Radar on the Mast Track??

[bene505]

I've been thinking about the mast track that I have. I could conceivably mount the radar above the deck light and adjust it for the height that I want. And if that height doesn't work (e.g. too high for close-in), I could adjust it until it's about right.

Does anyone ever use the mast track that's intended for spinnaker poles, for mounting their radar?

I would think they are strong enough, considering the forces that spinnakers put on their poles.

Here's a picture showing the mast track right there, but unused.

[AnchorageGuy]

What criteria do you use to determine the right height? Why not make that determination and mount it there? I have installed untold numbers of radar units and have used my own for decades. Never had any reason at all to move it up or down on the mast nor has anyone I have come in contact with requested that ability. But if it is something you have a need to do there is no reason to not. You will need to have a custom mount made to accomplish this and the mount will be the worry and not the track. The forces on the mount and whatever rollers you will need will have to withstand the motion of the mast that high up and the added weight of the scanner.

[donradcliffe]

It would be quite difficult to design and fabricate an adjustable mount. There are some pretty high acceleration loads on the mast mounted radars when you are pounding to weather. I had to replace a pretty beefy fixed radar mount after it fatigued and cracked.

[bene505]

I think one could be made that was beefy, it might have to grab onto the mast track in several places. Anyone hear of one being used?

[AnchorageGuy]

I am still not understanding the need for this in the first place. In 40+ years of boating I can say I have never seen anything like this.

[Paul Elliott]

Don't forget the cable to the radar -- this is usually pretty thick, and on my boat it runs inside the mast in a conduit until it exits through a hole below the spreaders.

Also it seems to me that you would have difficulty securing the radar against side-to-side motion as the boat rolls. The width of the track makes for an extremely narrow mounting base, so the forces due to leverage would be quite large.

[Hampus]

As previously said, there really is no need to mount it in any other way than fixed.