targa bars

[northerncat]

sre these still cool on cats or was this just a bit of a fad, i rather liked them but havent seen them on many new cats lately. i was thinking of putting one of these on my cat but dont want to if they are going out of fashion
sean

[Sunspot Baby]

Don't be a slave to fashion. It's your boat. Do it your way.

They give you a place to mount antennae, solar panels, and I even saw a Leopard with the dinghy davit/hoist integrated.

For what its worth, I think they look cool as well.

George

[Talbot]

I am personally in favour of any sort of bar!

[GordMay]

It's a "Targa Bar" when it's on a Porsche - but, on a boat it's a "Radar Arch".
Yes, they're still popular, though usually built of pipe.

[gosstyla]

On cats, especially South African, they are called a Targa and have been for years.

I agree with Gord, that they are usually built of "pipe" but probably not as he meant. Mine's primary structural component is PVC pipe but covered so it looks like those on:
Admirals
Leopards
St Francis
etc.

Among other things they are also nice for supporting the aft end of a hard bimini.

[RandyAbernethy]

Malo's have what they call a targa arch (their words), a bit forward of what you'd typically call a radar arch.

[RandyAbernethy]

Rick: I think you missed the most important thing they put on an arch, the traveler. Cats with a targa arch have great access to the transom and one less thing in the cockpit to endanger inexperienced crew.

Sean: I think the arch trend is gaining momentum rather than losing it, especially if you generalize it to include hard top biminis (just a really wide arch right?). Even new Lagoons have the traveler up on the hard top.

[delmarrey]

I considered one on my mono but my boom is too low as it is. 6'6""

I know I could cut a hole in my cockpit to stand in........><)))º>

[delmarrey]

Sailboats come back up when they rollover/blowdown. That's why a sailboat is the boat of choice when going offshore. There have been cases when the sailboat lost their keel but I would avoid that manufacturer like the plegue.

It's also the reason for deck stepped masts. If it breaks off in a rollover something can usually be put up to make headway.................._/)

[northerncat]

i was more thinking of the composite kind of targa bar and yes i was thinking of placing my solar panels on it hanging my dinghy and bbq from it
sean

[RandyAbernethy]

Rick? you, a moderator, posting in jest? ... never. Now let me just switch back to that dog's life thread...

We need to be nice to Rick. That dog's life thread is gonna get him keel hauled
As for the radar arches or whatever you want to call them, I like them. I intend to have one built for the trimaran. Who cares about fashoin. Function over form is always the best policy. Getting the solar panels, off the taff reil is the way to go. It will also bring some weight down out of the rigging such as the radome and the antennas.

[S/V Elusive]

Damn Rick - NEVER??!!?? wow ... I WOULD throw stones... but you power boaters just zig and zag any ole which way and go faster than I can throw.

[Vasco]

I put an arch on "Breathless". Works a lot better than davits and you can put all sorts of stuff on it.

[Tropic Cat]

I think they look awesum on a Cat and am strugging to figure out how to add one to mine. Here's a photo of a great looking one.

Rick in Florida