Reworking hardtop electronics

[Four Suns]

OK... This is a project I've been wanting to do for some time and I've finally got everything designed and ordered. The electronics on the top of my 480 where starting to look like a nightmare and had performance issues. The dude who designed putting a big KVH dome in front of the open array radar must have been out in the Florida sun too long as I've always had this blind spot in front of the boat on the radar.... sometimes in gives me a big blob on the screen and sometimes I just don't see anything... very nice... but I can track helicopters. On top of that, the factory anchor light has always looked a little odd with this bent forward tube thing with a 49 cent looking light on top.... and I need to put more antennas up.. never have enough antennas. I also wanted to put some new 16' antennas and standoffs on for the VHF and SSB, a 4' cell, a 4' WiFi, 4' spare VHF, and XM

I just contracted a custom designed mast to be built with some spreaders (wings) on it. I made a wood jig/template and fit it to the current radar mount and hard top for the measurements. The total height of this thing is about the same as the current anchor light. The XM antenna will have to be put on an extension to clear the dome... and I'm using 4' white fiberglass antennas.

I also did a little work in photoshop to see how it will look when the "new stuff" is all consolidated.... we'll see how this all goes... Never too many antennas... you will all have antenna envy.

 

[JC3]

FourSuns, That really cleaned up the look. That is some very nice work. :thumbsup: JC
Are you using xm-weather?

 

[Four Suns]

yes to the XM weather... Is there another reason to buy XM?

 

[Dave S]

That's going to be real nice. :thumbsup:

 

[osd9]

you will all have antenna envy.

Oh NO!!!!!.......One more thing to worry about........ :smt089

 

[RobF300]

I have envy for your high tech drawing and photo shop skills, nice work!

I take it you already have a box under the hard top for your electronics right?

 

[Sea Gull]

This looks really great! A few things to consider: First is that you are adding significant height - have you thought about adding a hinge to the mast, or is height not an issue where you do your boating? Second, it may just be the drawing, but the masthead light looks to be a single all-around. You will need both a steaming light and anchor light. Third thing to think about would be the ability to fly a flag from the starboard horizontal member. This is the preferred location for a courtesy (or quarantine) flag if you are traveling to the Bahamas, Canada, etc.

 

[Four Suns]

I do have an electronics box on the hardtop. Also, I don't worry about the height. Heck.. I have the short boat in town with all the tuna towers I see around here.

I do, however, want to find a higher quality light that can do the 225 degrees of forward light while running and then cover the back 135 degrees at anchor. That's what the current light does but it just looks cheap.

Also... the technical drawing is from the company and not me. I botched up the photoshop pictures though...

 

[Skip]

Gary,
Nice, nice nice. I broached the subject with the Admiral about a KVH installation so I can watch Football in the fall wherever we are. [Insert female look of incredulity here] oh well. 3 bots in 3 years, I guess she has a right to be a little leery of my boating plans.

SKip

 

[Four Suns]

Oh boy!! A truck pulled up to the house today and dropped off a big wood crate... and in was my custom mast!!

I think it looks better in the foyer than my wife's darn table..

 

[JC3]

Its a shame you have to take that work of art out of the living room. :grin: JC

 

[Petep]

Gary, Heck put that beautiful new mast right on the table in the foyer- See how that "artwork" goes over- My wife thinks it's odd that the new stainless steel anchor just had to go in the dining room bay window for last winter- Try it, and get back to us w/the results! Nice knowing ya.

 

[Four Suns]

Thought I would put a picture here of the top of the boat. I took these pictures with my cell camera so they pretty much stink but the install looks very good and is very solid and it all works. Blind spot in the radar is gone and all the antennas (GPS, XM, Airmar) are out of the radar beam. Mission accomplished. I am not a geek.

 

[osd9]

Gary....Looks great.... :thumbsup: .....you can probably talk to my Uncle Martin with those antennas... :grin:

 

[Four Suns]

If I can't talk to him, I'm sure I can hack into his Wi-Fi network from 2 miles away. :grin: