Shrink wrap over radome

[GeoDosch]

I've been having my 340 Sea Ray shrink wrapped for years. One spring when I removed the wrap I found that the radome for the Raytheon was cracked from the pressure of the shrink wrap. It was an older unit, and had been acting-up. It was also old enough that finding a replacement radome cover wasn't happening.

So I went ahead and replaced it. But not wanting to have my new unit suffer the same fate, I built a wooden box that sits on the radar arch and takes the weight of the shrink wrap. I've been using "the box" for years, and it works well, but it is one more job to do in fall, and again in spring.

My question is, am I being overly paranoid about this? I've never heard about shrink wrapping damaging radomes despite the huge number of boats that are wrapped & have radar. Or does it happen, but I just don't hear about those.

 

[alldodge]

My question is, am I being overly paranoid about this? I've never heard about shrink wrapping damaging radomes despite the huge number of boats that are wrapped & have radar. Or does it happen, but I just don't hear about those.

I have not heard about it either but if box makes sure it doesn't happen I see no issues, and great idea

 

[Scott Danforth]

Use the box. Plastic cracks

 

[GeoDosch]

Thanks for the input! I decided to go ahead and use it, so I'm not sorry in the Spring.

 

[Grub54891]

Around here the shrink wrappers put a styrofoam block next to/or on both sides of the radar or other devices that may get damaged. When unwrapping in the spring we save the blocks for the wrappers to re-use the next time. I suppose that they got blamed for damages in the past and this keeps them from being liable for things like that.