Placing Tender on Roof w/ Low Radar Arch

R

Rabbits Hutch

New member
Hi All,

Upon purchasing my 2006 22' Cruiser, it came with a free radar arch with rocket launchers as part of a factory incentive. Unfortunately, this means I cant place the tubes of a tender under the arch once I select and purchase one.

Has anyone placed a tender on the roof with this type of arch????

If I'm considering an 8' zodiac, any idea how far forward of the windshield's brow the tender will hang over?? Just a foot or so if I purchase a smaller 7' 11" type of zodiac ??

Could use some sincere guidance before I order a tender by mail and have it shipped stateside.

I'm in Iraq at the moment so I simply cant measure the available space versus a dingy's length.

But, as it's winter now everything is on sale for leftover boats. Seems that now is the time to buy.

Also, does anyone have any connections in the marine industry as to who might have a leftover model zodiac or alaskan dink??? I would have it shipped to my parents address in CT and let it sit until my return in the summer. Not even sure if an Alaskan can be shipped to CT by ground...that may be cost prohibitive.

Thanks a bunch.

Gary R.
 
Why not get a High (or Tall) arch instead of the low one? then the Inflatable will fit under the arch. Just a thought. Maybe need to pay some difference if the Low arch is the free incentive. Just a thought.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Hi Gary, I guess the question would be how far back you are going to put your arch? A real possible option would be to place your arch up forward and turn it around so that its canted toward the bow. This way you would hopefully be able to use the full roof for your tender and mount any lights or radar on the arch. As far as size dinghy's go, I have an 8 foot tender that I picked up for $300 from sportmansguide.com, its a Sevylor (which is owned by Stearns) and it is very sturdy and does the job just fine in AK. When stowed it is basically as far forward as the anchor light and hangs about a foot over in the cockpit (Its my porch on a rainy day). The smallest you can get is 6'6" i think but the weight capacity is fairly low. Hope this helps with some ideas.

Byron
 
On rereading it looks like you already have the low arch installed. I guess it would depend on where it is mounted, (aft of cabin roof facing aft, or forward, or forward on the roof again facing which way). I have a radar post, forward cabin roof, and center, and was going to put my expensive alaskan knockoff over the radar dome. It will come right to the forward edge of the brow, and hang over the aft cabin roof several inches. I'm currently leaning towards an arch type support over the Outboard well, that will support one end of the inflatable there, and then teh other end will rest on the aft cabin roof, giving a bit of a covered cockpit without the enclosed camperback.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I'm a fan of the low arch - looks better (subjective), and the rod holders are much easier to get at. However, I've been thinking about the tender issue for a few years. Don't have one yet, but once I do, I'll need to figure something out as well.

One thought I've had...make the low arch "convertible". Basically, cut the mounting plates off the low arch, then fab up four new posts that are 12-18" tall. These new feet would be of larger tubing, having an interior diameter large enough to slide the existing arch into.

The arch could sit all the way down inside the new feet, for the normal low height. When the tender was needed for a trip, the arch would raise up 4-6".

Two issues immediately come to mind:

- Cable slack would need to be sufficient, for anything mounted on top when the arch was in the "tall" position.

- Whatever locks the arch in place, would ideally be very solid and secure, but also easy to lock/unlock without running to the tool box.

That last one has me stumped.
 
Mount your all around light on the arch by your radar. A dinghy will then fit on the roof but overhang the front brim a bit depending on size. Check the dinghys with tapered tubes. The tapered ends will wedge under the lower arch.
 
Da Nag said:
- Whatever locks the arch in place, would ideally be very solid and secure, but also easy to lock/unlock without running to the tool box.

That last one has me stumped.
Click to expand...

I bet not for long. Too many good ideas available in this community. Might try drilling through both the extension and the legs and put a pin like a hitch pin from the tow bar variety in. Could be one of the ones with a hinged tip, that drops to 90' once it is all the way through. Look into sailboat hardware. One or two of the pins could be actual locking trailer hitch pins, the others just the hinged variety. Might increase security.

I do agree, I like the looks of the lower arch, but since we don't fish, don't see much use for the rocket launchers.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Da Nag":2gusqwvl said:
- Whatever locks the arch in place, would ideally be very solid and secure, but also easy to lock/unlock without running to the tool box.
Click to expand...

Take a trip down to your local medical supply house or CVS pharmacy and eyeball the adjustable legs that are used on walkers. So easy even a senior citizen can adjust it. There are variations on that theme used on commercial medical equipment as well. Maybe our resident Fire Dude, Reverend Dave could point you to more industrial strength versions. None of them should crimp or otherwise interfere with cables run inside the tubes. On the other hand, it isn't terribly secure from an enterprising thief.

Don
 
Sneaks":1blax0io said:
Take a trip down to your local medical supply house or CVS pharmacy and eyeball the adjustable legs that are used on walkers.
Maybe our resident Fire Dude, Reverend Dave could point you to more industrial strength versions.
Don
Click to expand...

