Radar/Radar Arch/VHF Considerations

[ATPNW]

Hello All,

This winter I’d like to add radar. I am thinking of adding a radar arch up near the brow, similar to how the Hewescraft pictured below has one. Currently my VHF antenna is mounted on the gunnel right outside the drivers window. I’d like to add the VHF antenna to the radar arch. My concern is that the radar and antenna would be too close if they are both mounted on the arch. If I get a Morad antenna with an extension, thus putting it above the radar - would that solve that problem? Curious to hear what others have done/would do.

 

[thataway]

most put the arch aft, but a few have been forward. The antenna shoud be as high as possible. the side deck is not a good place. People tend to grab it, it is the way if you go forward, and is not as high as possible. Many boats have the VHF antenna near the radar, and I have had it that way on many boats. No p;roblem. The Morad antennna is a great choice--again one I have made. The base extension is good, I usually make that a 2' SS pipe.

Consider what else you may want to put on the C Dory room. A dinghy, solar panels and kayaks or SUP are often choices. If the arch is aft,often fishing rod holders are placed on it, and it is a hand hold as you come out of the cockpit to the side deck to go forward.

 

[ATPNW]

most put the arch aft, but a few have been forward. The antenna shoud be as high as possible. the side deck is not a good place. People tend to grab it, it is the way if you go forward, and is not as high as possible. Many boats have the VHF antenna near the radar, and I have had it that way on many boats. No p;roblem. The Morad antennna is a great choice--again one I have made. The base extension is good, I usually make that a 2' SS pipe.

Consider what else you may want to put on the C Dory room. A dinghy, solar panels and kayaks or SUP are often choices. If the arch is aft,often fishing rod holders are placed on it, and it is a hand hold as you come out of the cockpit to the side deck to go forward.

Thank you, for your thoughts. Glad to hear others have mounted VHF antenna and radar close and that with an extension it should be ok. We primarily salmon fish, and lay the net on the cabin roof when trolling, so being able to keep it up there and easily accessible is important. I will be so glad to move the antenna to the roof as well. As you mentioned it’s always in the way when maneuvering around the boat.

 

[Joefairbanks]

The option that I took was adding a radar mount up front, and it allowed me to remove the light from my brow, as well as the GPS antenna that was installed by the previous owner, The SeaView mount that I used allowed me to add the light/GPS antenna to the same unit. I also added the Morad antenna on Dr. Bob's (and others) advice. Very happy with my set up so far. If I could do it over, I may have moved everything forward another 6 inches or so. But, I did keep it centered on the factory "pad". I don't think that the 22 Cruisers have that pad, so you would have more options.

 

[olekils]

I updated my roof situation with a few things in mind: I wanted to eliminate holes in my roof, be able to carry/access surfboards from either side, replace the existing grab handles, and keep enough room clear to be able to jump off the roof. I ended up coming up with this design where the radar, spotlight, anchor light, GPS receiver and VHF (AIS + VHF sharing same antenna) all mount in the center of the rack, and all cables are internally routed through the SS tubing and into the cabin through the aft starboard foot. Wiring was a PIA and it took a bit to get the feet and overall alignment correct, but it's worked out well and really cleaned up the roof in terms of penetrations and cable runs inside the cabin.