Adding Radar to Folding Mast

[SGIDAVE]

Hello,

I am considering adding radar to my R21. From factory, the mast can be unplugged and easily removed from the boat. This makes both trailering (no bugs to clean off the mast) and covering the boat easier when the mast is removed.

If I add radar, is there an easy way to unhook the radome's wires and still remove the mast?

How do factory installations accomplish this? I would prefer to run the wires INSIDE the mast's tubing but maybe that would make it harder to remove the mast.

Thanks!

/david

 

[doke01]

I installed our Radome. You can cut the cable to the Radome and install a waterproof plug in the smoke stack (ours is an R-25 so it is probably different on your R21). However, I really didn't like the idea since it might interfere with the signal. What I do instead is remove the top of the Radome, unscrew and disconnect the cable, and pull it out. Then I remove the mast. It is a bit of a pain and I think it likely at some point I will add the plug but I haven't had the time to get around to it. It does work well though.

I did not run the wire in the mast's tubing. I use a couple of zip ties to tie it to the mast. The stainless steel of the mast is very, very difficult to drill through. I believe that Ranger also zip ties the cable, at least in the 'old' days. The cable that I have is white and it actually doesn't look too bad. It's one of those things that only you will notice 🙂.

I did get the Radome platform from Ranger. I could have made it myself but it was actually only a few dollars more to get one finished and designed to fit right away.

Doug

 

[SGIDAVE]

Hello Doug,

Thanks for the reply and how you handled adding radar. Adding radar would be nice but I'd rather have an autopilot first which will eat up my 'upgrades' budget for a while.

/david