages: no hole
in mast, removable when the mast is unstepped, no complicated
connector)--but I can't quite visualize how well this would work.

So I'm open to all suggestions and hope some Vega sailor has already
conquered this problem. Thanks!
Tom
 
Z

zippydoda_captain

.
Oct 30, 2019
58
Tom.
I have the same Radar (JRC1000) mounted on my mast.
I did this last year with the mast still stepped from a ladder.
It's mounted on a Scanstrut SC18 Radar Bracket just above the Spreaders.
The cable runs down the outside of the mast in a plastic conduit pop-riveted
to the mast and through a cable deck gland. The cable supplied is just long
enough to reach the Chart table (sink) via the heads and shelf behind
starboard berth. The conduit is a two piece construction, on part rivets to
the mast and the other part snaps on with the cable inside. Its very neat
and barely noticeable.
I mounted the display to the side of the starboard cupboard angled in
slightly for better visibility.
I wouldn't recommend cutting the cable as the signal can be compromised by a
splicing it back together.
You can disconnect the cable from inside the radome and pass it up inside
the mast, but you have to take the mast down to do this.
good luck
Ray.
 
T

tlochhaas

.
Oct 30, 2019
109
Thanks, Ray--this sounds like the best solution I've heard so far. I
assume the cable itself is weather-tight and you use the conduit
primarily for neatness and for physical protection of the cable? (I'd
heard elsewhere about someone just running the cable down the front of
the mast, but the conduit sounds much better.) May I ask where you got
the conduit and/or what it's called? How far apart did you put the pop
rivets? Thanks!
Tom

Ray Wilton wrote:
 
Z

zippydoda_captain

.
Oct 30, 2019
58
Tom.
I got the conduit from my local Chandler. I don't know who made it but I'm
sure it's a commonly available item. It's a two piece construction, a
flattish piece that rivets to the mast (about every 12"- 18") and a 'U'
shaped piece that snaps onto the flat bit with the cable inside. The conduit
is about 1.5m long, I staggered the joins between flat bits and the 'U'
shaped bits by a few inches and sealed the joins silicon rubber. Weather
permitting, I'll be visiting the boat this weekend so I'll take some
pictures and email them to you for you to look at.
Ray.
 
T

tlochhaas

.
Oct 30, 2019
109
Thanks, Ray, a picture or two would be great. I checked with three big
chandlers over here in the States and none said they had such a conduit
specific for marine applications, but one suggested trying a large
hardware/home-improvement store where such conduits are apparently sold
for general uses. If it's plastic it shouldn't be affected by the marine
environment as long as it's sturdy enough, I suppose. By the way, this
will be my first excuse to get a pop-rivet gun: I presume one should use
aluminum rivets to prevent galvanic action on the mast with s.s. ones?

Ray Wilton wrote:
 
Z

zippydoda_captain

.
Oct 30, 2019
58
Tom.
I'll try and find out who makes the plastic conduit. I used Monal (alloy)
pop rivets, I think their better than plain aluminium for marine use.
 
T

tjelle1946

.
Oct 31, 2019
70
Hi electtricians and cable techs use a plastic cable system available at
electrical outlets-some have self stick on one side--nice to work
with --jorgen
 
T

tjelle1946

.
Oct 31, 2019
70
Hi electricians use pvc conduit all the time--it is easy to install--pvc
half clamps or 180 clamps and ss screws==jorgen--cheap too
 
B

bhofler

.
May 31, 2006
263
- - Vancouver
VEGAtarians:

I have tried to remove my old e-mail address (trainingmgr@...) from
the group with no success. If anyone has a solution please let me know.I
am monitoring all the chatter via my home e-mail account.

In the meantime...best of the season to everyone. Great to read all the
information that makes owning a VEGA feel like one belongs to a huge
community.

Thanks Judy for your comments earlier regarding the challanges my family
and I faced this year.

Hope I haven't offended anyone by putting some personal comments on the page.

Cheers
Brian - V1039
 
T

tlochhaas

.
Oct 30, 2019
109
I have thought about that, Jim, but in reading various responses here or
in other lists, I've decided (so far) the mast mount may be better. The
two reasons I've heard against pole mounts (you can refute these if you
like?) are that you have to go pretty high to prevent the risk of
someone standing on the cabin roof getting into the beam and that the
stress produced by a tall pole has in some cases caused stress cracks in
the fiberglass around the base of the pole mount. How high did you go
with yours? No problems over time with the mount? Did you go with one of
the expensive commercial pole systems or make your own? It would
certainly be easier to wire from a stern pole.... Thanks.VEGA27@... wrote:
 
T

tlochhaas

.
Oct 30, 2019
109
Brian,
It could be that the system allows removal only from that e-mail address
itself--to prevent someone from removing someone else. Anyway, as
"owner" of the group, I can do that for you--and have just done so. Glad
to hear you're still with us from a different address!
Best wishes,
Tom

bhofler@... wrote:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom