All that stuff I need to mount up top

M

Mike...

New member
Hello everyone.

In another thread, I asked about a adding a radar arch to my TomCat. As it turns out, the discussion led me to realize that I don’t want a radar arch after all.

I am now pondering a radar mast, perhaps with spreaders to mount the other stuff I need to put up top. That list is probably where I should start:
  • 18" radome
    VHF antenna
    Cell phone antenna
    Airmar PB-200
    XM or Sirius WX antenna
    Anchor light (though I could keep the one where it is)
    Search light (Which maybe should not be on the mast?)
Questions:

What else am I forgetting?

Is it a good idea to try to mount all of this on one mast? The consolidated wiring path seems interesting.

Is there a mast that can accommodate all of this without being 5 ft. tall?

Aren't there some rules about which of these should be higher than the other?

All thoughts appreciated.
---
mike
 
I don't think you'll like having the VHF antenna on the mast, but everything else should work fine.


Here's a Seaview mount, w/ light bar:
PMA-5U-7L___LTB100_medium.jpg


Here's an adapter for the lightbar to get two sensors on the mast:
PM-U2A_medium.jpg
 
sorry i did not get in on the other post but why would you not want a arch? it gets everything you mentioned up and out of the way. It allows for more storage on the roof by not taking up space. if you fish it allows for safe storage of rods and buoys for shrimp or crab. I could not live with out the radar arch and would never suggest not getting one.
 
That's quite an antenna farm you plan to mount up there. Some of those antennas/sensors are small, but need to be mounted out of view of the radar (GPS, for instance,) and the VHF antenna is 6 ft tall and needs to be removed/lowered for trailering.

So, don't give up on the radar arch, because it allows one to mount each antenna/sensor in a good position and move it from upright when on the water to down for trailering.

Your pick, just think about it.

Boris
 
I like my radar arch; besides being a good place to mount the radar, VHF antenna, and GPS puck, we use it to strap other stuff to, like bikes, fenders, bag for the rolled up camperback. It also makes a great hand-hold and keeps the cabin top free for our inflatable dinghy. The tall arch is big enough that the dinghy can go under it, if necessary.

I'm with Tom and Boris - the boat is more function for our use with the arch.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Here is what I have mounted on top: Two 8 foot VHF antennas (read the posts about reasons for two VHF radios); two GPS antennas, one 2 meter antenna, and one SSB antenna. 18" radome, Air conditioner.

Under the glass on the electronis shelf is the XM antenna (does not need to be on the top of the boat or exterior).

As for a phone antenna--we are experimenting with a Wilson 3 watt amp and the Trucker's ground plane antenna--it will go on a tubular mount, so it can be taken off if necessary. (I could also use the marine mount,but using it on the RV as a primary useage.

I'll have to admit that with the power boat, I don't worry about wind direction or speed--I can tell within a couple of knots by looking at the water, and direction is easy--not racing sailboats anymore.

The steaming/anchor light is aft and that is a given (just be sure it doe snot leak--this can be a problem).

Search light--not a good place on the roof. That will give you way too much glare on the deck and cost you your night vision. Even with large vessels, I tried to mount my search light on the bow railing. Currently we have a tractor utility light on a mag mount. We put this on the bow anchor, and it is below the deck line--that way there is zero glare back. It is only used when we are in a narrow canal, and getting ready to dock if there is not enough light. I do carry several portable search lights--try and not to use them. My favorite is the Vector 3 brightness (trigger squeeze 1, 2 and 3)--most of the time, the first level is plenty of light. Try and use it out the side to avoid glare back. Running with a search light on all of the time is pretty much a "no no". (except for those blankety blank tug boats which have lights going a mile up the ICW)...!
 
starcrafttom":1lffe54z said:
sorry i did not get in on the other post but why would you not want a arch?
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That's a fair question. Here's why I gave up on the arch.

It'll take some time to get manufactured (or shipped, I buy a premade).

I have no faith in my ability to mount it square and true. And if it is off a bit, it'll bug the hell out of me.

I don't fish, so rocket launchers mean nothing to me.

It's more expensive. And I am spending enough money on the TomCat right now.

I really like the idea of mounting all the gadgets and gizmos forward.
---
mike
 
thataway":3chjfzx8 said:
Under the glass on the electronis shelf is the XM antenna (does not need to be on the top of the boat or exterior).
Click to expand...
Really? It'll pick up signal through the fiberglass ok? Might you know your typical signal level?

thataway":3chjfzx8 said:
As for a phone antenna--we are experimenting with a Wilson 3 watt amp and the Trucker's ground plane antenna--it will go on a tubular mount, so it can be taken off if necessary.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have been looking at the Wilson amps. I like the one with the inside puck that acts as a repeater, but I wonder if that all that RF flying around in the pilothouse is safe.

thataway":3chjfzx8 said:
The steaming/anchor light is aft and that is a given (just be sure it doe snot leak--this can be a problem).
Click to expand...
It does. :(

thataway":3chjfzx8 said:
Search light--not a good place on the roof. That will give you way too much glare on the deck and cost you your night vision. Even with large vessels, I tried to mount my search light on the bow railing.
Click to expand...
I am glad you mentioned this, as I was thinking of mounting it up top. Mounting it instead on the bow rail make great sense, but I was hoping for some way to swivel it as needed.

