Radar tower lean, aft vs fwd and radar advice

[MRWood]

Looks like a great buy! Nice find.

I believe AIS receive from your radio tied into your chartplotter is a key piece of safety equipment, anywhere on the coast. I should and do plan to upgrade to full AIS in the future too but the old boat budget is always shot to hell with keeping my existing boat afloat!

You can do the ais radio or there’s a stand alone device that hooks into your system to show the ais targets on your chartplotter.

 

[MRWood]

Here’s my radar tower. Might be a dumb question but do you think it’s aluminum, I’m thinking it is. If so what would be the best way to repaint the peeled areas.
If I switched it around to fwd lean I’m guessing I couldn’t reuse the holes for the radar as the dome would need to be towards the front of the mounting platform. Looks like lots of holes in that area already from former owner for I don’t know what. Not sure how to rectify those issues. Any ideas?

 

[InterMechanico]

In fog I run my main screen as radar, not worried about engine info as I am focused on what’s ahead of me. My second screen is gps as I find I am always turning right for some reason.
Having just radar to focus on targets on one screen saved me a collision this year as the targets are small and focusing on their movements is critical. Was 10 miles off shore and saw a target moving and getting close. I stopped and a trophy screamed by in the fog. He did not have radar.

I run a 9” as my main in dash screen. Normally for engine data while running and a second 12” for gps with just depths showing. Or split when looking for structure

Haha yes for me in the fog there’s the ever present pull towards Nanaimo.

 

[seachicken]

Here’s my radar tower. Might be a dumb question but do you think it’s aluminum, I’m thinking it is. If so what would be the best way to repaint the peeled areas.
If I switched it around to fwd lean I’m guessing I couldn’t reuse the holes for the radar as the dome would need to be towards the front of the mounting platform. Looks like lots of holes in that area already from former owner for I don’t know what. Not sure how to rectify those issues. Any ideas?

Definitely looks aluminum. Unfortunately sandblasting and re-powder coat. Holes can be filled with weld after sandblasting.