Adding Radar to a small CC

[fleshfly]

I am just begining my research on adding Radar to a 20' CC. I am pretty much starting from scratch on my fact finding and was curious if I could get any feedback from the peanut gallery? Following are some of questions.....

I live in Beverly, any reccomendations on what retailer I should seek? I wasn't sure if I needed to go to electonics dealer, or would my local marina that I use be enough?


I don't have a tee top, and I was curious if any options exist without adding any additional hardware? I have scene others that have added a smal low profile tower for the electronics.

Any ideas on makes brands, or specifications?

What other things should I consider when evaluating a radar?

[Ray]

You can add a frame over the console to mount the radar dome. It will also act as great hand-hold too. I believe the guys from Fish Stix did this on their last boat, a relatively small CC.

[moose]

I have a 23 Regualtor with no t-top and am looking to put on a radar using some sort of arch that will not affect fly fishing. I have the Garmin 4210 head unit so the radar dome is plug and play. Thoughts on the designers and/or builders of these arches would be great.

[Go Fish]

Option 1: Custom Radar Mast

All of the cast 316 hardware on the 1" stainless tubing is intended for use with bimini tops. The mast is 2" 316L with a wall thickness of 0.0625" The end of the mast that accepts the ratcheting antenna mount is a stainless plug that I cut in the machine shop at work. It is tapped 1"-14 and welded in place.
Side View
http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/From_Side.jpg

Front View
http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/From_Front.jpg

Rear View
http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/From_Back.jpg

A Close-up of the Mast Braces gives a better look at the bimini top hardware. The first trip out the set screws that hold the end caps in palce proved to be no match for the leverage that the antenna could apply. I used a transfer punch to mark the locations of the set screw holes on the tubes and drilled and tapped for the set scerw threads. Now the set screws go through the tube wall rather than just apply pressure to it.
http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/Top_View_of_Braces.jpg

A Close-up of the Base The base really doesn't take any of the force while under way but it needs to be beefy to support the weight of the antenna and mast when it is in the folded position.
http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/Base_Close_Up.jpg

Mast Folded Down Removing two 1/4"-20 hex head screws allows the mast to be folded for bridge clearance. http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/Folded.jpg

The Underside of the Dome Mounting Plate shows a 0.125" thich piece of 316L plate welded to the mast and a 1/2" thick piece of Starboard for mounting the antenna.
http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/Under_Side_Of_Platform.jpg

Approximately 6 degrees of tilt so the dome is looking level when the boat is on plane was had by jacking up the aft end of the dome with a strip of Starboard.
http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/Wedge.jpg

I beat the tar out of this set up on my boat for 3 seasons and was no worse for the wear when I sold it to one of the board members.

[Go Fish]

Option 2: Console Based Radar Arch (mini T-top)

I had this done at Fastech. It is a work of art but it was a little spendy:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/G0Fish/DSC_0199.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/G0Fish/DSC_0201.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/G0Fish/DSC_0200.jpg

[z-drive]

If you're looking for a full sevice place to buy it would look to gloucester. No personal experience on a private boat but commercially they're good. I got attitude and poor service when i looked into buying a unit from the other electronics dealer up that way.

I don't know who is good right around beverly for aluminum work. Some guys are good and some suck. If you want it for the spring i would probably get on it ASAP if you want it anytime before the 4th of july knowing how people in this business move. If you keep your boat at that marina in beverly that everyone else does i wouldnt trust them with my bicycle.

I would never consider any radar that isnt a Furuno (jrc is fine... allegedly makes furuno components). Look at commercial boats and see what they run. 90something percent will be furuno and thats for a reason. Every radar in my company's fleet (90+ tugs) is furuno. Simrad isn't bad either but $$$$$. I'm putting a used unit on my boat because one i like has been offered to me, but the furuno 1715 is probably the best thing going for a small boat. they're supposedly discontinued but you can still get them. 1623 would be a second choice. I personally do not like multifunction units (chart/sounder combo is ok) but radar and other things just confuse me. Some like overlays but i prefer having everything seperate. it makes it easier to compare information side by side rather than have it all combined on one screen. For rules of thumb the bigger the antenna width the better. power is relative because most small boat units will be around 2 to begin with and to get above that you will have to pony up some real cash.