But I also need a light aft in case it gets dark before I get around to backing into the slip.
---
mike
 
It is no more work to hook up a remote controled search light on the bow railing than a fixed one. On the Tom Cat, I would mount it on the port forward railing, on a SS plate mount-It can be welded on in place if you wish.

I have been using the puck type of XM reciever on the C Dory 22, 25 and Tom Cat--I also use it on the RV, which has a fiberglass roof (plus 6" of wood, insullation etc on the roof). I don't have a signal strength meter, but I got XM reliably in Alaska last summer 100% of the time, with a couple exceptions, such as deep Fjord's like Ford's Terror.

RF? As a ham operator, I have had a lot more RV in the boat than you would ever get with a cell phone amp. The 3 watts output is from the antenna in the top of the boat. The wilson which uses the flat plate antenna inside of the boat, or my AutoNet is just like wi fi--and very low power--probably in the 150 milli watts range--since it is related to the sq of the distance from the antenna, the amount to your brain is almost nill, and definately less than you get with a hand held VHF radio or even a standard cell phone.

If you need a light aft, then get "spreader lights" They are available in incandescent, Halogen and LED--mount on the cabin top. But, generally lights are not necessary aft on the C Dory or Tom Cat type of boats. Also if you put a full camper back--or a Bimini--both or either is recommended, that will block any lights from the cabin top--or even a Radar arch--you can mount lights from the Bimni if you must.


"it does"-is that that the boat has the 360 combo anchor and steaming light? or that it leaks? The reason that I mentioned that is that one of your other replies lead met to think that you didnn't have an Anchor/360 degree steaming light (the combo light is legal in a boat the size of TomCat by both Inland and International rules.)
 
If height is a problem, then the "SeaView" product which is similar to the traditional powerboat "mast" might be a problem. You already have the aft light (and that is good because no glare on the foredeck).
 
Dr Bob,

What is the length of that SSB antenna? The ones I know of are ~23 ft long. I've thought of mounting one on the aft coaming, but not on the radar arch.

Boris
 
thataway":qk060z5h said:
"it does"-is that that the boat has the 360 combo anchor and steaming light? or that it leaks? The reason that I mentioned that is that one of your other replies lead met to think that you didn't have an Anchor/360 degree steaming light (the combo light is legal in a boat the size of TomCat by both Inland and International rules.)
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Hello Dr. Bob.

I just realized why we were not in sync on the steaming light while reading the other thread. I replied there, but the short answer is my anchor light is just that. Flipping the switch the other way does not make it a steaming light. It just stays white. So, I had planned to add a steaming light. Instead, I apparently need to fix the one I am supposed to have.

By "it does", I meant it leaks. So, when I am fixing the leak, I'll track down the steaming light issue.

On my RF concern, you make a valid point. :)

The Seaview mast is way too tall. I need something that has the radar fairly low and gets me a couple of mounts above the radar. The problem is I don't particularly like the look of this (scroll down) where the mount comes from underneath the radome. Crazy, I know, but it just doesn't work for me.

As always, thanks for the reply. :)
---
mike
 
For what it is worth

P1010034.sized.jpg

P1010011.sized.jpg

If I were to do it over I would (and I will someday) I would move it all the way back and put it on a hinge so I could get it into an 8ft garage door
 
My plan is to build a stainless plate that will mount to the very front of the cabin top and the radar tower will sit just ahead of the cabin and in front of the handrail. It will be hinged at the bottom so that the radar, GPS antenna and VHF antenna will tilt forward when trailering or when in a dry storage marina. The assembly should add only 3-4 inches to the roof height when folded. One nice feature is that the wiring can come into the cabin under the front of the cabin top so there should be very little possibility for leaks.
 
Hi Brian,
Will you have enough roof real estate in front of the forward handrail? I mounted my tower as far forward as was possible on Napoleon before the curve of the roof (sloping toward the bow) would become problematic.
 
For what it's worth, my XM antenna for XM radio is mounted on the shelf in the cabin, not outside and the GPS antenna and XM antenna (weather) for my Garmin are mounted inside the cabin (XM on the shelf, GPS on the unit) and the GPS antenna for my Raymarine unit is on the unit (in the cabin as well).

My spotlight is roof mounted (replacing the original anchor light on my 25) and that leaves a radar mount with the dome just aft of the spotlight. I have had no issues with glare but don't use the spot often.
 
Hello Jeff...

Good to hear on the XM. Dr. Bob has the same results. It's nice to know there is one less thing that needs to be mounted on top.

SouthLake":11l3xy1i said:
My spotlight is roof mounted (replacing the original anchor light on my 25) and that leaves a radar mount with the dome just aft of the spotlight. I have had no issues with glare but don't use the spot often.
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It seems to me that if the spotlight was fairly tight vertically, the amout of glare to could be somewhat controlled.

Which spot do you have?

---
mike
 
Beflyguy":2ovhnnxf said:
My plan is to build a stainless plate that will mount to the very front of the cabin top and the radar tower will sit just ahead of the cabin and in front of the handrail.
Click to expand...
Forward of the roof? I agree that it is great you can bring the wires in under the brow, but won't that look a bit odd hanging out there in front like that?

Of course, I know it none of my business. :)
---
mike
 
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