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Radar - Mast vs. pole

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 2:09 am
by Old PDQ Message Board
Radar - Mast vs. pole

Posted by Richard Sapp on September 24, 1999 at 17:05:41:

We are in the process of installing LS 72 radar unit on our PDQ 36. The boat
yard wants to pull the mast and install it below the baby stay. The other option
is , of course, to put a pole at the aft stern rail

Question:[/i]

What has been the experiences of those of you who have put the dome on the mast
vs. on a pole?
The boat is going into the yard in Seattle on October 4th, where they have a
crane large enough to reach out and pull the mast. While the mast is down we are
going to have some other work done

Other Work:[/i]

1. Replace the mast head halyard sheeves (under load, they seem to be frozen,
especially the jib. We will also look at the sheeves at the bottom of the mast

One of them appears to have a small crack in it

2. Shorten the backstay. Our sail maker says that we do not have enough forestay
tension and there is no more travel distance left on the aft two turnbuckles

3. Install a small winch on the mast to tension the main and jib halyards

(we've decided to move these (and the topping lift) out of the cockpit and take
them back to the mast. We think it will keep the deck cleaner and safer. When I
am sailing alone, I can always re-thread them back into the cockpit if
necessary. We hope to have the main and jib halyards exit on the same side of
the mast (port, so that we can get away with having only one winch to tension
both

4. Reseal the windows. A couple of windows have developed small leaks. Have any
of you removed any of the 10 windows in a PDQ 36. It looks like it will be
pretty straightforward -- just lots of screws -- any thoughts or experiences I
need to know about before I start the demolition phase???
I look forward to hearing from anyone who may have some thoughts or cautions

Thanks,
Richard Sapp,
Zephyr
PDQ 36, Hull #16

Follow Ups:

Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole Cindy 09:44:57 10/13/99 (0)
Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole John Knight 17:53:23 9/25/99 (1)
Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole Bob Moline 22:20:40 9/27/99 (0)

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Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole

Posted by Cindy on October 13, 1999 at 09:44:57:
In Reply to: Radar - Mast vs. pole posted by Richard Sapp on September 24, 1999
at 17:05:41:


We replaced some of the windows last winter because of leaking (we live aboard)

It was very straight forward - unscrew, reseal, screw back in and let it set. No
problems since

We also are about to replace our sheeves for the same reasons! I'd love to hear
more details from you before I haul up and do it. It seems like it would be
awkward to access them from a bosuns chair?! How did you do it?
Good luck!
Cindy
s/v Neshamah
Hull #3

Follow Ups:

Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole

Posted by John Knight on September 25, 1999 at 17:53:23:
In Reply to: Radar - Mast vs. pole posted by Richard Sapp on September 24, 1999
at 17:05:41:


I just installed the same unit on the mast below the baby stay but as high as it
would go. I used the Scanstrut mount and also the pvc channel up the front of
the mast. This avoided having to cut the cable and I am able to remove the
scanner without touching the wiring if I ever unstep the mast. I did all this
with the mast still up. The display is mounted by the steering wheel. I am now
trying to wire together the GPS, autopilot, radar and PC using a combination of
Seatalk and NMEA

I wouldn't recommend a pole mount even though it simplifies the wiring.

Follow Ups:

Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole Bob Moline 22:20:40 9/27/99 (0)

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Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole

Posted by Bob Moline on September 27, 1999 at 22:20:40:
In Reply to: Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole posted by John Knight on September 25,
1999 at 17:53:23:


My Autohelm radar is mounted on the mast just above the spreaders on our PDQ32,
#20. Performance seems good but I believe that there is some loss of sensitivity
from the rear due to the proximity of the mast. I believe that a pole mounting
must lose something by having the mast in front of it but my guess is that it is
less. Any comments from those with a pole mount??
I have used this for four years and have not had any other problems. I installed
mine myself with the help of a friend but had the cable run and the mount
installed on the ground before I arrived to pick up the boat when purchased.
Regards, Bob.

Follow Ups:

Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole

Posted by Tom Scott on March 16, 19100 at 17:59:54:
In Reply to: Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole posted by Bob Moline on September 27,
1999 at 22:20:40:


Bob-did you get any feedback on the pole vs mast question? I'm thinking of
mounting a radar unit this spring on my 32'. Also, did you mount the display at
the helm? If so, on what? Thanks in advance for any input

Best,
Tom Scott
Tartan Breeze

Follow Ups:

Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole Bob Moline 19:20:31 9/19/100 (0)

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Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole

Posted by Bob Moline on September 19, 19100 at 19:20:31:
In Reply to: Re: Radar - Mast vs. pole posted by Tom Scott on March 16, 19100 at
17:59:54:


Hi Tom,
No, I have not gotten any feedback but after sailing my 32 another season I do
believe that mast mounting reduces your coverage from aft. It's not that you
won't see anything but it is a lot less sensitive in that area. Think about how
a searchlight would behave in the respective positions. The analogy is not exact
but it gives you an idea of what would happen. This is of course balanced by
mounting ease and costs etc. In the pole mount case I am assuming that it would
be some distance from the mast.