Small Boat Radar

[offline]

I am thinking about replacing the depth finder on our Columbia and am considering the Garmin 740S chartplotter / sounder.

One thing is that the Garmin is radar ready so this leaves me thinking about adding a radome.

We are in South Florida and do primarily coastal cruising so my questions are.

1: Is it worthwhile?
2: Where would we mount the Radome? Mast? Backstay?

[Jimbo2010]

Just mount a 6' pole/mast on the stern.

[goboatingnow]

Despite many such installations. I now firmly beleive that pole mounted radars are too low. ( I know I had one). The vertical beamwidth argument is often used to justify pole installs.

What I find is that in any big seaway just when you could really need it. The pole mounted ones cant see over the waves.

I go for mast mounted.

Dave

[mrohr]

I'm looking for a compact radar unit also;considering installing a removable unit on the spinnaker track on the mast ,so that the dome will store below in warmer waters but be available for a planned trip to Maine. There are strong arguments for avoiding a lot of windage and tophamper on deck and above esp. on a smaller boat like mine. Anybody try this setup?

[Jimbo2010]

I don't think a 28' boat with a mast mount would look appealing, also don't think you need over 3 mile visibility which you can get 6' off the deck.

As far as a big seaway? Being a 28' where are you going? He said coastal.