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Raymarine radar extension is a bit tall

 
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rock knocker



Joined: 29 Sep 2016
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:32 pm    Post subject: Raymarine radar extension is a bit tall Reply with quote

I just purchased a 22ft cruiser yesterday and it came with a raymarine radar on a mount that is about 2 feet tall. My question is can i mount it right to the roof or is it that high for a reason? Thanks in advance.
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ssobol



Joined: 27 Oct 2012
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 1:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In theory higher is better for range. But it depends on what you want to use the radar for. If it is for avoiding things you might hit (i.e. stuff up close) than lower is fine. If you are looking to use it for fishing (e.g. finding birds) then higher might be better. For a given beam angle, higher also causes the minimum usable range to increase because you can't see things below the beam. In either case, a two foot difference in height is not going to make any real difference to the radar performance on your boat. You just want the radar up high enough to avoid beam obstructions on the top of your boat.
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colbysmith



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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mine is on my roof and works fine.
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starcrafttom



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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Its just not for the benefit of the radar. It for the benefit of more storage space on the roof, for say a dinghy or kayak. We talking about a arch right? If its just a single point stand then I do not see a real benefit to it. That extra foot is not buying you much distance. I find, for my area , that anything past 5 miles to be over kill.
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thataway



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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have mounted radar to the roof. It is possible. Agree that you will not get appreciable increase of range with 2 feet.

But Radar beam is 20 to 30* in vertical bandwidth. You should have a little wedge under the radome to give down forward of 3 to 5* to allow for running angle when on a plane. Also right on the roof--you do loose some of that beam--into the glass--and perhaps a little into the cabin. A little safer above --2 feet is a pretty normal strut.

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colbysmith



Joined: 02 Oct 2011
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 8:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I do have spacers under the back of my radar, to make it set more level when on plane. That means at hull speeds it's aimed down a bit more. Which is fine, as at slower speeds I don't need to see as far out. Using it in day visual conditions, I'm very satisfied with what it picks up. (Pretty much everything it would pick up if it were higher. At least within the 5-6 miles that matter.) Which gives me more trust in it at night or low visibility situations. Colby
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journey on



Joined: 03 Mar 2005
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And there are those of us who want it high and at the front of the cabin so that the radiation pulse doesn't hit us humans. 4 Kw is a lot of power, greater than a microwave, but at a longer distance.

Journey On started out with a 4 Kw radar and so the radar arch is forward and high enough that the emitted power doesn't pass through me.. Now has a low power Lowrance, which doesn't have a microwave effect.

Boris
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rock knocker



Joined: 29 Sep 2016
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you i will probably just leave it the way it is for now.
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starcrafttom



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PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rock knocker- i see you are in george town. WIfe and I went to el dorado in 84 and 87.
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rock knocker



Joined: 29 Sep 2016
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 11:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I love Georgetown... been in the area for 40 years. Beautiful country!
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