Radar Mast Mount?

[Don Hall]

I'm purchasing a new 36mkII and will install radar. I'm trying to decide wether to mount the antenna on the Mast or on a pole on the stern. I like the idea of the height you get with a mast mount, but am concerned with the jib (150%) hanging up on it when tacking. Any words of advice or experience from other owners?

[Bob Teeter]

I have a C 42 and went through the same thought pattern when I first got radar. I wanted to put it up on the mast because of the height, but then I got addtional input.1) What do you do when you have to take the mast down?2) How does that height work when the boat is at 20-30 degrees? Wouldn't you be looking at water and air unless you put on some sort of gimble?3) What about damage to the radar when you tack. I guess you could add protection (more weight aloft).4) How far out do you really need to see. Is 10 miles far enough? I have an Ratheon 10X and usually have it on the 10 mile or less range. I'm not moving that fast. Bottom line, I went with the stern mount on a pole(about 8' above deck), but if I had to do it over again, I would install a self leveling rig off the back stay.

[Dan Smith]

I put a Questus self leveling mount on m y backstay and it gives me 15' above the deck.With a Funro 841, 4kw radar I get good return at 15 nm at a 20 deg heel no lessThe radar is good for up to 48 nm but beyond 20 I get too much sea clutter...but can still pick up largeland massesDan, REUNION

[Rich Lemieux]

I have a C 36 mk II with the Radar on the mast and a 150% jib. I do not find it to be a problem. I am an old radar tech from the Navy and do not like having a radar antenna near me so on the mast is out of the way. I would add a guard around the antenna to help the sail around, but other then that I think it will be fine on the mast.Good Luck.

[Peter Larson]

We have a Raytheon mounted on the mast. The thing you get if the radar is on a gimbal mount is the ability to see to the side. One is still able to see quite well to the front and back with a fixed mount. I didn't feel a gimbal mount was worth the additional expense. My primary use of the radar is to navigate in fog, when the seas are calm (here in the Great Lakes), and I'm probably motoring. The one problem I had was when the control line for the spinnaker dousing sock got caught in the radar mount. I had to go up the mast to release the line, I was able to drop the spinnaker but it was still a pain. My 155 genoa goes around the radome just fine.

[Don Hall]

Thanks to all who responded. I'm leaning toward a self-leveling mount on the back stay. The Radar-on-the-level for $500 is attractive.

[Chuck Fink]

Last year I installed a radar post on the aft pushpit railing. It is a Garhauer unit that adjusts to the angle of heel by an adjustment knob. Works well and is simple to install. Price was great...about 250.00. I am using a furuno radar with a 16 mile range. I found that I usually use a range from 1/4 mile to 4 miles. You don't need much height to reach that range. Note that most power boats have a low mounting point and get sufficient coverage. Good Luck