Does anyone know if the original equipment VHF antenna mounts on the top of the masthead with the coax and connector protected, or does it mount on the side of the mast? I would prefer an antenna that mounts on top of the masthead. Where could I buy one? I have a Catalina 320.
VHF Antenna installation
- Thread starter Terrel01
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,203
Unlike automakers with a radio in every car, boat builders give you a sailboat. Radios are dealer options or owner installs. Your OEM could be on the mast or on a pole at the stern.
Attached to the side of the mast was the easiest method. A bracket screwed onto the mast, a hole drilled through the thin aluminum, some amalgamating tape wrapped around the wires & connections your done.
Drilling a hole through the cast aluminum mast head was more difficult and presented a failure point (antenna break’s how you going to fix it, short of dropping the mast).
There is nothing preventing an owner from doing his own thing.
Side of the mast on a bracket.
Put a loop in the coax line to reduce water ingress and provide extra wire in case you need to replace the connector some day
Marine stores (Ex West) or online (Ex Amazon) have them for sale. Shakespeare is a top line manufacturer of antennas.
Get the best quality connector you can as corrosion is the enemy..
Note that a 36 inch antenna at the tip top of your mast reduces your bridge clearance height by the same amount....
cheers
Put a loop in the coax line to reduce water ingress and provide extra wire in case you need to replace the connector some day
Marine stores (Ex West) or online (Ex Amazon) have them for sale. Shakespeare is a top line manufacturer of antennas.
Get the best quality connector you can as corrosion is the enemy..
Note that a 36 inch antenna at the tip top of your mast reduces your bridge clearance height by the same amount....
cheers
Can you take a look at it with binoculars or have a friend with a drone take a video?
As others have said, the usual place is on the side of the mast. Is there a particular reason you want it on top of the mast? The extra few inches of height will have a minimal effect on the line of sight transmission.
Good reminder to loop the cable. The connector should not only be high quality, but also the soldered type. Amphenol connectors are the standard. Ask any HAM operator and that would be their advice; Amphenol & soldered.
And self-amalgamating tape around the connector.
Easy VHF Terminations - Marine How To
If You Don't Know How to Solder..... If you really don't know how to solder a VHF PL259 connector there are other options as you'll see below. This one is laughable, except that when this owner needed his VHF it was no joke or laughing matter that it failed to transmit. The previous owner or...
marinehowto.com
Curious how long that PL259 has been there with no protection from water intrusion?
A couple of years ago I replaced the coax in the mast with a low loss coax, new connector, and wrapped it in tape. The improvement in VHF quality was remarkable. Clearer reception over longer distances.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,203
Lost radio connection ........ aerial hub was totally empty when I opened it up. Just a pile of dust.
The base was empty except for the dust. I was told it was properly hit by lighting. Great Lakes so no salt corrosion.
Lightning damage so selective is unimaginable.
corrosion of the loading coil is far more common and likely due to water penetration. how Old?
Don ..... you could be right there. There was a fine crack in the upper part of the coil hub. Lighting sounds so much more cool ..... 
How old?Don ..... you could be right there. There was a fine crack in the upper part of the coil hub. Lighting sounds so much more cool .....