scuba doo gets a radar and tower

[no excuses]

with the new boat I have been wanting to put radar, radar tower and rocket launchers on it for tuna season. I looked around at several towers but wow the pricce is unreal. So I bought a spool gun, figured out a design and built my own. I already had the bender and the mig welder so I had most of the items I needed. three sticks of 1.25" pipe and a stick of 1.5"pipe for the pole holders, a few pieces of 3/16 flat plate and bar and I was good to go. Well besides a lot of a__ time figuring out the spool gun and settings.

A big thanks to Marie, she did all the cutting, grinding, notching ect ect, and saves me a lot of time.

I started bending



and test fitting

[no excuses]

added a few pole holders

[no excuses]

added the radar mount with a forward tilt of 3-4 degrees, also added the white all around light mount on top.

[Linedog]

Where are you going to run the cable for the radar, anchor light?

[citycatred]

Nice pics on the wall

[airsix]

Nice work. That looks real nice. If you don't mind me asking, what brand bender is that? I've been looking at picking up a Williams Lowbuck, but yours appears to have a very nice degree wheel and the ability to do tighter radius bends.

-Ben

[no excuses]

Where are you going to run the cable for the radar, anchor light?

down through the tubes

[no excuses]

Nice work. That looks real nice. If you don't mind me asking, what brand bender is that? I've been looking at picking up a Williams Lowbuck, but yours appears to have a very nice degree wheel and the ability to do tighter radius bends.

-Ben

JD2 model 3. I built the cart for it so I can roll it around and the tube ges bent vert. instead of horizontel.

[LCF]

Wow, that's a big DIY project -- I'm really impressed. Nice work.

[no excuses]

went with the lowrance LRA-1800 that will work with my current gps/plotter and if I ever buy a HDS unit it will also work with them.


Test fitting with the radar







the tabs are for a pair of lightst for the back deck

[Dusty2]

Wow it almost looks like you knew what you were doin!

Ya think ya got enough pole holders???

Nice work.

What kind of spool gun did you get and how much did they nail you for. I looked at one for my wire feed and they wanted more than I paid for the welder!

[no excuses]

Wow it almost looks like you knew what you were doin!

first project bending pipe ever, well ok maybe not my first rodeo lol . I just hate paying for something I can build.

Ya think ya got enough pole holders???

only 32 counting the net/gaff holders that also hold poles, and the plastic scotty rod holders around the gunnel and transom.

Nice work. thanks

What kind of spool gun did you get and how much did they nail you for. I looked at one for my wire feed and they wanted more than I paid for the welder!

for my miller 175 I bought the miller spoolmate 100 for $250 with the switch so I can just switch leads, bottles and flip the switch and choose mig or spoolgun. Only takes 10-15 min to convert. Miller recommended the spoolmate 3035 on a older machine like mine that goes for around $700, found out I could use the spoolmate 100 so I went that route and saved $$$. Before I bought the 3035 for that $$ I would by a AC/DC tig.

[no excuses]

radar, vhf antena, and anchor light mounted with spare wires also pulled for the deck lights.

[Dusty2]

Yeh, That's what I told the dude when he told me they wanted $749.95 for one to fit mine. I didn't need a whole new machine just a spoolgun!

[Sabre_Rider]

Looks awesome, can't wait for the vacation to start in 2 days. Going to be a blast, try out that new speargun to!

[spatman]

great job, stan! i wish i had welding skills like that and the space for it too!

when you're done with this project, let's talk about building a brewing stand for me. i'll pay you in beer.

[ORDiver]

Nice work Stan! I do think you might need a few more rod holders though. I'll be up soon to pick up "Scuba Doo 1" and give you some cash to help pay for all that.

great job, stan! i wish i had welding skills like that and the space for it too!

when you're done with this project, let's talk about building a brewing stand for me. i'll pay you in beer.

Good luck paying Stan in beer!

[ORDiver]

Nice pics on the wall

They are quite nice. I think at least two decades are covered.

[no excuses]

great job, stan! i wish i had welding skills like that and the space for it too!

when you're done with this project, let's talk about building a brewing stand for me. i'll pay you in beer.

Let me know, I work better for diet Mt. Dew though .

[no excuses]

[quote="ORDiver"]Nice work Stan! I do think you might need a few more rod holders though. I'll be up soon to pick up "Scuba Doo 1" and give you some cash to help pay for all that.

Been thinking about taking it out Tuna fishing and get a lil blood on it since I cannot dive for another month or two .

[spatman]

great job, stan! i wish i had welding skills like that and the space for it too!

when you're done with this project, let's talk about building a brewing stand for me. i'll pay you in beer.

Let me know, I work better for diet Mt. Dew though .

i can't brew diet mt dew, but i sure can run over to costco for it!

i'll get some drawings together and when you're ready, we can talk.

[CaptnJack]

Dang Stan, I should have you make a custom arch for Water Dog. I'd love to have a tiny radar for fall fog, get my VHF antenna and all-around lights up higher, and add some storage space for life jackets.

Mine would have to be only 1 arch since the idea is it would just attach at the transom. What is the biggest size tube you can bend?

I can even pay in Mnt Dew :D

[RoxnDox]

Wow, very nice project work!

One question, though - where are the rocket launchers? Are those in Phase II, or are you putting in stealth technology?

Jim

[no excuses]

great job, stan! i wish i had welding skills like that and the space for it too!

when you're done with this project, let's talk about building a brewing stand for me. i'll pay you in beer.

Let me know, I work better for diet Mt. Dew though .

i can't brew diet mt dew, but i sure can run over to costco for it!

i'll get some drawings together and when you're ready, we can talk.

I will be on vacation to the coast but will get with you when I get back.

[no excuses]

Dang Stan, I should have you make a custom arch for Water Dog. I'd love to have a tiny radar for fall fog, get my VHF antenna and all-around lights up higher, and add some storage space for life jackets.

Mine would have to be only 1 arch since the idea is it would just attach at the transom. What is the biggest size tube you can bend?

I can even pay in Mnt Dew :D

Richard, I have the die for 1.25" pipe (1.625" OD) but they make dies for up to 2" pipe (around 2.5"). Sounds like you would want what I had on the inflatable also. I did not have the radar mount but did have my radio antenna, gps puck and a couple of pole holders on it, although that was out of mild steel.