I am considering installing a fixed mount VHF radio on my '97 h26. Currently I use a handheld VHF which has been adequate for the coastal sailing we've been doing. Next year though we'd like to venture further out in Lake Michigan. My question: Is installation of a mast antennae difficult or present any special problems? Is there any reasonable way to avoid drilling additional holes in the mast/deck? Is this a d-i-y project or should I have a pro do it? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Do the newer h260's have factory installed cable for antennae installation? It seems kind of short-sighted that Hunter doesn't provide for this on a 26' boat.
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John Revenboer
radio installation
No Hunter does not provide for any type of radio installations on the new 260's but it would be nice if they did. The 3dB antennae is your best choice.
No Hunter does not provide for any type of radio installations on the new 260's but it would be nice if they did. The 3dB antennae is your best choice.
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Mark
Good Place?
We installed a VHF in our 260. We mounted it in the stern box under the seat. You have to lift the seat to use it but it is a lot easier than having to find your way to the cabin if you are sailing alone. We mounted the arial on the stern rail. We spoke to the experts on coverage etc and it was generally agreed that the power loss with the lenght of cable required in going all the way to the top of the mast did not justify it. We have just over three feet of cable so there is hardley any loss. The radio, even on low power, has fantastic range. Regards
We installed a VHF in our 260. We mounted it in the stern box under the seat. You have to lift the seat to use it but it is a lot easier than having to find your way to the cabin if you are sailing alone. We mounted the arial on the stern rail. We spoke to the experts on coverage etc and it was generally agreed that the power loss with the lenght of cable required in going all the way to the top of the mast did not justify it. We have just over three feet of cable so there is hardley any loss. The radio, even on low power, has fantastic range. Regards
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Tom
Radio install
I consider this a fairly easy do it yourself project. In my opinion, the best place for a VHF antenna on a sailboat is at the mast head. The height of the antenna gives you better range. See the link below for mounting ideas. I ran the antenna cable through a PVC pipe glassed in the deck. The radio end of the cable is fed through the pipe to connect directly to the radio. This removes the losses due to through deck connectors. Fair winds... Tom
I consider this a fairly easy do it yourself project. In my opinion, the best place for a VHF antenna on a sailboat is at the mast head. The height of the antenna gives you better range. See the link below for mounting ideas. I ran the antenna cable through a PVC pipe glassed in the deck. The radio end of the cable is fed through the pipe to connect directly to the radio. This removes the losses due to through deck connectors. Fair winds... Tom
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Ken Shubert
VHF Up Top
The VHF Antenna on my H23.5 is a simple wire type up on the mast with a connector at the base of the mast. I just connect an 8' jumper to my handheld in the cockpit, where it's used most of the time. Low-loss cable is necessary and while the 1/2 inch stuff is preferred, mine is the smaller premium cable and works very well. The gain type VHF antennas can actually reduce your range when you heel more than 10 degrees. I've used the simple wire for TV and the 2 meter ham band also. There is a nice gain antenna and Windex combination which helps reduce the clutter on a small boat. Don't forget to keep a second emergency antenna in case of dismasting (shudder) and a spare set of batteries for a handeld is good too. The 5 Watt handheld seems adequate...... if I hear them then they seem to hear me. We sail on lakes in the plains states and find everyone from truckers, surveryors, grocery shoppers and kids playing games on the marine channels --- anyone else having that problem? Ken S/V Wouff Hong
The VHF Antenna on my H23.5 is a simple wire type up on the mast with a connector at the base of the mast. I just connect an 8' jumper to my handheld in the cockpit, where it's used most of the time. Low-loss cable is necessary and while the 1/2 inch stuff is preferred, mine is the smaller premium cable and works very well. The gain type VHF antennas can actually reduce your range when you heel more than 10 degrees. I've used the simple wire for TV and the 2 meter ham band also. There is a nice gain antenna and Windex combination which helps reduce the clutter on a small boat. Don't forget to keep a second emergency antenna in case of dismasting (shudder) and a spare set of batteries for a handeld is good too. The 5 Watt handheld seems adequate...... if I hear them then they seem to hear me. We sail on lakes in the plains states and find everyone from truckers, surveryors, grocery shoppers and kids playing games on the marine channels --- anyone else having that problem? Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Dave Renouf
Drilling the mast, advice...
