Newbie Needs HELP !

[Greg4cocokai]

First, Hello to all on CF. I recently joined and cannot keep from spending hours here! I'm new to Cf, but not new to sailing and cruising. I've found LOTS of useful info and hope I've helped a little with other peoples problems.

My problem:
Half way thru our current 5 yr cruise our radar (Furuno Navnet 1833c) has decided it only wants to work when it wants to!.. Underway, It always comes on, but after a while the echo/return gets segmented and shortly thereafter goes to a blank screen. I first thought it was water getting into the cables during squalls, NO. I've been up the mast twice to tighten/check the set screws on the motor/gears, NO. It's gear driven, mo belt. Now one person says it's a grounding problem and my elec. guru in the states says it is the motor, something about how it syncronizes the signal. I'm in a marina now (I avoid at all costs!) and have had the unit on for 48 hrs and all is fine. As soon as I head out it will quit!!!

Any help will be surely appreciated.

Cheers to all, Greg
Townesville, Aus.
Thailand by Dec.

[Greg4cocokai]

Sorry if I put my question in the wrong place. I will post it in the appropriate place. Cheers, Greg

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
I hope you can get it sorted out. There might be some techies here that can help.
kind regards,

[FSMike]

Greg -
I find it interesting that the radar works in the marina but not under way. What's the difference? Movement. Sounds like it could indeed be some sort of ground problem, loose or damaged connection. Does it work when you're moving under power without sails up? In other words not heeling?
Mike

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum Greg

Definiely sounds like something loose, finding it will be time consuming..

[Greg4cocokai]

Thanks for the responses. My techy in Ca. was pretty sure It's something in the motor sending a bad sync back to the display! I'll be installing the new motor tomorrow but won't be sure about it til we head up to Cairns in a couple weeks. If not the motor, it must be in the cabling even though there doesn't seem to be a connection anywhere between the raydome and display. Not even at the base of the mast!

[barnakiel]

Hi,

I would start by removing the cable - check connectors at both ends, check the cable, then clean everything, plug in firmly, and secure. Try out again.

If there is anybody around with a compatible unit - swap the units, then do the bumpy ride test.

This may help to decide which part of the installation goes pop.

I have seen a couple of radars malfunction because of lose/dirty/chafed cables/connections.

b.