Adding radar to Fisherman 222

[GWFM222]

I am adding radar to my 2005 Fisherman 222. Looking for any input regarding mounting dome to the t-top and if the wiring in the electronic box fuse panel can handle the added load of the radar dome and chart plotter.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Do you have a t-top with fabric, or hard panel?
On a sturdy hard panel t-top you can bolt it in the panel, if fabric you need a stable base what may be already there.
You would need to make holes in the fabric what is suboptimal, find a way to avoid long term ripping there.
You may have build a kind of sturdy car roof bars attached to the aluminum tubes as base for the dome.

Dome radars don't use that much power as in earlier times, i don't expect that it will blow the main fuse for the fuse panel.
However you may connect the power cable directly to the +12V pole on the fuse panel or make a dedicated power line after house battery switch for the radar.
Chris

 

[GWFM222]

Do you have a t-top with fabric, or hard panel?
On a sturdy hard panel t-top you can bolt it in the panel, if fabric you need a stable base what may be already there.
You would need to make holes in the fabric what is suboptimal, find a way to avoid long term ripping there.
You may have build a kind of sturdy car roof bars attached to the aluminum tubes as base for the dome.

Dome radars don't use that much power as in earlier times, i don't expect that it will blow the main fuse for the fuse panel.
However you may connect the power cable directly to the +12V pole on the fuse panel or make a dedicated power line after house battery switch for the radar.
Chris

Thanks Chris. It is a soft top and agree make as few holes as possible. The fabric is pretty tough but heating up a punch and sliding through the hole after drilling melts the fabric to stop the fraying. Luckily Grady (not surprising) has an aluminum 4” wide by 1” thick bar running the keel line to help with the mounting. My plan is to utilize some starboard to raise the dome for clearance versus a bigger aluminum mount. Not sure if I am overthinking this or not as I have seen a lot direct mounted to both fabric and hard tops.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

The Stamoid kind of tarp on my Venture 34 tower was sandwiched between two starboard sheets where the openarray radar was to reduce fraying and that held for 20 years.
Your fabric is most likely Sunbrella or a similar fabric and it is tough and resistant, but i would do the same, between two plates with rounded edges.
Chris