Anyone add/mount other items to their mast?

E

Eastside3

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2019
Messages
56
Fluid Motion Model
C-30 CB
Vessel Name
Chill Awhile
I’m curious what other customizations some of you may have made where mounting something on the mast was necessary. Cameras, additional lights, etc.... if so what did you add and how did you go about mounting it?
I’m looking o add a camera to my 29CB right after it’s built.
 
baz":2n2mi5l2 said:
I will add a radar reflector for added 'comfort' to ensure other boats can detect my boat's presence. :roll:

This is what I will use as I already have it from my previous boats.

Tri-Lens Radar Reflector...
https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/27_16/features/4567-1.html
https://www.westmarine.com/west-marine--tri-lens-radar-reflectors--P008_243_005_500 no longer sold by WM.
Click to expand...
The Tri-Lens Radar Reflector was one of the best ones available, but it is no longer made from what I can gather. It seems several of them broke loose from their mounts and did a good deal of damage when they landed on the deck. Near the end of their production they went from one mounting point to two, which fixed the issue but it was too late and production ended. Which is a shame as it was the only passive reflector that came close to meeting the standards set for radar reflectors. The only radar reflectors that I have been able to find that meet the standard now are active reflectors which cost over $700 last time I looked.
 
Jim: Yes, I have read accounts of the 'falling' issue. My Tri-Lens is quite heavy and does need to be carefully secured to avoid such a calamity. :roll:
 
On TOUCAN, we added a Davis radar reflector, a whip antenna for a Vesper AIS and a cell phone signal booster antenna to the mast on our R27. Coming next will be an anemometer and wind vane.

Barry Thompson
 
I need to mount a hailer and possibly anemometer. After searching, I'm still a little unclear on how to route cables to the cabin roof. Does anyone have pictures in their album?

-martin
 
Once my son is done #D Printing my bracket, I'll mount my Radar Reflector to the mast. Currently, I have a 30" long Red and White plastic candy cane adorning it. Left over from Christmas... 😀
 
Martin its not a small job. as in the roof panels and potentially the internior side panel needs to come off. there have been a few threads over the years on people doing this. the effort required has blocked me from installing a wifi and second VHF antenna.

also for those of you installing antennas. its really important to space them far enough apart per the specs https://www.nmea.org/Assets/nmea antenna installations ibex presentation 2011.pdf

more
http://www.seamagazine.com/importance-antenna-placement/
 
Dan,

Asking RT to install dedicated wiring for future installation would help you a lot.

I am in the process of installing an LED headlight and port/starboard docking lights to the mast, as well as a hailer horn, on our R27-OB. Before starting this process, however, I had to remove and relocate the AIS 600 GPS antenna and the TV antenna, rerouting the wires to each, accordingly... and that's where my trial by fire started.

There are wire access holes in the cabin ceiling (above ceiling trim), and routing laterally to a sidewall (in our case the starboard side) and down into the cave, running forward to the dashboard / fuse panel. These wires are accessed in the wall thru the starboard port hole with trim removed. You might think so far, so good!

Wires are zip tied in bundles, and bundles are held in place to the adjacent surface with some pretty impressive tape. During fabrication, when all major components are exposed, it's easy to get to everything. Add the fact your not just an over zealous boat owner but a qualified technician, installation of electronic components and wiring is easy!

I will offer you best of luck, but more importantly wish you Godspeed and perseverance!

Bob
The Doghouse 2
 
I have routed one cable through the simulated smokestack, under the overhead panel, down the starboard side behind the galley ceiling and forward behind the paneling to the helm area. It was a big job. I have run two coax cables for other devices forward on the roof, through the eyebrow at the center and into the cabin under the eyebrow between the top of the center windows leaving small drip loops outside, thence routed to the electronics wiring bays along the side of the window frames. I sealed the hole in the wall with putty and have not had a single drop get inside. I stuffed a GPS antenna into the cubby above the helm and it has worked just fine.

Barry Thompson
 
Thanks for the input guys.

I can now see its a tough job to route new cable to the roof. Extra conduit and pull through would be a nice enhancement to future designs.

I currently have my GPS behind the helm of my Cutwater, works well there.

Getting speaker cable up to the roof for a hailer is a different matter. Ugh.

-martin
 
I have speculated at the cable routing. With the additional items I have mounted to the racks above, a kayak on port and a Yakima skybox on starboard, I am wanting to raise the radar dome up a level on the mast. This will give the radar better visibility over the top side items and move it a bit further above occupants. I have two questions - Is there enough cable coiled somewhere along the cable run for the 18 inches of slack needed and does trailering the dome sideways have any negative impacts on the unit. It would be sideways due to moving it from its fixed place now to a shelf on the foldable part of the mast. Any suggestions here would help. We also plan on adding an XM antenna, a fm antenna, a hailer horn and spotlight.
 
It seems the consensus is that whatever cableing CAN be run head of time should definately be looked into in order to make life easier. I know I want to mount a FLIR thermal camera where the TV antenna on the 29CB is typically mounted. I’m not sure if the TV antenna can simply be mounted on the backside, and what’s involved. I don’t want anything to look jury rigged so I want to run the cableing ahead of time. I’m considering a Garmin camera mounted in back, high up enough to give visibility when backing up, since I may likely stick with the standard dinghy with weaver Davit system. I’m simply not sure of which solutions can offer a horizontal system for keeping a dinghy in place especially with the shallow depth on the swim platform due to the propane locker. It’s 21” from locker to edge of swim platform. If I go with any system other than the weaver davits I’d have to loose the back railing...... decisions, decisions. In the mean time I’m thinking that it would be good to have an elevate view to see over the back of the Dinghy (thus the reason for the camera in back).
My big goal is to future proof things wherever I can. Running cables, and mitigating the list of “why didn’t I think of that beforehand!!” What better place than this forum to exchange thoughts and get input from others who have gone down this path.
 
Dan: If you do have a dinghy in vertical position off trailing edge of swims step I don't see that having a GoPro camera will show you to any precise way the rear of the dinghy - unless it's mount high up where the solar panel is, or even higher than that. If you have the dinghy in a horizontal position things would be more visible but this will mean the overall boats length is increased considerably.

This rear view aspect when having a vertical dinghy on the swim step does present an issue if you're solo operating. If you have a 1st Mate onboard let them keep a watchful eye on where your stern is and maybe use Bluetooth equipped head set for communication.

For the first few months in my covered slip I will likely solo dock stern in with a port tie up. I'm doing this to keep my unprotected cockpit away from driving rain and wind etc. So docking in this manner I will need to be aware of where my stern position is. With a dinghy on swim step then keeping the boat out some and then walking the boat backwards would be one way to dock stern in I suppose.

BTW.... the steel platform behind where the TV antenna is on the R29 CB's mast has two lobes that other things can be installed on. I intend to mount my Tri-Lens radar deflector on one of these lobes and use the other for mounting my Hailer horn.
 
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