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Author Topic:   Mounting a Radar on a 22' OR

humboldt jim posted 10-03-2002 05:56 PM ET (US)
Have an Apelco Radar, but haven't used it on my 22'OR because of space limitation on my console, and no T-Top to mount antenna. Could have used it this year when 22 miles offshore, in thick fog, my GPS took a dive. Short of adding a T-Top, which may be the only answer, wondering if anyone has found creative ways to mount a radar?
Dr T posted 10-03-2002 06:28 PM ET (US)
Short of a T-top (bad pun), I would suggest you mount the antenna on top of a mast.
Two reasons:
The higher you mount the antenna, the greater the range will be.
You want to mount the antenna so that the radar beam is above your head and the heads of your passengers. If not, it can (literally) cook your brains.
Ancedote:
Years ago, I knew a guy who had been a radioman on a destroyer. He said that in radio school they took a tour to see some long range surviellance radars. While they were there watching, a duck flew through the beam--and tumbled out of the sky cooked.
Not a pretty site.
kingfish posted 10-03-2002 07:08 PM ET (US)
Consider an arch? I have one on my 22OR with everything on it *but* a radar antenna; when the technology develops to where there is a really good 10" or 12" dome antenna, I'll have one up there.
kingfish
WSTEFFENS posted 10-03-2002 07:31 PM ET (US)
Jim:
I didn't know that Apelco made a small boat radar at this time. Please tell us more!
Thanks
WLS
DIVE 1 posted 10-03-2002 09:04 PM ET (US)
Go for the arch, kingfish has a nice set-up.
reelescape1 posted 10-03-2002 09:07 PM ET (US)
There was an Apelco 2kw unit on my 22' OR (t-top) when I bought it. Raytheon was the parent company.
Drisney posted 10-04-2002 01:12 AM ET (US)
I have seen a mast mounted on tthe console with the dome on top. It looked functional and was not unattractive....Dave
Barry posted 10-04-2002 07:29 AM ET (US)
A mast would definately be the least expensive solution. West Marine sells a 90" radar mast for $155. Their mast kit that includes dome mount and all mounting hardware is $270.
This mast would mount to the deck and then be supported by several attachments to the console. I actually saw a picture of a Montauk with one.
humboldt jim posted 10-07-2002 03:37 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the input, folks. Been away from the computer for a while. While standing in the promenade of Pac Bell Park watching the Giants get shellacked, Saturday, I saw an OR in McCovey Cove with an arch and immediately thought there is my solution. The Apelco(Raytheon) radar antenna is big and bulky, and I would feel better about mounting it flush on the arch rather than the mast approach.
Few more questions..
Those of you with arches- did you find "stock" arches, or were they custom constructed??
Any dealers in northern Cal I should consider contacting?
You tuna guys- Is it possible to attach downriggers to arches??
Thanks in advance.

humboldt jim posted 10-07-2002 06:21 PM ET (US)
whoops I meant OUTRIGGERS.... and I tracked a custom fabricator out of Costa Mesa (Saltwater Specialties)who answered my questions.
kingfish posted 10-07-2002 06:56 PM ET (US)
Jim-
Let me know if you'd like me to send some photos of Outre' with arch; I'm always looking for excuses to spread them around-
diveorfish posted 10-08-2002 02:51 PM ET (US)
Humboldt Jim: There is a company in Alameda that does all that type of metal work. They can make anything you want. They are on Clement st. and their name is Svendsen�s metalwork 510-864-7208. I don�t know if they have stock arches but it�s worth a call.
Also, why not consider a T-top? An arch is also expensive and somewhat defeats the purpose of having a center console design.
Louie Kokinis posted 10-11-2002 04:11 PM ET (US)
Jim: I can also send you pictures of my arch if you need more ideas.
Mine was custom fabricated, is collapsible, and is setup for outriggers. I opted to go without the top since we get lots of rain in the North West, and I�ve found T-tops do very little against driving rain, they also aren�t fly rod friendly. It takes 5 min to fold up or down, and tucks neatly into the bow without removing the cooler or windshield.
We flush mounted the radar, GPS, and sounder by removing the electronics box and covering the opening with a piece of starboard. This created some problems with the remaining electronics (2 VHF radios, and stereo), that where reinstalled inside the console. I bought a command mic for my ICOM, so it is easily accessible at the helm, but the 2nd VHF and stereo can only be operated by opening the console door :(
I would also be careful with the mounting points on the floor. Whaler can supply you with wood diagrams, but you may have to reinforce the floor forward of the console. Lastly, I would highly recommend you take your boat out and run it at slow cruise with an inclinometer on board. This will reduce the amount of spacers used (we didn�t use any) and will really help make the install look clean.
Louie
alkar posted 10-13-2002 01:44 PM ET (US)
When I bought my 22' Outrage it sported a T-top, which, as others have observed, does not provide much foul weather protection. After looking through pictures of whalers set up like "Whale Lure" I decided to replace the T-top with a radar arch. It's a great platform for all the antennas, a great way to get the rods out of the way, and a stable mount for lights and outriggers. It's also part of the top system as the bimini can be secured to the arch in it's boot when it isn't deployed. I used the stays from the old t-top as the sides for the new arch and had a local fabricator do the welding according to my design. The custom design allowed me to create the amount of headroom I needed to accomodate my taller friends.

