Mounting a radome
Bill Kearney wrote:
I think I'll make some kind of wedge to tilt
the rear of the dome up slightly so that it will be level while at my
normal cruise speed.
Consider using longer bolts and some stainless sleeves. I don't know how
your setup actually installs but that's probably the most reasonable way to
get the tilt.
I had seen those power mounts advertised, and didn't know what they really
provided. The nav light idea is good too.
Yeah, those are pretty clever aren't they. My arch actually has a stern
light that's to the starboard of the radome, on a ratchet mount. The pole
goes up, bends to port over the middle of the radome and then up about 6"
for the light. Dunno who makes it. But it allows the radome to be centered
along with the light. The radome's mounted on an area of the arch that's
molded with some tilt already in the fiberglas. The radome's then mounted
on sleeves about 2" off the gelcoat. Seems to work nicely both on plane and
off.
-Bill Kearney
Bill,
Those sleeves sound like a good idea. I drilled out the mounting plates
this weekend and mounted the radome. I'll need to get longer bolts
anyway because the mounting plates are a full 1/4" thick. I can put
short sleeves in front, and slightly longer ones in back for tilt. Don't
think it will need much tilt with the stingray tail on the outboard, but
extra clearance for that little screwdriver is always welcome. It's
going to hurt drilling through the new canvas top to feed the radar
cable up to the dome, but it has to be done. The cable will run inside
the t-top tubing all the way up and will be hidden for the most part.
Regards,
bob baldwin
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