Back Stay Mounted Radar for 39i

[elecco]

Hello,

I'm looking to put a radar on my boat.  Was leaning towards having it installed on the mast but I like the idea of a self-leveling back stay mounted radar.  Also - I'm sure the installation will be much easier.  Any insight for those that have done this would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Ed Lecco
SV PainKiller

[MalcolmP]

We fitted a Scanstrut pole on the stern of our 39i - works well, we don't have it self leveling, but I am not convinced that is so important - it seems generally that in fog there are light winds, but I do recognise that the horizon should be more with a self leveling one.

www.scanstrut.com/products/product-page.php?range_id=10006



With the twin backstays on the 39i it might be difficult to achieve - Scanstrut now do a self-leveling pole mount

[MalcolmP]

I should also add we opted for the pole rather than mast mount, as not only is it much easier to wire in, but the radar domes are quite vulnerable in the yard/ transporting when the mast is taken down - the stern pole is also good for things like VHF aerials and high level stern lights etc

[electricmonk]

the gimballed radars are I think a solution looking for a problem that isn't there. yes you can work out the theoretical angles but these things don't do pitch and yaw only heel.

[elecco]

Thanks all for the advice.  I'm leaning towards a fixed mast mount vice gimbaled mast or backstay.

Regards,

Ed

[chuckr]

we have a ds40 and have a quest pole over the backstay and put the gimballed radar on it.  works great in our humble opinion.  only been there for 11 years.  by the way we mounted a gam electronics hf radio antenna above.  it is really simple to run the wiring down the quest and through a small clam shell covered hole right next to it

[On y va]

A radar dome + bracket + cable (approx 14kg) half way the mast at say 8m, means approx 100 kilo less keel weight efficiency. On a Jeanneau 39i, which has 2.280kgs of keel weight, this means 4.4%. Doesn´t sound like a lot, but it is more than enough for me. Besides the greater swaying effect it causes at the anchorage.

[so36idavid]

We have the self-leveling mast mount on a 36i, it came with the boat. I really dislike it. Not only is it a whole bunch of weight and complexity in a place that's hard to get to, but it's a magnet for birds that like to leave calling cards on the foredeck. Also the jib knocks it on each tack and it also prevents us from heaving to. Bah humbug . 

Your 39i probably has a split backstay which makes a backstay mount complicated.

My last boat had a non-gimballed pole-mount and it worked just fine. the gimbal is nice to have but honestly it's not necessary. Add me to the pole-mount column. The only thing I'd add is that there are some nice combination radar mount/outboard hoist poles. Garhauer has some for under $1k and that's exactly what I'd put on my boat if I were doing it. 

David