Hey Folks, I am curently in the process of mounting an antenna on top of the mast of my 1993 H19. Most of the instalation seems pretty straight forward but a few things are puzzeling me. First off, since this boat is trailered I will need to have a way to disconnect the cable to lower the mast, West Marine carries cable feed-thrus but they seem to be more like a gromet. What I'm looking for is more like a female connector that would mount on the deck, anyone know where I could get one? Also I would like to mount it on the port side, beside the mast foot. Much the same way the connector for the mast lights is positioned, can anyone fill me in on how to get access to this area to mount the connector and run cable? Thanks!
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R
Rick Webb
I Think in The Photo Forum
There are pictures of the installation on my 23.5. Should be about the same.
There are pictures of the installation on my 23.5. Should be about the same.
J
Jonathan Costello
Female Deck Connector
Jeremy, Chances are that the 19 is set up very similar to a 23.5. Anyway, the link I am providing shows the connectors I used to get through the deck. I did this last year and plan to post pictures when I take some. I used a SO-239 panel recepticle and a UG 106U adaptor on the back side of the SO 239 then I also installed a screw-on weather cap. This will all make sense when you go to the link. Anyway, I also mounted mine on the port side of the mast just aft of the mast. I drilled a hole big enough to fit the connector on the deck. Feed the cable down through the hole to port and get it down into the channel that the vee berth curtain is mounted to on the headliner. Feed the cable as far to port as you can. Crazy and Hunter said I could feed it down the port bulkhead from there but I couldn't get it down between the front window and the port window probably due to some glass or putty obstructing the way. If you run into this problem you have to go along that channel and drill a hole as far to port on that channel as possible using a keyhole saw drill attachment and take a leap of faith that your cable is there! Once you recover from drilling a hole in your boat, feed the cable out the hole and down the port bulkhead. You could either tuck it under the fiberglass headliner at the mouse fur fabric or drill a hole in the vee berth as far aft as possible and then you could run it through the port settee. Use a soldering gun for all your connections including the PL-259 connectors that you put on the end of the cables. I read an article that said that solder connections are much better than screw-on connectors. Hope this helps. Jonathan Heeling Powers
Jeremy, Chances are that the 19 is set up very similar to a 23.5. Anyway, the link I am providing shows the connectors I used to get through the deck. I did this last year and plan to post pictures when I take some. I used a SO-239 panel recepticle and a UG 106U adaptor on the back side of the SO 239 then I also installed a screw-on weather cap. This will all make sense when you go to the link. Anyway, I also mounted mine on the port side of the mast just aft of the mast. I drilled a hole big enough to fit the connector on the deck. Feed the cable down through the hole to port and get it down into the channel that the vee berth curtain is mounted to on the headliner. Feed the cable as far to port as you can. Crazy and Hunter said I could feed it down the port bulkhead from there but I couldn't get it down between the front window and the port window probably due to some glass or putty obstructing the way. If you run into this problem you have to go along that channel and drill a hole as far to port on that channel as possible using a keyhole saw drill attachment and take a leap of faith that your cable is there! Once you recover from drilling a hole in your boat, feed the cable out the hole and down the port bulkhead. You could either tuck it under the fiberglass headliner at the mouse fur fabric or drill a hole in the vee berth as far aft as possible and then you could run it through the port settee. Use a soldering gun for all your connections including the PL-259 connectors that you put on the end of the cables. I read an article that said that solder connections are much better than screw-on connectors. Hope this helps. Jonathan Heeling Powers
J
Jonathan Costello
R
Rick Webb
Sounds like Jonathan's Install is Similar to Mine
Except I ran my cable down the forward end of the compresion post along the wire already there and then under the floor pan. For the antenna I added a peice of aluminum I bought at Lowe's 1/4" X 2" about 18" long. The antenna is on the forward end and the Windex on the aft with a spreader light underneath. I looked for the picture but cannot find them you may have better luck finding them in the archives than did I.
Except I ran my cable down the forward end of the compresion post along the wire already there and then under the floor pan. For the antenna I added a peice of aluminum I bought at Lowe's 1/4" X 2" about 18" long. The antenna is on the forward end and the Windex on the aft with a spreader light underneath. I looked for the picture but cannot find them you may have better luck finding them in the archives than did I.
G
George Kobernus
VHF Antenna
My $.0.02. I had a problem finding the cap for the PL-259 Thrudeck Feed-through. It is on page 83 of the new WM catalog. WM # 157628. $11.00.Made by Ancor. Although they look similar, the Deck feed-through connector is longer that the coax splice for obvious reasons. Thru deck Coax Connector WM 238568 You'll need four of the PL-259 male connectors. It makes sense that soldering them is better, but the Shakespeare solderless connectors sure went on easily. Ended up with a connector on each side of the base of the mast. One for mast light and the other for coax. I had similar problem feeding the coax through to the radio over the galley on my H260. Found that although there was a conduit there, it stopped right above the galley where a small panel was opposite the stanchion. Kept pushing with the plumbers snake until I could see where it was trying to come out and was able to grab it using a dentists mirror. I think Hunter has ancicipated what we are trying to do by including the conduits in various places, but they get gummed up with foam and other stuff. Might want to contact them to see what the production model for your year included. It just might be a minor blockage. Installed the Shakespeare 3 foot whip antenna (WM 165714) and bought the Windex (AV WM 306193) that slips right on the antenna. Makes for a clean install.
My $.0.02. I had a problem finding the cap for the PL-259 Thrudeck Feed-through. It is on page 83 of the new WM catalog. WM # 157628. $11.00.Made by Ancor. Although they look similar, the Deck feed-through connector is longer that the coax splice for obvious reasons. Thru deck Coax Connector WM 238568 You'll need four of the PL-259 male connectors. It makes sense that soldering them is better, but the Shakespeare solderless connectors sure went on easily. Ended up with a connector on each side of the base of the mast. One for mast light and the other for coax. I had similar problem feeding the coax through to the radio over the galley on my H260. Found that although there was a conduit there, it stopped right above the galley where a small panel was opposite the stanchion. Kept pushing with the plumbers snake until I could see where it was trying to come out and was able to grab it using a dentists mirror. I think Hunter has ancicipated what we are trying to do by including the conduits in various places, but they get gummed up with foam and other stuff. Might want to contact them to see what the production model for your year included. It just might be a minor blockage. Installed the Shakespeare 3 foot whip antenna (WM 165714) and bought the Windex (AV WM 306193) that slips right on the antenna. Makes for a clean install.
J
Jeremy
Wow!
Thanks to everyone for all your great imput! I found a panel connector at my local communications store so I guess all that's left to do is chuck up the hole saw and go at it! Guess I just gotta get up the nerve, thanks again. Jeremy
Thanks to everyone for all your great imput! I found a panel connector at my local communications store so I guess all that's left to do is chuck up the hole saw and go at it! Guess I just gotta get up the nerve, thanks again. Jeremy
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