Shortening Raymarine Radar Cable - The Hull Truth

Tom Kidwell · 12-18-2006, 01:04 PM

Does anyone know of a place near the mid-atlantic region where I can take a 15 meter radar cable and have it shortened? Looks like Raymarine would offer shorter lengths, but I don't think they do. Any help would be appreciated!

TugNut · 12-18-2006, 01:31 PM

Raymarine offers a 5 meter cable. Product Number: E56001

Online Store Price: $185.00
U.S. Dollars

parnine · 12-18-2006, 02:14 PM

speaking for the newer cables that come with the newer units, you can shorten it yourself, you just need to do it at the radar end. And technically you could do it in the middle but the Raymarine tech I spoke with did not recomend this as i can introduce loss/interferance when you re-connect the co-ax.

TunaBomber · 12-18-2006, 09:28 PM

My brother shortened his own and knowingly voided his warranty. This was 4 seasons ago, not sure if raymarine's policy has changed.

sneaks · 12-18-2006, 10:59 PM

I shortened mine to 13 ft. with no problem. Raymarine tech sent me a connector "kit" for the radome end. If you have the proper tools to safely remove the connector pin jacks and reinsert them you don't even need the kit. I suppose had I miswired it and blown the radome it would have "voided the warranty" but properly done (ANY good marine electronics shop can and will do it) they would be hard pressed to say a failure was due to shortening.

Oh, and I didn't even have to readjust the radar.

Tom Kidwell · 12-19-2006, 05:36 PM

Just heard from my dealer with bad news from Raymarine; seems that the 5 meter optional cable is for radars with a Raydome only. Since mine is an open array type, there is no cable available that is shorter than 15 meters. I think it's time I spoke with a Raymarine tech directly. Thanks for the info.

boatdiver · 12-19-2006, 08:20 PM

I just went through this same issue. After speaking with Raymarine directly, I found that the shortest the cables can go is 10ft. In my case is wasn't worth it. If you do want to take out that 5 feet, you can just cut it in the middle and carefully splice each of the wires inside back together. I was told that by going shorter than 10ft, it can mess with the timing of the radar.

Boomerang · 12-22-2006, 12:21 AM

Tom,it seems to me that the open array would make shortening the cable easier because the connector at the scanner is a reuseable type. Like Boatdiver said,you would have to adjust the sweep timing after altering the cable length,which can be done in the adjustments menu.

Tom Kidwell · 12-23-2006, 05:56 PM

10 feet would be fine. The cable that came with the unit is 15 meters (45 feet). DHL brought the new unit last night, and I read through the owner's manual. It actually says: "In the event that the cable needs to be shortened, cut the necessary amount off of the end that connects to the antenna, not the end with the plug". So..... here goes! Thanks folks!