Raydome Installation

[Stromeister]

I am planning the installation of a 2kW 18" Raydome scanner this weekend on my 330 Sundancer. I have purchased a 5" pedestal to mount the dome to the radar arch and was curious what other folks have used to reinforce the pedestal to the underside of the arch itself. Seems like the arch is made of a very thin metal (aluminum?) and may not be able to handle the weight of the pedestal and the Raydome without adding reinforcement. Suggestions? :smt100

 

[Four Suns]

I just went through this on my hardtop. I added an electronics mast that holds the 4kw radar, KVH dome, and 4 antennas. The radar unit was actually heavier than the mast.

The installation of the factory radar was backed by 4 washers but the hard top was beefed up in the area. For the new mast, the footprint was still in the beefed up area but I had an aluminum backing plate made that was the same footprint as the base of the mast and 8 bolts around the edge. Washers were not going to cut it IMO. Your install may work fine with big washers... I also have nylon bushings in the bolt holes so the steel bolts don't touch the powder coated aluminum. The top and backing plate are also bedded in with silicon.

So... your choices are a bigger backing plate or just use big washers... Or just have your wife hold the radar over her head while underway.