Crack in radar dome

AGENT 37

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
319
I bought a boat with some old electronics (1992 bayrunner)

It has an IMPULSE Loran/fish-finder unit, the fish finder part works.... GPS is the way the world gets around now and I have never worked with LORAN. I don't even know the status of the LORAN network now.

All right... I'm a military aircraft electrician and we aren't permitted to to make any composite repairs to our radomes, if there is a defect we replace them

there is an old 16 mile APELCO radar that actually works pretty well but it has a crack in the dome. Whats the best way to repair it with the least effect on picture? I don't want it to stop working because of water intrusion but it has been sitting out in the rain for a little while.

Does anybody know when the Apelco name went away?
 

HyperFox

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Dec 31, 2007
Messages
78
Re: Crack in radar dome

Im an MSE op for the Canadian Armed forces. Greetings.

If the dome is cracked, the RF will resonate witht he crack, and in that area, there will always be interference, or a blip on image.

As well depending on the power output, the crack could cause the RF to refract at a close range and provide an invalid signal (green screen).

However should it work and your just looking to weatherproof it, I would suggest any adhesive with no metal properties like certain epoxy's.

All else fails, I have seen gun tape work on a GBRS on a LAV2/Coyote.

Best of luck getting thay radar to work!

IIRC Apelco was bought out by Raytheon in the late 50's... I believe they are known as Raymarine Now.
 
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