No suggestions from here on "industrial strength versions".....however I am attempting to visualize an upcoming generation of radar arches that are no more than someone securing an adjustable legged walker on the roof of their vessel with a radome and a few antennas affixed to it.... :roll:

With Sea Wolf Joe's expert craftsmanship, I'm thinking he could probably come up with at least a "doctored" picture of such a rigging... :wink
 
Given that the radar arch is already mounted since purchase, towards the far aft end of the cabin roof, and I want to do as little "construction" and make as little effort as possible each time the new tender will be used the best idea is as follows:

Have the roof top navigational light moved to the radar arch on a permanant basis, and simply ensure that the tender I purchase has tapered tips to the aft tubes (as the Zodiac cadet series does).

The downside seems to be a slight overhang in front of the windshield's brow, which I'm happy to accept in this case.

Seems like a much easier solution then a full reconfiguration of the arch itself.

Is this passing the common sense test gentleman??

Thanks,

Gary R.
 
Gary, I have the same rack on my angler and I like it. But I could not mount a raft forward of my rack because their is not enough distance. You gain 18 inches with the cruiser so maybe a short raft. If you have the rail on the cabin you could add a surf board type of rack to raise the raft. I am sure you will need to add supports and stuff to make it work.

However mounting your raft forward will be a pita because you will need to be forward to hoist it up. Therefore, I would think of the cockpit rack and use the raft as a cover. Or could your raft be mounted vertically in the cockpit by the aft bulkhead.

I don't like playing around on the bow or going to the forward deck for anything. I much prefer the hatch for access to the anchor and forward deck. I am usually in the ocean where it is not flat so the bow can be pretty rolly.

I would probably suggest waiting till you get home to deal with it. It is cheaper to measure twice and purchase once. Good luck with your project.

As to the raft I would use a stand up paddle board for my dinghy and it would be way easier to deal with and open other doors,
 
Hi Gary,
While docked at Genoa Bay with other C-Brats during the "Gulf Islands Cruise 2008", we tried out the shorter Alaska Series Inflatable on the roof of "Sea Shift". I have a somewhat shortened radar arch that does not allow the tubes of the inflatable to slide under. If you look at picture #22 in the "Gulf Island Cruise 2008" album you can see the Alaska Series Inflatable that belongs to "R Matey" that we placed on "Sea Shift". We also placed the next sized up Alaska Series that belongs to "Anita Marie" and although it did extend a bit over the brow it was certainly doable. Unfortunately, I'm unable to find a picture of that dinghy on "Sea Shift".
As to the sizes of both of these, perhaps "Anita Marie" or "R Matey" will chime in with that info.
I'm very impressed with the Alaska Series, but bear in mind they come with an "impressional" price tag.
 
Gary, go to the "Photos" link at the top and then down to "Cruises and Events" once that comes up. The latest are first in that album.

HERE it is to make it easy for you. :thup

Charlie[/url]
 
As long as the dinghy you get doesn't have a metal floor or transom, you can also place one end of the dinghy on top of the radar dome. The radar will see through it just fine. I think others on the site do that.
 
We bought a very light, small dinghy - a Sevylor Fish Hunter, 8 foot I think, and it fits on top just in front of our low radar arch. There are pictures in our Grey C'Lune album under "Dinghy". In the pictures, the dinghy looks high in the stern, because we were also stowing a fabric carrier that held our crab trap and various items, but when that is not on top, the dinghy sits flat on the roof very nicely.
 
Rabbits Hutch":1cs72r4i said:
How do I find the "Gulf Island Cruise 2008" album? Is there a hyper link somewhere? Would love to see those photos.
Thanks,
Gary R.
Click to expand...

Gary, at the top header of this page click on "Photos", then click on "Cruises and Events", then click on "Canadian Gulf Islands 2008". Once there cursor down on page 1 and at the bottom of that page you will find a pix of "Sea Shift" with a Alaskan Series dinghy on top of it. My arch is too short for the Alaskan Series to scrunch under it, but you can see that it works well. A few moments after we tried that dinghy on it, we tried one that is the next size up and it also worked, but did hang over the brow a bit.

(Note: If you see other pictures of "Sea Shift" in that "photo album" with a dinghy on top....it is the one that I currently use, but I'm not that "jazzed" on it and in time will most likely switch to the Alaska Series).

(Thank you Charlie for the short cut to the album, but as mentioned it is the other "Gulf". I wish I was able to join in on the southern gulf gathering... :lol: )
 
DaveS:

Great pictures from your cruise. The Alaskan looked like a nice size for a 22' Cruiser with the low arch. It didnt even come over the brim.

What length was that particular inflatable? Do you recall?

I could see myself wanting a size longer, even if it means going over the brow a bit. Plus, as I'm looking closely at the Zodiac "Cadet" line with the tapered tubes towards the aft end, that portion would most likely slide under the arch given what others have previously mentioned...

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Cant think of anything I would rather be doing on a Sunday besides shopping for more boat "stuff."

Gary R.
 
When I went shopping for an inflatable I needed to decide between a 7'7" and an 8'8" model. I wanted to know how each would fit atop my cabin. So I dragged Adeline over to the inflatable dealer and threw an 8'8'' 'er up there. Positioned her both forward and backwards. I ended up selecting the 77 although either would have worked. Pictures here and here. In all photos the boat is positioned so that the light stalk is not obstructed.
 
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