Untraditional Radar Mount

[Fisherman]

I have a 20' Fishrite Performer with a windshield and softtop (similar to a Northriver Seahawk). I use it a little in the Pacific ocean, and would like to add radar to it for collision elimination, only I don't wish to spend $1-2k on a radar arch. Furthermore, putting my boat away after use will be a little challenge...the top of the windshield only has 12" of clearance to the top of the door to my shop.

I am looking for a used radar system (if anyone wants to get rid of one please let me know) that has a 12" radome with it. I'm looking for either Sitex or JRC 1000 right now. These radomes weight about 10 lbs.

So...instead of putting up a radar arch, what would you guys think if I build (or have built) a telescoping system that would allow me to raise or lower the radome. If I can lower the radome down to the top of the windshield, there will be several inches of clearance putting the boat away. I am proposing to mount square tubing on the inside of the cockpit so that it sticks straight up. Then I will slide in a smaller tube on which the top I will mount the radome. A couple holes will be drilled for pins to support the top portion when either up or down.

I will mount the base portion to the side of the dual console and the windshield support located near the walk-through door. My canvas top will need to have a little hole punched in it to allow the top portion of the telescope to slide through it.

I also need it to telescope high enough. I'm thinking I would like it about 7 feet from the floor of the boat, as I have read the microwaves from an active radar may damage our eyes. At that height, about 3 feet will be above the windshield and the antenna will be about 12" above our eyes.

I guess my main concern is... can I make this strong enough? I'm thinking aluminum would be better than stainless steel? If I use aluminum, what alloy and what wall thickness should I use for the base and the top of the telescoping stand?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

[goatram]

Keep it out of the cockpit so you do not have to cut your canvas. 2" pipe would work mount it like a Davit. The davit mounts can be bought with plastic inserts. You would have to also make a storage mount as well for travel. The newer radars do not use the same energy radar waves as the older ones do = safer for you and your family friends. Schedule 80 in either 6061 or 6063 would be the best but Schedule 40 would do I would think. If you want it bent then the 6063 would be the Alloy of choice.
You would be the odd man out but it should work.

[elsmanwaterman]

Hey Fisherman,

I just got done fabricating a mount similar to what you describe. Only difference is that I have a T-top which raises it up already leaving me a short mount to work with.

I have a rigid outer rail around my T-top which I was able to utilize for mounting. I just made a platform mounted on 1.5" Al tubing which gets pinned inside 2" tubing. The 2" mounts to the T-top frame using some ss u bolts. I was able to cut up the parts myself because I'm a member of TechShop but took the parts to a welder to have welded for an additional $50 or so.
Since I mounted on the side of my T-top rail, I am able to pull it up and out, turn it upside-down and mount it upside down for travel.

Travelling with it upside down actually bothers me a bit. I'm pretty sure that they are designed well enough to take some movement all directions but it would be better if they were right side up. I intend to build a lower mount asap to prevent problems in the future because I don't like that it raised my overall boat height up even by 18" or so.

I looked on my phone and don't see any pix but if you still haven't completed the project, I'd take a couple of pix and send them your way. In fact, I'll try to post them up anyway for anyone else doing a project like this.

[elsmanwaterman]

Here is what I did.

[Fisherman]

Hey, thanks a lot! I actually was just working on it a few minutes ago. I am going to mount 2x2" square aluminum on the front of my windshield. It will lean backwards, but should be strong enough I think. I'll be able to pull it off by removing a couple of pins. I decided against the telescoping idea and the idea with it mounting on the inside.

As to driving with the radome upside down, I believe I've read that it's probably okay, but not good if you get into rain or moisture as there is a small outlet for water and condensation on the bottom of the radome.

[elsmanwaterman]

Here is a better view of it.