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Author	Topic: Mounting a Radar on a 22' OR
humboldt jim	posted 10-03-2002 05:56 PM ET (US) Have an Apelco Radar, but haven't used it on my 22'OR because of space limitation on my console, and no T-Top to mount antenna. Could have used it this year when 22 miles offshore, in thick fog, my GPS took a dive. Short of adding a T-Top, which may be the only answer, wondering if anyone has found creative ways to mount a radar?
Dr T	posted 10-03-2002 06:28 PM ET (US) Short of a T-top (bad pun), I would suggest you mount the antenna on top of a mast. Two reasons: The higher you mount the antenna, the greater the range will be. You want to mount the antenna so that the radar beam is above your head and the heads of your passengers. If not, it can (literally) cook your brains. Ancedote: Years ago, I knew a guy who had been a radioman on a destroyer. He said that in radio school they took a tour to see some long range surviellance radars. While they were there watching, a duck flew through the beam--and tumbled out of the sky cooked. Not a pretty site.
kingfish	posted 10-03-2002 07:08 PM ET (US) Consider an arch? I have one on my 22OR with everything on it but a radar antenna; when the technology develops to where there is a really good 10" or 12" dome antenna, I'll have one up there. kingfish
WSTEFFENS	posted 10-03-2002 07:31 PM ET (US) Jim: I didn't know that Apelco made a small boat radar at this time. Please tell us more! Thanks WLS
DIVE 1	posted 10-03-2002 09:04 PM ET (US) Go for the arch, kingfish has a nice set-up.
reelescape1	posted 10-03-2002 09:07 PM ET (US) There was an Apelco 2kw unit on my 22' OR (t-top) when I bought it. Raytheon was the parent company.
Drisney	posted 10-04-2002 01:12 AM ET (US) I have seen a mast mounted on tthe console with the dome on top. It looked functional and was not unattractive....Dave
Barry	posted 10-04-2002 07:29 AM ET (US) A mast would definately be the least expensive solution. West Marine sells a 90" radar mast for $155. Their mast kit that includes dome mount and all mounting hardware is $270. This mast would mount to the deck and then be supported by several attachments to the console. I actually saw a picture of a Montauk with one.
humboldt jim	posted 10-07-2002 03:37 PM ET (US) Thanks for the input, folks. Been away from the computer for a while. While standing in the promenade of Pac Bell Park watching the Giants get shellacked, Saturday, I saw an OR in McCovey Cove with an arch and immediately thought there is my solution. The Apelco(Raytheon) radar antenna is big and bulky, and I would feel better about mounting it flush on the arch rather than the mast approach. Few more questions.. Those of you with arches- did you find "stock" arches, or were they custom constructed?? Any dealers in northern Cal I should consider contacting? You tuna guys- Is it possible to attach downriggers to arches?? Thanks in advance.
humboldt jim	posted 10-07-2002 06:21 PM ET (US) whoops I meant OUTRIGGERS.... and I tracked a custom fabricator out of Costa Mesa (Saltwater Specialties)who answered my questions.
kingfish	posted 10-07-2002 06:56 PM ET (US) Jim- Let me know if you'd like me to send some photos of Outre' with arch; I'm always looking for excuses to spread them around-
diveorfish	posted 10-08-2002 02:51 PM ET (US) Humboldt Jim: There is a company in Alameda that does all that type of metal work. They can make anything you want. They are on Clement st. and their name is Svendsen�s metalwork 510-864-7208. I don�t know if they have stock arches but it�s worth a call. Also, why not consider a T-top? An arch is also expensive and somewhat defeats the purpose of having a center console design.
Louie Kokinis	posted 10-11-2002 04:11 PM ET (US) Jim: I can also send you pictures of my arch if you need more ideas. Mine was custom fabricated, is collapsible, and is setup for outriggers. I opted to go without the top since we get lots of rain in the North West, and I�ve found T-tops do very little against driving rain, they also aren�t fly rod friendly. It takes 5 min to fold up or down, and tucks neatly into the bow without removing the cooler or windshield. We flush mounted the radar, GPS, and sounder by removing the electronics box and covering the opening with a piece of starboard. This created some problems with the remaining electronics (2 VHF radios, and stereo), that where reinstalled inside the console. I bought a command mic for my ICOM, so it is easily accessible at the helm, but the 2nd VHF and stereo can only be operated by opening the console door :( I would also be careful with the mounting points on the floor. Whaler can supply you with wood diagrams, but you may have to reinforce the floor forward of the console. Lastly, I would highly recommend you take your boat out and run it at slow cruise with an inclinometer on board. This will reduce the amount of spacers used (we didn�t use any) and will really help make the install look clean. Louie
alkar	posted 10-13-2002 01:44 PM ET (US) When I bought my 22' Outrage it sported a T-top, which, as others have observed, does not provide much foul weather protection. After looking through pictures of whalers set up like "Whale Lure" I decided to replace the T-top with a radar arch. It's a great platform for all the antennas, a great way to get the rods out of the way, and a stable mount for lights and outriggers. It's also part of the top system as the bimini can be secured to the arch in it's boot when it isn't deployed. I used the stays from the old t-top as the sides for the new arch and had a local fabricator do the welding according to my design. The custom design allowed me to create the amount of headroom I needed to accomodate my taller friends.