Thanks for the input!

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 20:25:44 +0000, Commodore Joe Redcloud© wrote:

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 11:54:31 -0800, Lloyd wrote:

Hi,
Well, after thinking about it for several years, I'm biting the bullet
and buying radar for Far Cove. I just want a Simple one that will tell me
if a freighter is bearing down on me 2 miles away in the fog. So I'm
getting the JRC 1000 - Steveston Marine has it for $1200.

This weekend, I'm just gonna duct-tape(?) the antenna to the dodger or
something, but I'd appreciate suggestions on where to mount on a 36ft
sailboat. Mast? Or separate mast on the stern? Or should I get a "radar
arch" and mount my VHF antenna, GPS antenna, radar, and solar panels on it?

Also, where should I mount the display? I steer Far Cove from all over
the cockpit, rarely from behind the wheel, so a pedastal mount may not be
the best (maybe OK if it swivels...). And I'd have to remove it when I'm
leaving the boat. Or maybe under the dodger?

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36
http://www.bcboatnet.org/

The Furuno 1623 is twice the radar for about the same price. Just the
better display alone is enough to put them miles apart. The antenna is
a little better too.

Maybe true (I do like my Furuno GPS31 GPS), but I need it for this weekend
and Steveston's has a JRC in stock...

As far as temporarily mounting the unit on your dodger... DON'T! The
antenna needs to be mounted high enough that it's beam will not hit you
unless you are at least 8-10 feet away. Putting it on the dodger means
it will be burning what's left of your eyes to a crisp. Just forget it!
Wait until you have it properly mounted.

I was thinking of all the little hardtop powerboats I see with the
antenna on the roof. Guess they don't run the unit unless they're in the
cabin.
How about a PVC pipe attached to the stern rail with a plywood plate on
the top? Just long enough to get it well overhead. (I have to get it
installed tonight)


I have a tiller, so I mounted the display on a 1 foot square of
Starboard that I can plunk down on the seat beside me.

Sounds like my "sounderbox": I have a plastic box that has a sounder and
GPS, (with rechargable batteries and solar cells on the top in the
future...) that I use in my small boats. Everything I need close at hand...

You also want the
display close at all times because you will be needing to make
adjustments on a continual basis. I have the cables coming up from
inside a cockpit locker. I can move the display wherever I want it by
feeding out more cable from the locker. When not in use, the display
goes into the locked locker. I made a bracket that it slides into on the
wall of the locker.

Interesting arrangement. Do you have holes in your locker where the cables
come out?

I deal with
fog frequently, and I also sail in heavy rain (Hey, if you don't like
water, you really should find another hobby!) and at night.

Hey, I sail the West Coast - donno how to sail if its not raining!

I practice often during good visibility. I can sail into my harbor, find
the channel, make the tight 90 degree turn between the two close rocks
and make my way up the river to my slip on instruments only.

I kinda do the opposite: try to avoid depending on electronics. (ie I use
the GPS, laptop charts, etc. but still rely on compass and paper charts)

Lloyd Sumpter
http://www.bcboatnet.org