Radar question

Avidmagnum12

Avidmagnum12

Member
I've never had radar on a boat but now that we are spending months boater homing we've decided to have one installed on our 25. We are going with the Garmin 18 xhd which will integrate with the 4208 MFD that came with the C-Otter. Marine Metals at Williston Florida will be fabricating the mount. The mount will need to pivot the radar in order to have clearance to fit through my shed door.

Now for my question. Will the present location of the all around light (For me the anchor light) cause a problem with seeing forward with the radar? I've seen some photos on this site where they stay there but many folks add a light on the rear of the radar riser mount. Thanks in advance...Tom
 
Tom,
My new radar is a couple feet behind the anchor light. I was told that was the best spot for it. If you want yours closer to the light then maybe you could "shim" it somehow and get a higher angle, if you think that you need that.


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Hi Jason
Great looking radar on your boat. I need to put mine forward so that I can still put my dinghy on top and so that it can be rotated forward for door clearance. I will be using a riser to raise the radar about 6". This will put my anchor light about a foot or less away. Of course durning the day it can be removed. However with the new radar we may run more at night than in the past. I'll add an all around light on the rear of the riser for my enclosed radar if I must. Just don't know for sure what the effect that close will be.

Sounds like you're going to be putting your 25 away for the season. You may want to consider trailering down to Florida next March for our Hontoon Island C-Dory gathering. We get "brats" from all over. The St. John's river is a great place to explore.

Thanks....Tom
 
Avidmagnum12":m4sngelq said:
Hi Jason
Great looking radar on your boat. I need to put mine forward so that I can still put my dinghy on top and so that it can be rotated forward for door clearance. I will be using a riser to raise the radar about 6". This will put my anchor light about a foot or less away. Of course durning the day it can be removed. However with the new radar we may run more at night than in the past. I'll add an all around light on the rear of the riser for my enclosed radar if I must. Just don't know for sure what the effect that close will be.

Sounds like you're going to be putting your 25 away for the season. You may want to consider trailering down to Florida next March for our Hontoon Island C-Dory gathering. We get "brats" from all over. The St. John's river is a great place to explore.

Thanks....Tom
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Thanks, Im still getting used to all the radar features but it's awesome having another layer of safety while on the water.

Yeah, getting down to a C Brat gathering is on my bucket list. Although, I wish there was a mid Atlantic get together. There's lots of Brats from VA, MD, PA, NY/NJ. Plus a few of us New Englanders !
 
Tom,
The anchor light stanchion will present no problem, because of the width of the magnetron. (18" vs 7/8"), so it will see right thru it. I have had aluminum masts which were about 8" x 12" and no effect on the radar. One of the other keys is that the objects are round, and prevent little echo surface.

I would suggest if possible to go with the Garmin 24xHD, it is a generation newer than the plain 18HD.

My experience with small boat radar spans over 35 years, and a number of vessels.
 
Thanks Bob

I know with radar "bigger really is better" but I have already paid for the Garmin 18 XHD radar. At least it is the newest model. I'll skip the light mount on the riser and stick with my original light. My boat goes to Marine Metals next Monday for the folding mount if Hurricane Mathew does not mess things up too bad around central Florida. I'll be securing things on Thursday.

Troy said he would have the boat done by the end of the week. IF THAT HAPPENS we would be able to make the Apalachicola Gathering if you still have space. Had a great time last year....we were just hoping to get some Florida Keys SCUBA diving in this fall. Not going to happen with the weather.

Jason...we always get some north east brats to join us. It's a drive but I tow my boat to Lake Superior every year for some summer boating. No excuses! :)
 
"Now for my question. Will the present location of the all around light (For me the anchor light) cause a problem with seeing forward with the radar? I've seen some photos on this site where they stay there but many folks add a light on the rear of the radar riser mount. Thanks in advance...Tom
_________________
Tom and Joyce Schulke
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Hi Tom and Joyce and Congratulations on choosing to add another layer of safety to your boating experience. You will learn to appreciate the advantages of have a 360 eyeball looking where you can't see continuously.

The radar will see through the light mount, or an inflatable OK. What won't happen, is the light will not show through the radar. Keep in mind that that "anchor light" is required by USCG to be seen 360 at certain times, (at anchor during dark hours, or when visibility is limited), so be sure that it is elevated, well above the raydome.

I would agree with Bob as to using the 24 if at all possible, as it will give you better range and definition. You don't really need to see 25+ miles away very often, but 12 miles and closer are most practical working ranges.

Just a hint on the mount. If it has flat planes instead of round tubing it can also help increase your radar signature, depending on the design. Include a radar reflector at any rate.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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Tom,
As long as you are getting the xHD in the 18, it should be good. Just a little better discrimination with the 24".

