Radar/spotlight location on hard top

[kmont97]

I have an Edgewater 265 Express. It has a hard top and right now there is a remote controlled spotlight where I would like to install my radar dome. It is located front and center. I unfortunately have to flush mount the radar scanner due to height restrictions. Where can I mount the spotlight so it will not cause interference with the radar. I have a gps antenna located ~3ft. to the right of radar and a vhf antenna 3ft to the left of the radar. I was thinking of mounting the light next to the vhf antenna on the port side. Would this look funny being off center? Where do others mount their spotlights if there are height restrictions and cannot use a radar mount? Also, will the gps antenna being about the same height and being ~3ft to the side of the scanner be a problem? Please advise. Thank you for your help!!!!

[matt_unique]

I have read that you don't want a GPS receiver in the line of fire of radar. Also, the spotlight might be a large enough "reflector" to cause a blind spot on your radar. I would opt for a folding mount so you can elevate your radar above the existing items.

[Birdman]

What radar? A dome, or an array?

Assuming it's a dome, ONLY the top half of the dome is omitting radar. The radar signal goes out at a 20 degree angle (about 10 degrees up and 10 degree's down), which is not much of a angle. So, unless the spotlight and/or GPS is directly in line with the top half of the dome, you have nothing to worry about. You could mount the spotlight right in front of the dome, and it's top should be below the bottom of the array (bottom of the top half of the dome.

They do make 3" and 6" struts also, how limited are you with height?

Lastly, on my last boat I mounted the spotlight on top of my radom, that worked great. I jsut screwed it right to the top of the dome, sealed it good with calcing, and ran the power wire up the back of the dome. Worked fine. check my albual, I probably have an old picture of how I did it.