When I started this re-fit, I knew that either the old aluminum radar pole would need to be totally refinished or replaced. It was 1/4" wall aluminum pipe, and while super strong, I thought it was too heavy. Further, it is mounted on the port side of the transom, and the port side is the heavy side on an Olson, so having any added weight there is a bad thing. And no, a starboard side mounting is out due to conflicts with other structure inside.
The old pole weighed 35 #, and then there is the radar dome assembly at another 15 #, or thereabouts. Another pound or three for the stern light and chocked-in-place boat hook.... (sigh)
The new pole is carbon fiber and weights a lot less. We glassed a piece of quarter inch G10 to the top to mount the radar dome, with an extended 'leg' for mounting the GPS antenna. The part where it fastens to the sloped stern was molded in place out of layers of glass, to account for the slight angle to the side as well as the transom slope.
The original all-welded aluminum assembly was very well built and the top plate was well designed to fit the original 1988 Apelco radar dome, and it later accepted a Furnuo dome by drilling more holes, and then more recently had to have an adapter plate stacked on top for our Lowrance radar dome. BTW, we really like the 'digital' radar technology, but that old post was salt-pitted and rough looking.
I found out that sanding it down enough to apply a multi-layer paint job was going add many hundreds of $ and a lot of labor to the project, and it would still be way too heavy.
I had been wanting to change to ultra light carbon fiber for many years, and the price has been slowly coming down over time.
Shipping was $165. and the pole itself was $720.
3 inch ID, and 3.25 inch OD.
Price also depends on your choice of wall thickness. I paid a little more to have more thickness than the minimum, since we were not trying to save the "last once". It is remotely possible that a docking accident might stress it, perhaps.
The new CF Pole weighs about 12#, complete. Quite amazing when you pick it up after lifting the old aluminum pole.
This reduces port side weight, and also reduces some weight in the stern. Oh well.... the new furnace in the port side lazaretto will put a little weight right back again... still a net gain.
We kept the original short FRP tube inside, glassed to the hull bottom, that the radar post drops (sockets) into.
I should note that I have been sanding the new post after two applications of light primer/filler. That surface weave is not quite as smooth as you might think. All of the 'shine' has to be sanded off for new finish to stick, anyway.
I have photos of both poles, and different views of the old pole, for comparison.
Pictures of the aluminum post in place in a prior blog entry here= https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/ubs/the-swim-ladder-project.158/
Better picture here: https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/media/o-34-aug-14.15571/
The old pole weighed 35 #, and then there is the radar dome assembly at another 15 #, or thereabouts. Another pound or three for the stern light and chocked-in-place boat hook.... (sigh)
The new pole is carbon fiber and weights a lot less. We glassed a piece of quarter inch G10 to the top to mount the radar dome, with an extended 'leg' for mounting the GPS antenna. The part where it fastens to the sloped stern was molded in place out of layers of glass, to account for the slight angle to the side as well as the transom slope.
The original all-welded aluminum assembly was very well built and the top plate was well designed to fit the original 1988 Apelco radar dome, and it later accepted a Furnuo dome by drilling more holes, and then more recently had to have an adapter plate stacked on top for our Lowrance radar dome. BTW, we really like the 'digital' radar technology, but that old post was salt-pitted and rough looking.
I found out that sanding it down enough to apply a multi-layer paint job was going add many hundreds of $ and a lot of labor to the project, and it would still be way too heavy.
I had been wanting to change to ultra light carbon fiber for many years, and the price has been slowly coming down over time.
Shipping was $165. and the pole itself was $720.
3 inch ID, and 3.25 inch OD.
Price also depends on your choice of wall thickness. I paid a little more to have more thickness than the minimum, since we were not trying to save the "last once". It is remotely possible that a docking accident might stress it, perhaps.
The new CF Pole weighs about 12#, complete. Quite amazing when you pick it up after lifting the old aluminum pole.
This reduces port side weight, and also reduces some weight in the stern. Oh well.... the new furnace in the port side lazaretto will put a little weight right back again... still a net gain.
We kept the original short FRP tube inside, glassed to the hull bottom, that the radar post drops (sockets) into.
I should note that I have been sanding the new post after two applications of light primer/filler. That surface weave is not quite as smooth as you might think. All of the 'shine' has to be sanded off for new finish to stick, anyway.
I have photos of both poles, and different views of the old pole, for comparison.
Pictures of the aluminum post in place in a prior blog entry here= https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/ubs/the-swim-ladder-project.158/
Better picture here: https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/media/o-34-aug-14.15571/
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Alum & finished Carbon poles .JPG -
Three Layers of Alum Plate.jpg -
Stern Pole.jpg -
Poles, old&new bases.JPG -
Poles, hull plates.JPG -
Pole top detailed.jpg -
Radar post new, top plate.jpg
