Installing Radar on our Sailing Yacht!

Max Campbell ascends the rig of Elixir to mount a Raymarine Quantum 2 radar dome on the front of the mast. On the sailing channel Untide, Campbell tackles the placement challenge created by the baby stay, steaming light, and existing halyards running down the spar. Positioning the scanner requires careful maneuvering between these fittings before securing the mounting bracket.

Finding adequate clearance is essential before fastening the base plate. As Campbell explains before going aloft, “I’m going to go up the rig now and play around with it and see if I can find the perfect spot to mount it.” Once positioned halfway up the spar, he drills pilot holes directly into the aluminum section and fastens the bracket using pop rivets to ensure a rigid mount for the radome.

Single-Cable Mast Wiring and Wi-Fi Integration

Running wires down a sailboat mast often presents significant logistical hurdles. The Raymarine Quantum 2 radome simplifies this process by transmitting radar data wirelessly to the yacht’s multifunction displays. Explaining the wiring advantages aloft, Campbell notes, “This dome uses Wi-Fi to connect to the rest of the Raymarine system, so we only need one cable, which is the power cable, to go through the inside of the mast, which is great.”

Chasing a single dedicated power line down the conduit avoids crowding the internal halyard passages. Once wired to the onboard DC power supply, the radar system enhances situational awareness for coastal passages and offshore voyaging. The unit enables the crew to identify other boats, detect landfalls, track incoming squalls, spot breaking waves, and fix their navigational position when primary electronic charts or satellite signals encounter interference.

Frequently Asked Questions