Yes, any radar reflector will help. We found that with the newer radars, we can pick up some really small targets. I was using the 1996 JVC radar on my son's 25 this summer, and it was amazing how good it was for a unit that old. (Probably not used much!)

The simple "Davis Echomaster" ion the "Rain Catch" position under an radar arch is both economical and reasonably efficient. To beat it you probably will have to go to the $900 large "Tri-Lens" reflector--which is about as large as the radar dome!

We used something equivalent to the current large EchoMax (29" long: x 13" diameter) on our large ketch. This was up about 50 feet off the water, and we could be seen by large ships at a range of 13 miles. For most of us, a range of 3 miles is all we will worry about.

Tom, Hope you both can make it to Apalachicola! We also hope that there is no hurricane damage in your area!
 
journey on":3iqt99qi said:
South of Heaven/Jason, that's the first C-Dory Ive seen with a 4' rotating antenna. Awesome, but overkill.

Boris
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Depends on whether or not you fish. Those antennae provide a bit better discrimination and make it easier to detect flocks of birds over the water (good for locating tuna).
 
Sorry if I'm repeating what you already read.

I have that radar on a boat at work and have similar lights, etc. a dinghy with aluminum oars attached, spotlights, and other antennae and it doesn't bother the radar a bit.

Radar can't really see round things very well. It likes flat surfaces and right angles.
 
I believe that the radar can see round things, but you are right, not so well. I think the real difference maker is how close they are. Anything within a certain distance, like 10 feet or something, is not imaged, as the return is too soon. I don't know exactly how it works, just that it does.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Thanks for all the information. I knew that I could get the help I needed from fellow brats! I'll post photos of the radar setup when it's done.

Back to hurricane prep.....glad I don't live on the shoreline! But one never knows.......Tom
 
It's not just what the radar "sees," it is also what can see you... as in: is your anchor light still visible all around, without being blocked by the radar? Our 25 had the tall radar arch, and needed the anchor light behind and above the radar dome in order to be seen by other boats at night. The stock light would not have been seen from behind the boat.
 
I'm researching radar options too...
From what I've read, you can do no wrong in what you plop down in the radar path EXCEPT...don't put a GPS antenna there. It won't hurt the radar but may fry the GPS.
Happy Shopping!
John
 
I put an extension mast under my GPS and it sits right next to my radar but above it and has worked that way for two seasons.

Bill Kelleher


gulfcoast john":2ynuloe1 said:
I'm researching radar options too...
From what I've read, you can do no wrong in what you plop down in the radar path EXCEPT...don't put a GPS antenna there. It won't hurt the radar but may fry the GPS.
Happy Shopping!
John
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Bill K":11xq73ak said:
I put an extension mast under my GPS and it sits right next to my radar but above it and has worked that way for two seasons.

Bill Kelleher


gulfcoast john":11xq73ak said:
I'm researching radar options too...
From what I've read, you can do no wrong in what you plop down in the radar path EXCEPT...don't put a GPS antenna there. It won't hurt the radar but may fry the GPS.
Happy Shopping!
John
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Not a problem with newer units, most have internal antennas..
 
JamesTXSD":2947w4ow said:
It's not just what the radar "sees," it is also what can see you... as in: is your anchor light still visible all around, without being blocked by the radar? Our 25 had the tall radar arch, and needed the anchor light behind and above the radar dome in order to be seen by other boats at night. The stock light would not have been seen from behind the boat.
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Jim is re-enforcing the point I was trying to make. What ever is up there, the "all around light" must be able to be seen from all around so it MUST be mounted higher than anything else up there with the exception of the VHF antenna masts.


John is right too but remember, something that you put in the radar path my prohibit signal returns, so you may have some blank areas on your monitor. AND be sure not to put a GPS antenna in that path. I have had a Shakespeare mast extension with in couple feet of my radar for 09 years, No problem, no image blanking on the screen and I also have 2 GPS antennas, on the shelf directly under the radar and have had no problems with them or their signal either.


gulfcoast john wrote:
I'm researching radar options too...
From what I've read, you can do no wrong in what you plop down in the radar path EXCEPT...don't put a GPS antenna there. It won't hurt the radar but may fry the GPS.
Happy Shopping!
John
Click to expand...

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I understand that I may need to purchase a taller all around light or just add a tall light bracket to the back of the radar. I'll check it out after Troy at Marine Metals fabricates the radar mount next week. Glad hurricane Matthew was not worst. No power but with two generators no problem.
Thanks Tom
 
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