Portable radio

All U Get

All U Get

.
Oct 2, 2008
3,809
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Hi all,

We have a West Marine VHF 250 portable radio that has a antenna that is in need of repair. (The covering has been crumbling off) I coated it with liquid tape and used Rescue Tape to keep it from falling off. West Marine gave me the info for Uniden America Corp in Texas to do the repair. I've tried several of their 800 numbers but can't get through to them. Does anyone know if they are still servicing West Marine brand radios?

All U Get
 
C

Chief RA

.
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Does it still work well? If so, clean and dip it into the plastic sealer "Flex Seal" like they advertise on TV and its ready to go again!
Chief
 
C

Capt jgw

.
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
The antenna is just a spring, and the rubber covering is only to make it look nice. Dip it, wrap it with tape, whatever you want, it will be fine. BTW, I like the Flexseal idea. Never tried the stuff but it looks interesting. I refuse to buy anything off those TV ads, but I think they have it at Menards. Gonna have to get some.
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

.
Sep 25, 2008
7,281
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Love Menards. Unfortunately they don't have stores here or in NH.

If you don't like the fixes suggested, a new 'rubber duck' (the conventional term to describe it) antenna can be easily found on the Internet as a direct replacement
 
C

Chief RA

.
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Actually, the wiring wrap is 1 quarter wavelength just below the median wavelength of the entire frequency spectrum the radio can recieve. Chief
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

.
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
There's always a liquid rubber probably available everywhere.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

.
Dec 19, 2006
5,813
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
ACE hardware has flex seal and many other rubber sealing,but if real bad
I have seen replacement ant in I think WM.
Nick
 
All U Get

All U Get

.
Oct 2, 2008
3,809
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
I got a reply from Uniden to send the unit to them. The antenna is not one that can be disconnected, that would be easy, it is part of the radio body. I've been using it with the tape and dip for three years and it is getting a bit more difficult to get a clean signal. Since we had used our dinghy on little day trips in the Bahamas, I just wanted to have a reliable means of communications.

All U Get

IMG_0002.JPG
 
Ken13559

Ken13559

.
Oct 29, 2005
2,359
Hunter Marine 326 303 Singapore
Same thing happened to my vhf250. After clearing away broken plastic/rubber piece i put several layers of heat-shrinkable sleeves over the antenna. The type for wiring work. Different size each time to ensure it shrink tight. Close the tip by heat pressing. Good as new.
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
All U Get said:
I got a reply from Uniden to send the unit to them. The antenna is not one that can be disconnected, that would be easy, it is part of the radio body. I've been using it with the tape and dip for three years and it is getting a bit more difficult to get a clean signal. Since we had used our dinghy on little day trips in the Bahamas, I just wanted to have a reliable means of communications.

All U Get

View attachment 124217
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well don't send them the beer unless they say no charge then send them a six pack.....:D
 
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