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Mounting Radar On A Junk Rig

  • 01 Dec 2024 12:29
    Quote
    Reply # 13436362 on 13435709
    Anonymous member
    Anonymous wrote:
    Anonymous wrote:

    I,ve no experience of a radar, but I see loads of boats, which have them on a pole at the stern, which I assume must work.

    I have had stern mounted radar posts on two junks, and there were occasional problems with sheets getting fouled on the pole.  For 11 years I had a Colvin Gazelle with a radar post mounted forward of the main (and its balance) but aft of the foresail, out on the starboard rail.  Not once did we foul a sheet on that radar mast.  So if you have a schooner, look into that position.  However, on my current Benford 34, I have a VHF antenna mounted on the starboard rail, between sails, and I have gotten foresail sheets fouled on the antenna 2X.  So maybe you should just count on trying alternative positions if you first choice does not work out well.


    Thanks Paul, that is really helpful!


    As the last owner of this project made some mounts on top of the bimini cover, above the wheel house aft of the main mast (images in my earlier reply), we mounted it there for now and gave it a test. We had much less shadow than we anticipated, being a 4KW magnetron probably helps! Almost looked as if the masts were not there. 


    We will try it again when the sails go up and see if it is the shadow is still almost none existent


    Failing that I will try this approach off the starboard side
    I anticipate that in a few months I will follow-up with the results
  • 28 Nov 2024 00:30
    Quote
    Reply # 13435709 on 13435014
    Anonymous member
    Anonymous wrote:

    I,ve no experience of a radar, but I see loads of boats, which have them on a pole at the stern, which I assume must work.

    I have had stern mounted radar posts on two junks, and there were occasional problems with sheets getting fouled on the pole.  For 11 years I had a Colvin Gazelle with a radar post mounted forward of the main (and its balance) but aft of the foresail, out on the starboard rail.  Not once did we foul a sheet on that radar mast.  So if you have a schooner, look into that position.  However, on my current Benford 34, I have a VHF antenna mounted on the starboard rail, between sails, and I have gotten foresail sheets fouled on the antenna 2X.  So maybe you should just count on trying alternative positions if you first choice does not work out well.
  • 26 Nov 2024 05:05
    Quote
    Reply # 13435014 on 836109
    Anonymous member

    I,ve no experience of a radar, but I see loads of boats, which have them on a pole at the stern, which I assume must work.
  • 23 Nov 2024 08:53
    Quote
    Reply # 13434243 on 836109
    Anonymous member

    Hello


    I wanted to bring this post back to life since it was last looked at in 2012. I find myself trying to think of a sensible place to mount my radar but am struggling with something robust, simple and elegant.


    Before the discussion goes into an odd tangent into the usefulness of radars, I am already aware of the counterarguments and see it as one tool of many with advantages when used appropriately.


    In a twin masted schooner styled junk or similar, has anyone seen anything that works well?


    Ideas I have had were to mount on top of a pole at the aft end but I think the effect of shadow would be too great. Above the position of the yard on the foremast was a bit too high. The Bimini cover above the wheelhouse could work but is susceptible to shadow from the mast. That only leaves with what was previously discussed... A new pole at the bow.


    Has anyone worked through these issues and has any learnings to share?


    Including how bad the shadow is in different scenarios

    1 file
    Last modified: 23 Nov 2024 08:55 | Anonymous member
  • 08 Apr 2012 20:42
    Quote
    Reply # 884851 on 836109
    Deleted user
    Hi again Robert. I've finally unearthed the image of that boat that I mentioned in my post above. Funny how memory plays tricks - the scanner is mounted between the masts, rather than in front of the foremast. I've posted the image of IRIS in the Photogallery of Members Boats.
    Last modified: 08 Apr 2012 20:51 | Deleted user
  • 26 Feb 2012 20:07
    Quote
    Reply # 836232 on 836109
    Deleted user
    While motoring up the Guadiana River (border of Spain and Portugal) several years ago we passed an anchored junk of probably 35 feet with a radar scanner mounted on a pole on the bow. I have a picture somewhere but it 's not accessible at the moment. There was never anyone on board to chat with. I mentioned it to Robin Blain when I got back to the UK and he knew the boat.

    I imagine the scanner's forward view would have been fine, but the foremast - alloy, I think -  was pretty close behind it, so I guess the rear view could have been marred. Like you I've never had radar (only 'needed' it maybe three times in 30 years of summer sailing), so I don't know if the latter observation is correct. Having it up front seemed a better option than on some kind of stern pole or gantry, where I'd worry about it frying brains, though loads of boats in the UK have them there.

    Our Freedom's sails have ended up well below the mastheads, so were we to fit radar we would have the option of attaching the scanner below the mastheads, where Freedoms often carry them anyway, the masts being carbon fibre. I don't know whether to do this, though. I suspect I'd rather eat the money.
    Last modified: 26 Feb 2012 20:10 | Deleted user
  • 26 Feb 2012 14:52
    Quote
    Message # 836109
    Deleted user
    I'm considering mounting a radar on Easy Go to make sailing the fog bound coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland safer and more enjoyable. Electronics and high tech have eluded me to this point in time.

    Mounting a radar seems problematic.

    I don't think it would reside well on the top of an unstayed mast placing weight high and likely whipping around quite a bit. 

    Mounting at the stern of the boat would also add to the clutter and weight that we already have there with sheets, horse, windvane steering and stern light. I don't know how well a radar would project forward through the clutter that two aluminum masts with their associated aluminum battens and yards not to mention the block themselves. I understand that wet sailcloth also inhibits good radar reception.

    I have sailed close to the Maltese Falcon http://www.symaltesefalcon.com and they have their radar on a separate small mast on the bow along with lighting and antennae. Now we're somewhere over 200 hundred feet shorter so while this is a viable option it would take some reconfiguring of the bow.

    Has anyone mounted a radar on a Junk Rig? What were the results? Any adviise?
       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

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