Do Euro Boat Designers Like Fried Brains

Its all about the looks and style... a low profile radar arch makes the profile of the boat look sleeker, hence faster...

This is why some yachts install their radar raised on a stainless steel or fiberglass support over the arch to make it higher.

Example

Of course it is to get a lower arch design, but I also think that we have an inside steering position on all flybridge boats and this is where you normally drive when using the radar.

It's not so much fried brains that I'd be worried about were I to find myself that close to a radar. I remember once when I was a teen I was visiting an airshow and while checking out some very cool attack choppers one of the pilots was explaining some of the equipment to me... when we got to the dome mounted in the nose all he said was "son, if ever you want to have kids of your own one day you'll just steer clear of this".

Very good point Lars. But this is a valid east-west cultural difference. Very rare to see low profile radar arches on US designs.

Kelly Cook

Maybe they have a lot more "old world" style (lower) bridges to pass under.

I agree on that Lionel, the low arch - post combination looks like a kludge to me too.

Kelly

I just cast my eye around the marina that I am in at the moment and noticed that there are numerious U.S. built sportsfishers around the 30 to 40 ft length that have there radars mounted at about the right hieght to fry the drivers n^%s when he is on the flybridge. Same issues different style ????

Regardless of nationality it is poor design. One should also concide satphones and anything else that transmits a powerfull signal.

I don't think radars put out all the much power. The rating may be 4kW or more - but they are pulsed output (probably only transmitting for 1/100th of the time). I don't think they have to be that far away from you to give a field strength significantly less than a cellphone held to your ear.

Though on my euro-boat, the radar is well above my head

Rick

Seem to remember safe distance from a mini B is 2 metres (6 ft) thats to walk through not stand for extended periods.

radiation therapy

I was on a brand new U.S. Navy mine sweeper on monday. The hand set of the sat-phone had a warning label on it. "Stand clear 6 feet of sat-dome while transmitting".

All the Captains I know here on flybridge yachts drive from the flybridge unless there is bad weather (and when there is bad weather the owner usually wants to go home ).

On the older yachts its always funny to see such a nice array of wheelhouse electronics which are rarely used here and the flybridge has just the basics.

Radars can have a vertical angle of about 25 degrees and even be 10kW. No idea if its bad for the health. I think we will learn more about cell phones and other transmitters effect on our health in years to come.

Radiation Therapy

Regarding Gary Hartshorn's comments on the placement of RF emmitting antennas and arrays: If there is truth regarding RF transmissions and frying brains. It appears that Capt Hartshorn has run a lot of European built boats. Thank god for good genes and that he was born with excess brain cells. Gary - I hope the best for you and that all is well. You are one of the best.

I agree to what Techmati wrote...Assuming you are talking about the 80' class and less (because the low radar arch concept is evident mostly in that class) I have to explain you that Euro users drive these boats mostly themselves...ergo, while they are on sundeck radar is off. Even while driving from the sun deck it is pressumable that they don't need radar for that, as they stay out there when the weather is nice (and they boat when the weather is nice). There is no request, so the form doesn't gives way to the function...Quite simple, no?