I’m the new owner of Sugar Blues, formerly Stormcat, a Wiggers 33. I want to install a radar as we will be cruising mainly Downeast. I will use a stern mounted pole. As long as the height is above the boom I hear there is no problem with main sheet wraps. Has anyone installed a radar in this manner on a 33? Any suggestions/photos would be great.
I have asked earlier about installing a new dining table or adapting the “cocktail” table originally built in, for whatever reason. I will wait to deal with this until I sail her home to Maine from St. Augustine this May.
I also want to install an anchor windlass, but it seems that the mast must be pulled to easily mount a below-deck motor. I’m leaning toward a Lewmar Pro Series 1000 that is an easier mount, requires less work to mount and does not weaken a desk the way an access hole would. The isn’t much room to do anything on the very short foredeck, so it’s larger size should not present any problems. Thoughts? I will be using 50’ of 5/16G40 chain and 200’ of 5/8 8-plait for a rode.
When I head south agin I will have to look at the reefing system more closely, as I intend to go offshore in 250-350 mile jumps, just to speed things along. I’ve spent enough time in the Intracoastal. The working sail is set up for two reefs.
Nick Burnett
33W Sugar Blues
Home port-to-be, Portland, Maine
207-272-4956
Several members has installed an anchor windless without removing the mast by putting an access panel nearby in the foredeck for access.
If you do come inside due to weather and are near Oriental, contact me and i can normally get you a free slip for the night.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Thanks Joe. I will be removing the mast next fall, so I cooled wait. I still am not thrilled by the access panel, and the thought that the foredeck would be weakened. Oriental is a nice town!
Dear Nick, I unintentionally gybed my 36 Nonsuch on a gusty day last summer… fortunately no broken necks and the binnacle was undamaged. If I had a stern mounted radar I wonder if it would have survived?!! Should be fine as long as you ever gybe… I don’t think I’ve ever seen a stern mounted radar on a Nonsuch…Good Luck
John Jenkins
Captain Haddock
LYC, Lunenburg
Nonsuch 36 # 4
I have a radar pole supported by the swim platform, stern rail and two struts extending from the top of the cockpit coaming up to about 4’ above the coaming .
The pole is fabricated from 2" aluminum electrical conduit. I had a welder add some aluminum blocks near the top of the pole so that I could fasten a gimbaled radar mount. The pole also supports a GPS antenna, a hailing speaker and a flag halyard.
At the swim platform there is a socket flange bolted to the platform. This is a commercially available railing fitting. The socket and pole are drilled for a 3/8" clevis pin to secure the pole in the socket.
At the stern rail there is a bracket that I made. The bracket spaces the pole out an appropriate distance so the pole is plumb.
On top of the coaming I bolted two rail fitting base plates for two struts that attach to the pole with clamps I purchased from Garhauer.
I did bend the pole early in its life during an accidental jibe. At that time the cables for the radar and GPS antenna were tied to the exterior of the pole. The cables produced enough friction so that the sheet did not easily unwrap from the pole as the boom continued around. The fix was to cut out the bent section and add a new piece with threaded pipe couplings top and bottom of the new section. I also ran the cables up inside the pole. We have had a few less than controlled jibes since (mostly at racing marks). The sheet appears to slip off easily now.
In IMG_6327 you can see the bracket on the stern rail. If you zoom in you can see some detail on all of the 4 photos.
This setup is aft of the stern rail. If you do not have a swim platform, you will need to deck step the pole inside the stern rail.
The boat also has a vertical windlass.
I can provide more detailed photos in a couple of weeks if you desire.
We can host you in Niantic (Eastern Long Island Sound between the CT River and New London) on your way through if that makes sense.
One more photo. In this photo the pole is in a lowered position to fit under a travellift cross bar. If you zoom in you can see the two Garhauer supplied clamps that attach the top of the struts to the pole. You can also see a better view of the bracket on the stern rail. The lashing to the left of the pole is to reinforce the stern rail so that the rail is capable of supporting davits with a dinghy and outboard. This lashing is not required because of the pole.
The rail bracket is fabricated from 16 GA stainless steel sheet metal. Two pieces in ell shape This is fastened to the stern rail with two u-bolts. There is an HDPE block bolted inside the stainless steel. A semi circle was cut from this with a hole saw to receive the pole. The pole is captured in this divit by one half of a 2" stainless steel plumbing riser clamp. The riser clamp is held in place by two 1/2" carriage bolts with threaded end facing aft.
