Radar wiring - install help

The anchor light will not cause any problems with the radar--the scanner width is 18" (As I remember the one your have), and there is only.a "Shadow" for an extremely short period of them--so the radar "sees" around it. Even sailboat masts are not an issue, of course depending on the cross section of the mast.

The light is well clear of the radar dome, looking at your photos--you are good to go--enjoy.
 
Took it out on the delta today and didn't notice any interference or odd images coming from the anchor light. Good - less work. :)
Radar seemed to do well, and didn't really notice any reflection issues with the ipad as I was inside (day was sunny) and just had it placed next to the steering wheel. So - seems good to go. I do hear it though when it is in "transmit" mode - so I suspect there is some vibration/sound migrating through the hull. Not loud and can't hear when underway.

I am using the furuno radar display app, but may try timezero so I can get a map overlay as well. Not critical - so not sure if I will spend the time/money/energy yet. We will see....

Poor fishing day...
 
That "sounds good"--when the scanner is turning you will hear the slight sound and perhaps minor transferred vibration, which may be louder with direct cabin top. mount than on radar arch, or pedestal.

I prefer to have the radar separate--it forces you to look more carefully at the radar and compare it with the chart. "Is that a boat and a channel marker, or two boats" for example. In severely limited visibility, usually Marie watches the radar, and I do eyes on the water, with an occasional glance at the chart. Having the boat on auto pilot helps to keep the course true.

Does this radar have trails or color difference to delineate boats moving toward or away from you?
 
thataway":28qlt0ce said:
Does this radar have trails or color difference to delineate boats moving toward or away from you?

As far as I can tell, no. There is some sort of echo stretch setting, but that is not the same as a bearing indicator of speed of an object. I was looking at a raymarine quantum radar that had the feature - much more expensive and would also require an MFD upgrade to support.

Frankly, just trying to get the bare minimum/cheapest option. I already had a gps/wifi compliant older ipad I don't really use. And, yeah, I probably will keep separate - but the timezero software for ios/mac looks very interesting. Seems like this stuff is used commercially if you look at their website, including sonar mapping, and a lot of nice "interplay" between devices.

If the weather looks bad, I just don't go out. But, I did get caught in a fog bank on the delta and literally could barely see in front of the windlass. Basically crawled along at a couple of knots - not fun. Hopefully, the radar will help in those conditions (not that I would go faster, but would be able to see what might be coming toward me!).
K
 
Radar: $855.00
iPad: Re-using an unused older ipad with GPS/wifi capability.
Switch: RSP-1W: White - One Switch (superbrightleds.com) $19.95 w 5A fuse (which I had to source separately).
Starboard: about $15 as I recall.

I did reinforce the back with blocking to screw the switch into. Used a jigsaw to cut the hole in the fiberglass - not pretty but ok.

One hold up was getting the correctly sized SS M10 length bolts so I could bolt through the 2" to 1.5" bracket I made. The lengths I needed are not generally available locally - so I used "nutty.com". Also a tube of boat seal.

Probably another $25 in odds/ends...

And, of course, TIME.
 
We are so fortunate to have inexpensive Radar. But even with Radar, you still have to watch the depth, and where you are on the MFD, especially in the Delta.

How about going under Golden Gate with a strong flood, pea soup fog, many big ship prop and horns, No Radar or chart plotters, vs Radar, MFD and GPS. 1973 vs 2021..?

There was a "Radar Detector" which would show you the direction of radar impulses. You could not detect distance off however and only within 45* where the ship was. The cost of small boat Radar in the early 1970's was about the cost of a 30' new sailboat. You needed a lot of power, plus room for the cathode tube display.
 
Back
Top