Trojan Boat Forum

just wondering if anyone has installed a radar on there boat,
I have a flybridge with a bimini(which I plan on completely closing in next year) and I just purchased a Ratheon Radar system,
does anyone have any insight as to how I can install a stantion'mount or share some pictures of what they have, I have to clear the bimini top and mount it on a pole/or stantion or something like that, I dont see to much avail out there for this type of install
any thoughts??

The absolutly the best and maybe the only way to handle the problem is to install a radar arch. I installed one on my F36 Trojan and it came out great It gets the radar up above the bimini and won't interfer with the inclosure. I bought mine from Atlantic Towers,Barnegat,NJ. You can go on line http://www.atlantictowers.com and click on photofinder and see pictures of the F32 with their arch. The cost is a bit pricy, but it's about the only way you can get the radar above the bimini. They have all the measurments and can build a custom arch that fits perfectly.

If you mount the radar dome on a pole or stantion it's going to have to be at least 6 1/2 to 7 feet above the floor of the bridge in order to clear the bimini. Any pole that high would have to be very well braced the withstand the pounding in any kind of rough seas. The leverage on the base of a pole that tall with a 20 pound dome on top would be enormous. I just can't see how you could brace it well enough, and keep all of the bracing outside the inclosure. I wouldn't want it over my head.

The radar arch is The sec best way . If your going to put a full enclosure on next year nows the time to think about a hard top ( thats what I have) and put the radar on that . of course thats the most costly . If not the arch is the way to go .Atlantic Towers makes a nice arch and they make ok hard top , what I do not like about Atlantic Towers hard top is the roof is made of a real thin fiber glass .( they may offer others ) the frame work is great and there is place made for radar mounts . some times you can fine a deal on ebay on a arch .Just check the shiping first ,

thanks guys alll good suggestions,, unfortunately Im going to have to wait on the arch, I just cant swing it this year
Im one of those poor guys ,
Im currently working on a stantion pole that hopefully will work,
my radar dome weighs about 10 lbs, so I think its doable,
the challange is to make it look nice,,
by the way what did you pay for the arch, hardtop etc

has anyone used a pole? or am I the only lunatic out there,
I saw a couple of larger boats at my marina with a pole setup,

I've seen pole mounted radars, but never that tall. The pole was incorporated into the rear rail of the bridge, but was below the bimini. Best I can remember, it was a 3" aluminum tube with a square mounting plate welded to the top. The base was set in a seat pedestal base. I can't remember exactly how it was mounted to the rear rail of the bridge, but it was used to stabalize the tube. There were exposed wires that were wire tied to the rear bridge rail, running to the starboard side of the bridge. (Not a real clean installation) The dome would be about a foot above your head when seated at the helm of the bridge. (Closer than I would want it to be to my head) The dome would also interfer with the rear curtain of the inclosure. But it did work.

I Paid aprox. $2000.00 for my Atlantic Tower Arch 4 years ago, can't find original bill. I done keep track nor do I want to know how much money I've dumped into the boat. It would just be more evidence in my insanity hearing.

CURRENT PRICE LIST
Atlantic Tower Arch:
Arch base price $1499.00
Combination anchor/running light !39.00
12v spreader lights 129.00
Shipping from NJ ??????

Looks like prices havn't changed that much.

My hardtop was about 3800 but that was 9 or 10 years ago (last owner)
and thats with out the Enclosure that I replaced last year at a cost of 4 grand

Back in january I saw a post where someone said you could mount your radar on the front if you want your crotch microwaved. I still laugh about that.

Look at the pictures of Sea Breeze in a previous post. When I bought my boat the radar was mounted on the front of the bridge. I NEVER operated the radar with anyone in the bridge. After installing the arch the radar was relocated.

P.S. I still have the mounting hardware. If wanted you can have it for the cost of shipping and handling. You may be able to mount a pole on it to raise it and get it out of your face. gjrylands@att.net

I think what Im gonna do is not use radar for a while, until I can buy an arch , I probably wont need it and I can put the money into other repairs that are more important
thanks for your responces

I think Radar is a great thing to have . I money is a issue ( and it is for all of us ) I would mount it on a pole/mast you should be able to make something. On my last trojan (F30 ) I was going to make or buy a arch . I ended up building my own hard top and mounting the radar on top of that. When I bought this boat I put the radar on the top that came with it .

I asume you what to use the radar on flybrige ? you could mount it in front the brige and hook it up to the lower helm just don't use the brige when its on . Get the mount from Gerry if want to do that .

Btw what model and power is radar ?

Prolwer
I already built a nice mount, but before I even put the radar I have a few other projects to take care of,
I dont plan on going anywhere with the boat that I would requie a radar set up;,
I have a very nice GPS unit which I bought , a garmin with satellite imagery, so Ill depend on that for a while,
the radar I have is a ratheon RL9 pathfinder