Saintly Fish Posted December 21, 2020 Posted December 21, 2020 What’s best for the installation of a new radome? A strut or an arch? And why? Quote
Saintly Fish Posted December 22, 2020 Author Posted December 22, 2020 @GPSguru you got any thoughts on this Ian? Also why are some struts angled and some straight? Quote
Odyssey Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 The higher your radar the better. This will mean that you see further ahead with less near field interference. An arch allows you to get it higher above your cabin etc. It’s also a useful area to add nav lights, anchor lights, etc GPSguru 1 Quote
Saintly Fish Posted December 22, 2020 Author Posted December 22, 2020 11 minutes ago, Odyssey said: The higher your radar the better. This will mean that you see further ahead with less near field interference. An arch allows you to get it higher above your cabin etc. It’s also a useful area to add nav lights, anchor lights, etc My anchor light is installed at the front of the wheelhouse roof. The radome will need to be at the back. Probably on a 6” strut. Will this pick up the anchor light or is it too small? Quote
Odyssey Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 How high is your anchor light? You ideally want a clear field of view. Go for an arch, get some rod holders in there too 🙂 great for travelling as keeps rods out the way. However, if you’re on the shorter side you need to ask the skipper to get your rods down ( @headlight 😉 ) Quote
GPSguru Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 3 hours ago, Saintly Fish said: @GPSguru you got any thoughts on this Ian? Also why are some struts angled and some straight? I saw this, but I guess it comes down to personal preference ............ A raked back strut always looks better on larger boats such as yours, however an arch is more practical and probably a lot stronger .................... Quote
GPSguru Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 3 hours ago, JonC said: He’s probably still watching the jelly wrestling clips Nah, Jon ........ does nothing for me ............ I have been too feck'in busy trying to work out how to get my international orders out of the UK, but it looks like it will be resolved in the next few days and mail flights will start again ......... it takes time to write grovelling emails to all my overseas customers ! Quote
Odyssey Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 8 minutes ago, GPSguru said: I saw this, but I guess it comes down to personal preference ............ A raked back strut always looks better on larger boats such as yours, however an arch is more practical and probably a lot stronger .................... I’m not sure I agree on a strut looking good... give me a good arch any day. Got to love a nice bit of shiny stainless 😁😁😁😁😁😁 @Saintly Fish if you’re forking out for Radar, spend a few more ££, get an arch and get your refector integrated into it as well 🙂 Maybe add a flagpole and get done flags up there too 😉 Quote
Saintly Fish Posted December 22, 2020 Author Posted December 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Odyssey said: I’m not sure I agree on a strut looking good... give me a good arch any day. Got to love a nice bit of shiny stainless 😁😁😁😁😁😁 @Saintly Fish if you’re forking out for Radar, spend a few more ££, get an arch and get your refector integrated into it as well 🙂 Maybe add a flagpole and get done flags up there too 😉 I don’t want an arch as it will ruin the lines of my boat. I prefer the look of a strut but just wondered if there was an advantage over either. Quote
Geoff Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 22 minutes ago, JonC said: I’d of fitted an arch That will probably be enough to convince Neil to fit an a strut. Geoff.☺️ Andy135 1 Quote
Andy135 Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 14 minutes ago, Geoff said: That will probably be enough to convince Neil to fit an a strut. Geoff.☺️ He always was a contrary bugger... Quote
GPSguru Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Saintly Fish said: I don’t want an arch as it will ruin the lines of my boat. I prefer the look of a strut but just wondered if there was an advantage over either. Agreed, an angled strut looks more in keeping with the aesthetics of a larger sports boat. However, an arch is more practical for a fishing boat. To fit an angled strut you might have the strengthen the cabin roof, not rocket science, just more work ! Quote
Scotch_Egg2012 Posted December 24, 2020 Posted December 24, 2020 Arch all day long 😁 allows you to fit GPS aerials etc I made the frame under the main radar arch and because I hate drilling holes in the roof I attached onto the roof hand rails, arch was by Echomax made to fit a reflector on top of the radar Quote
Odyssey Posted December 24, 2020 Posted December 24, 2020 Looks great 🙂 If you sell your boat can take it all with you 🙂 Scotch_Egg2012 1 Quote
Saintly Fish Posted January 30, 2021 Author Posted January 30, 2021 So going forward with a strut.. is a 6” strut enough to give the radome clearance to shoot over the bow when it rises? Would I need a wedge to level off the radome to stop it pointing to the clouds or can I adjust the offset of the signal? Hope that makes sense! Quote
Saintly Fish Posted January 30, 2021 Author Posted January 30, 2021 2 hours ago, JonC said: In the spec for your radar scanner it will show the angle of the cone shape beam that comes out of it. Try to find a scale drawing of your boat a d work from there https://static.garmin.com/pumac/GMR_18_24_xHD_Install_EN-US.pdf how am I supposed to know the angle of the bow when under way though? Quote
Gordmac Posted January 30, 2021 Posted January 30, 2021 Measure it? I think you can get a spirit level type app for a phone. Quote
Scotch_Egg2012 Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 On 1/30/2021 at 11:49 AM, Saintly Fish said: https://static.garmin.com/pumac/GMR_18_24_xHD_Install_EN-US.pdf how am I supposed to know the angle of the bow when under way though? You can download a clinometer app for your phone it will tell you the angle when underway Saintly Fish 1 Quote
Odyssey Posted January 31, 2021 Posted January 31, 2021 TBH it’s less on an issue with GRP boats. Radar technology should clear any feedback that close to you anyway. Obviously the higher the better, but it’s not as I’d you’re on a steel boat... Quote
Saintly Fish Posted January 31, 2021 Author Posted January 31, 2021 35 minutes ago, Odyssey said: TBH it’s less on an issue with GRP boats. Radar technology should clear any feedback that close to you anyway. Obviously the higher the better, but it’s not as I’d you’re on a steel boat... I got a recon 6” strut from eBay , thought that would be enough seeing as it’s sitting on top of the wheel house. Quote
Cuda4 Posted February 3, 2021 Posted February 3, 2021 You can still have stainless bling with a strut 🤣 Steve Quote
Saintly Fish Posted February 3, 2021 Author Posted February 3, 2021 So my strut bracket for the radome and reflector turned up today. Needless to say it’s gone straight back in the box to be returned. I don’t like it at all. No shine, sticks out a mile from the back of the strut and even the reflector was built to a bad finish. Back to the drawing board. Quote
Saintly Fish Posted February 3, 2021 Author Posted February 3, 2021 6 minutes ago, JonC said: I was dubious when you showed me the link before. Sometimes things look better in real life, unfortunately not that. yes quite. Quote
suzook12 Posted February 3, 2021 Posted February 3, 2021 Would like to add, that looks like 304 grade stainless which is no use for sea.... It has a self healing coat so even if ya polish it, eventually it goes back to that dull finish. 316 is usually supplied highly polished and is a nightmare for picking up scratches so usually has a protective plastic coating (Nitto) Saintly Fish and GPSguru 1 1 Quote
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