Radar size difference

[Mile2885]

Wow!  My 4G unit arrived in the mail today and I'm amazed at the size difference compared to the old Furuno I pulled off. It's almost making me wonder if I need a backing plate on the under side of my hard top.  The weight difference is very noticable when picking the 4G unit up.

[Salmon King]

Are you talking about the dome or the display?

[Mile2885]

The 4G dome. I'm guessing it's at least double the weight. Looks like a  bucket vs a dog bowl. I had the Furuno mounted on a power tower but it never felt 100% solid. I'm going to fab up a starboard backing plate and see if that helps

[croaker stroker]

16 pounds ?

[Mile2885]

Yes about 16 lbs.  The previous owner mounted it with no backing plate under the HT and just small washers on the underside. I'm thinking that the foam/carpet n the inside are playing a role as well.

[Salmon King]

Don't know about anybody else on here but NOTHING gets mounted to the glass on my boat without some sort of stiff backing. 
Even then I tend to use a extraordinary amount of overkill.  Adds a lot of weight if you add it all up but I know nothing is going to flex, crack the glass, and fall off.

[Mile2885]

Agreed. This is an old pict but you can see the 4 bolts and old radar cable. I'll back it. 

[Mile2885]

Okay, I pulled the 10" scanstrut off the roof today. I found out this doesn't fit the 4G base. Question is do I stick with the 10" base or go 6" to accommodate larger dome?  This is mounted far back on hardtop.

[Markshoreline]

I used backing plates for my 18" Garmin.  They compressed the fuzzy trim but so what? At least the top was supported.

[Mile2885]

I cut a starboard backing plate however, the 10" Scanstrut I had for the Furuno won't line up with 4G dome.  Had to oder a new one, went 10" again.  Guess my old one will be on the classifieds. 

[BestBoats]

You know there's plywood sandwiched between the glass right? Slice through the carpet headliner a bolt with washer or a carriage bolt is a great plenty... the bolts are not going to pull through the top.

[Mile2885]

Finally got it on the boat today. I did ended up using a backing plate just to make sure I wouldn't have problems.  Feels solid. I can't believe the radar. It's pretty amazing with the chart overlay on the HDS9.  Very user friendly. I think I'll be very happy with the new setup!  It doesn't look as bad as I thought it would.     I'll definitely be using the radar more vs the old setup that I didn't know how to use.  

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[BestBoats]

Nice looking setup...I would put something over those exposed nuts and bolts though otherwise someone will end up needing stitches on their head eventually. Overlay is really nice!

[Mile2885]

I thought of that too!  I may reconfigure to tee nuts with thread lock into the starboard so nothing is protruding.  I'm just happy that the units are so user friendly. 

[croaker stroker]

Good idea. Tee nut or insert nut into the Starboard.

Tee nuts come in stainless too.

[Mile2885]

Okay! The WA deluge finally subsided and we got a chance to get out and tinker with the new electrics. I like the setup! Nice having  everything networked.  I found barrel nuts for a new tear-free radar pedistal backing plate. Here's the final layout. Glad I went with a 9" screen for radar. I can flop the radar to the 7 as well but I'm pleased with the final product.

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[Threeweight]

I would just swap them out for acorn nuts.  Much prettier, and you can use some stacked washers on the bracket side up top if your bolts are too long.



Other option (assuming those are 1/4" or 5/16" bolts), switch them to big machine screws and put the screw side down, with a finish washer to dress it up, then the nut up top on the bracket.  These are anodized aluminum, but you get the idea.

[Mile2885]

Here is the new tear free version.  I'm happy with how sturdy the unit is now. These are the 5/16 -18 barrel nuts.

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[Mile2885]

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