I'll be at the northshore meet up tomorrow night at the anchor if you want to talk radar. Check the thread i started on looking for a used radar in this category, a few had some for sale.

[gf2020]

I would not do this:

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/get-attachment.asp?action=view&attachmentid=103826

[CMP]

Voyager www.voyagermar.com is right in your back yard and they took great care of me when I needed some hard to get (and expensive) parts. Got me a fair deal and walked me thru the install...

CMP

[z-drive]

Voyager seemed to snub me when i was in the market for a new plotter, insisting i needed a particular garmin. Once i made it clear i was all set with the particular garmin unit he was trying to sell me i got no assistance at all and took my business elsewhere. Just saying.

They seem like the kind of place you need to spend some money to get anywhere. Your experience may be different, but i'd reccomend http://www.seatronics-co.com/ (gloucester) first if you need a full service seller/installer. They've done work on commercial vessels i have worked on.

A small boat radar install isn't that bad if you're handy, assuming you get the arch or stand taken care of. For mailorder i usually buy alot of stuff from Defender.com (including the unit i would have bought from voyager)...usually its the best price going and standard shipping comes next day to MA.

[fleshfly]

Thank for all the feedback, wheels are turning......

Zdrive, I'll probably take a stroll by the Anchor tomorrow night....

[Philster]

If you can't come up with a beautiful custom job like Go Fish, Edson Marine might have something that would work for you. Their power boat catalogue shows a small CC application. How about some pics when you finish your project?

[dcobbett]

I copied this picture off of another site (Flyfishingsaltwaters.com ?) a year or two ago. As I recall, the hull is a 21 SeaCraft and there was a good thread regarding ways to mount radar on small CC's.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/dcobbett/sc_bow_shot_on_trialer.jpg

[moose]

How does the fastech mini t-top effect your ability to fly cast of the boat. I am thinking of one for my 23 regulator. Just nervous about changing the fly rod ability of the boat. Interested to know your thoughts.
thanks

[Go Fish]

Moose-

The mini T-top does not impact flycasting at all. In fact, it allowed me to get my antennas up higher and off of the console grab rail so, if anything, it has cleaned up the middle of my boat substantially.

It is easy to have a flycaster at the bow and stern and, on the occasions I had capable spin fishermen on board, fish another one or two guys from the middle of the boat.

One of my buddies had his 23 Regulator in the Fastech shop the same time I did and I ended up stealing the design that was put together for his boat.

If you are going to do it call soon. Fastech gets slammed in the spring.

[FireFly]

Kevin - not sure if I've seen those pictures before BUT the new top looks fantastic!

[mendy]

Here's a look at our McKee with the custom radar arch, done by Fastech in Plymouth, by far the best operation out there for this kind of work.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/john_mendelson/BoatVineyard.jpg

[tbn43]

http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61648

[fleshfly]

Thanks for sharing all the great info, that link to the old post is great as Dale gave a tremdous insight on Radar options.


Looks like I am going to use some of pics and begin toying with some ideas, and begin thinking about a radar arch. A few questions.

Mendy, How do you like the rod holders up there? I have to think, good.

Anyone have any thoughts to puting a spot light, or some lights to shine down upon the interior? I have some very minimal intertior lighting, just wasn't sure if it would be over kill or over bearing to deal with.

[z-drive]

i like my big floodlights for loading up in the morning and cleaning up at night. on the water they're way too bright to be usefull most of the time. its a good place to put your all'round white light up there as well as your vhf antenna. if nothing else for lighting you could mount a good dome light with a white/red bulbs under the arch. that would probably be the least intrusive and flexible way to add some lighting.

[Albiemanmike]

http://home.comcast.net/~masswhites/From_Side.jpg

I happen to be the member that bought that awesome custom mount from Kevin last season. I am gearing up right now actually to purchase a radar to put on that very mount. I was not able to use the console grab rail nor will I be able to mount it the same way Kevin mounted his but I have some ideas and have aquired the necessary odds and ends to set it up on my boat. I am looking at the Northstar M121 system w/broadband radome (not yet available) and M260 transducer to complete the setup. Ending up costing more than I had planned (the wife is not happy at all) but it will be extremely useful and will help me relax when the inevitable fog roles in while tuna hunting.--127-3- I will report back when I get it all setup.