Radar tower removal.

[MikeSchinlaub]

So a marina owner called my boss for some extra hands. He has a guy that needs a radar tower removed. All I know about the boat is that it is a large twin engine Crestliner that had been on an ocean. The plan is to do this Saturday if he gets approval for the estimate.

I've taken off wakeboard towers before, but not radar. Is there anything specific to the radar I should know? We're expecting the mounting bolts, wiring for speakers, lights, antenna, and radar. He said it doesn't fold.

Sounds like it's pretty big. I overheard him mention renting a lift or something to take it off.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Got a pic?

If you pulled a tow hower, you pulled a similar structure

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Sorry, no pics. I won't have any more info until I see it, if the customer agrees to the price. Hopefully I'll find out tomorrow.

 

[mr 88]

"A large twin engine crestliner that's been on the ocean" . So a 25' Crestliner with twins hanging on it that fished out of Daytona Beach is what we're talking about with that description. Without a picture or a specific manufacturer and model it's hard to say . I've found the wiring that has to be pulled through the arch the most time consuming . Take pictures if you're putting it back on at some point .

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

I've found the wiring that has to be pulled through the arch the most time consuming . Take pictures if you're putting it back on at some point .

Is it not done with sealed plugs hanging under the mounting plates? I suppose antennas are usually a solid wire to the radio.

As far as I know, the tower is intended to be shipped somewhere else. I guess it's being sold.

 

[southkogs]

Just need an appropriate bridge. Tower should come right off.

 

[alldodge]

Normally there are access covers either directly below or above where the arch attaches.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Is it not done with sealed plugs hanging under the mounting plates? I suppose antennas are usually a solid wire to the radio.

dont give tower manufacturers that much credit. they are slapped-together assemblies that leave the factory with sharp edges in the drilled holes and open windows in castings for wire routing. iff and I mean iff, the tower manufacturer was any good, they may have left some weld wire in the wire chase to help pull wires thru.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

dont give tower manufacturers that much credit.

The wakeboard ones I've worked on usually have those plugs. There was one on a Malibu that didn't, and yhe supervisor had to take the speakers apart to get the wiring out.

Monster towers suck though, cheap crap.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Malibu towers used to be made by Gere Marie. Monster Towers are made off-shore.

 

[tphoyt]

dont give tower manufacturers that much credit. they are slapped-together assemblies that leave the factory with sharp edges in the drilled holes and open windows in castings for wire routing. iff and I mean iff, the tower manufacturer was any good, they may have left some weld wire in the wire chase to help pull wires thru.

I worked for an electrician for awhile and would always leave 1 if not 2 extra strings in the conduit. He always gave me crap for wasting time on it. Several years later he reached out and thanked me for saving him time on the jobs he had gone back to to add things.

 

[dingbat]

The worst part is pulling the cable(s) through the structure with a connector on the end.

Had a heck of a time pulling the cables through the hardtop uprights on mine. In hindsight, may have been easier to remove and reinstall the connector once the cable where pulled

 

[cyclops222]

Not all companies waste money on a great take apart system.
Could be a bunch of wires screwed into a terminal strip.
Oh well.