If you do drill the mast, the best is to use pop rivet to hold the antena braket, since there is a lot of cable in the mast, if you use screws you could damage the cable. If you still beleive the screws are better, drill the holes first in the mast (Watch for the internal cable) then cut the screws to about 1/2-1/4" and make shure you grind the sharp end of the screw to a nive round non abrasive way. dave Fate
If you do drill the mast, the best is to use pop rivet to hold the antena braket, since there is a lot of cable in the mast, if you use screws you could damage the cable. If you still beleive the screws are better, drill the holes first in the mast (Watch for the internal cable) then cut the screws to about 1/2-1/4" and make shure you grind the sharp end of the screw to a nive round non abrasive way. dave Fate
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Bernie
VHF radio on 260
I installed my VHF radio near the top of the teak bulkhead just as you enter the cabin. The face plate is roughly flush with the bulkhead and most of the body of the radio is inside the head near the ceiling - well out of the way. This location makes the radio handy from the cockpit as well as the cabin. The radio is powered from the light in the head. I placed the antenna at the top of the mast using a flat stainless steel strap (similar to Rick Webb's design in the photo archives) at the masthead to hold the added antenna, a spotlight aimed down at the cockpit, the windex and windex light. In order to install the wiring in the mast, I removed the mast head and baseplate. Inside the mast there is a split plastic conduit that holds the wire for the masthead light. I tied a strong string to the masthead wiring and pulled out the original wiring. I then used the string to pull the VHF coax and a new multiconductor cable to supply separate power to the masthead lights, the windex light and cockpit spotlight. I drilled a 3/8 inch hole near the base of the mast and pulled the coax through the mast using a rubber grommet to keep it from chafing. I added a connector for the coax and a connector for the multiconductor 12v wiring. In the ceiling below the mast I put a VHF-AM/FM splitter in the coax circuit so that the antenna not only supports the VHF radio, but also supports my am/fm radio that I have mounted above the galley. I sometimes unplug the AM/FM side of the splitter to connect the antenna to a television. That allows me to receive a few of the local TV stations through the VHF antenna. The most difficult part was snaking the coax and wiring within the cabin overhead. One caution: two antennas cannot be within three feet of each other horizontally. So this essentially limits you to one antenna at the top of the mast. Thus I had to mount my cell phone antenna on the stern rail. Hope this information helps.
I installed my VHF radio near the top of the teak bulkhead just as you enter the cabin. The face plate is roughly flush with the bulkhead and most of the body of the radio is inside the head near the ceiling - well out of the way. This location makes the radio handy from the cockpit as well as the cabin. The radio is powered from the light in the head. I placed the antenna at the top of the mast using a flat stainless steel strap (similar to Rick Webb's design in the photo archives) at the masthead to hold the added antenna, a spotlight aimed down at the cockpit, the windex and windex light. In order to install the wiring in the mast, I removed the mast head and baseplate. Inside the mast there is a split plastic conduit that holds the wire for the masthead light. I tied a strong string to the masthead wiring and pulled out the original wiring. I then used the string to pull the VHF coax and a new multiconductor cable to supply separate power to the masthead lights, the windex light and cockpit spotlight. I drilled a 3/8 inch hole near the base of the mast and pulled the coax through the mast using a rubber grommet to keep it from chafing. I added a connector for the coax and a connector for the multiconductor 12v wiring. In the ceiling below the mast I put a VHF-AM/FM splitter in the coax circuit so that the antenna not only supports the VHF radio, but also supports my am/fm radio that I have mounted above the galley. I sometimes unplug the AM/FM side of the splitter to connect the antenna to a television. That allows me to receive a few of the local TV stations through the VHF antenna. The most difficult part was snaking the coax and wiring within the cabin overhead. One caution: two antennas cannot be within three feet of each other horizontally. So this essentially limits you to one antenna at the top of the mast. Thus I had to mount my cell phone antenna on the stern rail. Hope this information helps.
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