Radar Base Problem

Loop#2027 · 2026-05-18T18:01:42-0500

Good evening, recently bought a 2021 Cutwater C-28 and unfortunately the previous owner had accidentally damaged the radar base that mounts to the fiberglass top when he was putting it in storage. The radar mast that attaches is fine, it was just the radar base that mounts to the fiberglass that got bent where the two pieces meet. The radar base has approximately 8 small screws that is mounted to the fiberglass and when I try to unscrew them, they just keep twisting and are not backing out.

Be glad to explain more, just trying to see what my options are so that I can take it to a metal machinist and try to flatten it back out.

Any advice on how to get the radar base removed from the top of the boat would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Charles

Eagle 2 · 2026-05-19T11:20:30-0500

Hummm, Interesting. So all 8 screws turn but don't come out, are you sure there is no nut behind them or some kind of plastic wall hanger insert that is holding them up? If it was one or two screws, I could understand, corrosion, whatever, but all 8 consistently, tells me there is something below the fiberglass holding them up. Can you fit a putty knife or something similar under the screw while you try to back them out? If it's stripping, try the old rubber band trick, (Google), it works pretty well. Also try PB Blaster and let it sit overnight.

Loop#2027 · 2026-05-19T15:22:28-0500

Eagle 2, thank you so much from reaching out. I feel that there is a nut on the other side of the fiberglass. When they made the radar base it looks like I may have to take the whole roof off and then get to the nut from the other side. The screws are not stripped. Next time I am at the boat I will take a video.

Thanks,
Charles

Submariner · 2026-05-19T19:26:04-0500

Loop#2027 said:
Eagle 2, thank you so much from reaching out. I feel that there is a nut on the other side of the fiberglass. When they made the radar base it looks like I may have to take the whole roof off and then get to the nut from the other side. The screws are not stripped. Next time I am at the boat I will take a video.

Thanks,
Charles

This is from an R27-OB, but it sounds like your mast is put together the same way. There are bolts on the back side of the base of the mast.

Here's a photo to illustrate.